Posted on 02/21/2011 6:53:48 AM PST by FTJM
Hundreds of protesters continue to occupy the capitol, and 14 Democratic state senators remain roosted in Illinois, stalling consideration of his budget-repair bill. But Gov. Scott Walker, a first-term Republican, tells National Review Online that he will not blink. By the end of this week, we will have a bill passed, he pledges.
Walker is confident that he can pressure the on-the-run politicians to return and secure passage of his plan, which would drastically reduce the collective-bargaining power of public-sector unions and force state employees to put 5.8 percent of their salaries toward their pensions and pay 12.6 percent of their health-care premiums.
We are looking at legal options to compel the senators to come back, Walker says. They have no endgame. They dont know what they are doing. They got caught up in the hysteria and decided to run, but thats not how this works. You have got to be in the arena.
Bringing up hot-button legislation while the Democrats are gone is another arrow in Walkers quiver. Though the Wisconsin constitution requires three-fifths of the senate to be present to pass fiscal legislation, a simple majority of 17 members constitutes a quorum for other bills in the 33-seat state senate. So the 19 GOP senators who remain in Madison can pass any number of bills while their Democratic colleagues are on the lam, and Republicans are a majority in the assembly, too. They can hold off, but there is a whole legislative agenda that Republicans in the senate and assembly can start acting on that only requires simple majorities, Walker warns.If they want to do their jobs, and have a say, they better show up.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
How long before the governor fires them all?
I’ve heard accounts that it is starting to stink badly in the buildings. Nice.
Seems to me the obvious decision is to just appoint replacements and then hold a special election to replace those legislators that have resigned their positions by leaving the state. Now THAT would put a stop to the nonsense pulled by the communist left.
The 2/3 only applies to budget bills, correct?
Can't the lawmakers still in Madison pass a law saying if a state legislator is AWOL for a week the head of his/her party appoints a replacement, and inorganic party head is present the Governor?
That would effectively end this as a tactic forever.
JM.02
Delph
Sounds like he has got ‘em by the .... if they don’t show up Republicans can pass legislation that would otherwise not pass...the Republicans’ dream legislation...
Time to pass concealed carry in WI. Proceed from there.
How long does it take to establish residency in Illinois?
Take the pay the 14 Dems would be getting and hold it in escrow so the monies could be used to defray costs for the school makeup days. Get a judgement lien on thier property to pay for the rest.
Put a lien on their pay for however many years they have left to serve to repay the taxpayers for the fraud of not doing their jobs.
Indict them for conspiracy to commit violent civil disobedience and trespass. Include the union leaders.
Stop talking about it and just do it!
Does anyone think the Democrats would squander this opportunity?
Republicans, just once, just once, don't snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
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