Wisconsin Dems Set Up Offices With A View
Via TPM:
Access to the state Capitol building in Wisconsin has now been heavily restricted, so some Democrats are providing a solution to members of the public who can’t get to assembly members’ offices: They’re bringing their offices to them.
“Obviously there was a court order to open this building and anybody with a brain would tell you they’re defying the court order,” Barca told WisPolitics.
I am very impressed with Wisconsin Democrats. I’m also in awe of the people of Wisconsin and their commitment to this fight.
Something tells me this situation isn’t going as Scott Walker envisioned.
Tags: National Dems, Unions, Wisconsin
Spring is coming. I hope they can hold out.
TPM is also reporting:
I’ll update when they post the results. For now, if Rasmussen is showing Walker in trouble… he’s toast.
The problem is that the Conservative Infrastructure is telling Walker that he has waded 1/2 way through a river of blood.
I love this story! Wisconsin Democrats are something else.
Oh my… Wisconsin Republicans have lost it.
This is quite an all or nothing situation, complete with threats.
How can they pass a resolution if they have no quorum?
Does it carry the full weight of LAW?
Can I legally go to the physical aide of an out of state legislator who I feel is being kidnapped or assaulted?
I have many, many ?’s
BTW, Huff post is reporting a group of MOD DEMS forming to deal with Repukes over the budget.
Of course, Tommy the Carpetbagger is one of the BIG THREE Dems leading the group.
My loathing continues to grow as my bile rises.
They only need the quorum for budget matters. They can pass other laws with a bare majority.
The police union chief thinks the bill is unconstitutional.
Thanks UI and THANK YOU Chief Palmer!
That might actually work. WI is really big on their constitutionality. Even though DUI checkpoints were upheld in federal court, WI labeled them unconstitutional under state law. Lack of probable cause to stop the vehicle.
HOLD THE PHONE – didn;t the WI Senators all take an oath to uphold the Consitution of both the US and WI??
doesn’t the 4th ammendment guarentee the freedom from “warrentless/illegal search and seizure, to be secure in one’s papers?”
So aren’t the WI Rethuglician Senators in violation of the 4th ammendement – and attempting to unlawfully deny others their liberty and freedoms and consitutionally protected rights??
what judge is going to sign a warrant for the arrest of someone when there is no probable cause that a crime was even committed?? and to allow the use fo FORCE on top of that???
Now we know what the Rethuglicans view of America is…and contrary to what the TEA BAGGERZ and the Oath Keepers think – its not Obama unlawfully rounding folks up – its the Republicans!!
“The GOP proposal would not allow for the arrest of the missing Dems, but would allow for lawmakers to be taken into custody by the Senate sergeant-at-arms if they don’t return to the capitol by today at 4 p.m.”
I think that’s called KIDNAPPING or UNLAWFUL DETENTION
A friend of mine is there and posting. He says, a Democrat was grabbed by a police officer and man handled today. Yahoo has a tape of the assault. The windows have been bolted shut. Even crazy ole Jim Demint stated, the “International Human Rights on labor laws permit collective bargaining”. So maybe the baggers have bit off more than they thought. Protestors remain outside the capital shouting. Walker had a meeting where only baggers were permitted a seat, while the repukes got their “arrrest them orders” voted on. I agree with the person who wrote if there is no quorum how can any business be conducted. Can you imagine if this was protest was in Delaware, how many of us would a) showed up b) stayed this long c) been so peaceful in light of the outrageous behavior of this slub Walker?
Scott Mann blogging from Wisconsin sent this news. Putting everyone through weapons searches. No bags, sleeping materials. GOP/fascists issuing detention warrants. Illinois Gov. and Mayor Elect R. Emmanuel state, “no resources will be allocated from Ill. will be used to “get the 14”. Even the Ill. Gop minority leader stated, “he has no intention of intervening, its not Illinois biz. Protestors slept on the steps of capital last night and will continue till they beat the fascists back. “We are winning, slowing but surely”. Walker is out in rural areas drumming up support, protests are growing wherever Walker goes!
Recall state senators in Wisconsin: from WSJ
By AMY MERRICK and KRIS MAHER
Unions and Democratic activists in Wisconsin and Ohio are opening new fronts in their opposition to state bills that would limit public employees’ collective-bargaining rights.
In Wisconsin, committees have registered to target the eight Republican state senators eligible for recall this year, out of 19 Republicans in that chamber. State Democrats, liberal group MoveOn.org and the Service Employees International Union are raising money and soliciting help gathering signatures.
Conservative-backed groups, meanwhile, also have registered to target six of the eight Democratic senators eligible for recall.
Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Wisconsin Republican Party, said it was possible recall efforts could still be started for the two remaining Democrats who are eligible. “At the end of the day, taxpayers have real reasons to go after these A.W.O.L. Democrats,” he said.
Reid Magney, a spokesman for Wisconsin’s Government Accountability Board, called the number of recall campaigns “unprecedented.” Voters in the state successfully removed two senators through recall elections in 1996 and 2003, Mr. Magney said.
Wisconsin elected officials are eligible for recall after a year in office. Supporters have 60 days to obtain 11,000 to 21,000 signatures to force a recall vote, depending on the district. Recalled senators must run in a special election to keep their seats.
Wisconsin’s 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois on Feb. 17, thwarting a vote on Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s “budget-repair bill” limiting state workers’ collective-bargaining rights.
“From almost the day Scott Walker introduced this piece of legislation, people were on the ground thinking about recall,” said Graeme Zielinski, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party.
Mr. Walker said layoff notices would be sent to 1,500 state workers beginning Friday if Democrats didn’t return for a vote. The notified workers would lose their jobs April 1, shaving $30 million from state payrolls, if the measure hasn’t passed, Mr. Walker said. He said his bill is needed to close a $137 million shortfall in the current fiscal year, and to begin addressing a projected $3.6 billion two-year deficit.
“Just when we think the process is moving forward, we see no action,” he told reporters Thursday night. “We’re frustrated.”
Democratic state Sen. Mark Miller called the layoff notices “a new level of hostility” and said Mr. Walker “is using human beings as political pawns.”
The conservative group Americans for Prosperity launched a 10-city bus tour this week supporting Mr. Walker and an online petition that has attracted 100,000 signatures. On Friday, the tour held events in Green Bay, Rhinelander and Wausau.
“The governor is doing what he was elected to do, and we strongly support the budget-repair bill,” said Phil Kerpen, the group’s vice president for policy. The group hasn’t taken a position on the recall efforts.
In Ohio, lawmakers said unions are likely to try a voter referendum in November to invalidate a bill restricting bargaining rights for public-employee unions, if the measure becomes law.
GOP state Sen. Bill Seitz, who opposed the bill when it passed the Senate Wednesday, said a referendum is “a dead certainty” if the bill clears the House in its current form.
Mr. Seitz said he supports “about 85%” of the bill, but not removing bargaining rights for police and firefighters or eliminating third-party arbitration when contract negotiations stall.
Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, has said he supports the bill as a way to help local governments rein in labor costs.
Unions would have 90 days after the bill passes, which could be in the next few weeks, to get about 230,000 signatures supporting a referendum.
Indiana lawmakers appeared no closer to resolving a standoff that started when House Democrats left the state Feb. 22 to protest bills that would curb union rights.
Tory Flynn, a spokeswoman for Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma, said Republicans hoped a $250 daily fine, beginning next week, would motivate absent lawmakers to return. Asked if Democrats would return Monday, Democratic spokesman John Schorg said, “I wouldn’t count on it.”
Write to Amy Merrick at amy.merrick@wsj.com and Kris Maher at kris.maher@wsj.com
All the recall efforts are an outworking of the strong desire Wisconsinites have to recall the Governor. That recall will be happening in about 11 months.
Albert, In the future you don’t have to paste entire articles. just links, and maybe a sentence or two.