Wrestlin' in Wisconsin

This could have gone poorly for the Dems, but the simple truth is that public opinion sided with the Dems for leaving the state and gave the public the chance to voice themselves

67% of likely voters oppose Wisconsin Democrat senators’ tactic of leaving the state to prevent the legislature from voting on a bill to curb pay, perks and power of government-sector unions, according to a new national Rasmussen poll. Just 25% of likely voters support the Democratic lawmakers’ move.

Q28. Do you approve or disapprove of Senate Democrats' decision to leave the state in order to prevent
the passage of the budget repair bill that would reduce public employee benefits and change collective
bargaining rights?
Strongly approve .................................................... 36
Somewhat approve ................................................. 11
Somewhat disapprove .............................................. 9
Strongly disapprove ............................................... 42
Don't know / Refused............................................... 2

Compared against the popularity of Walker or State GOP, the State Dems are winning the popularity war

Last night, Wisconsin Senate Republicans abandoned any remaining pretenses that a bill stripping state workers of their collective bargaining rights has anything whatsoever to do with the state’s finances, and rammed the bill through the senate without any Democrats present. Yet even if Gov. Scott Walker (R) succeeds in signing this bill into law, Wisconsin voters have the power to ensure that his victory is short lived.

First, a broad coalition of these voters are circulating petitions to recall the eight GOP state senators who are currently eligible to be removed from office. If just three of these seats are flipped to the Democrats, the GOP will lose control of the state’s upper house.

Second, because Wisconsin law allows any elected official to be recalled after they have served one full year of their term in office, all remaining state legislators and Gov. Walker will be eligible for a recall election next January. If Wisconsin voters wage a successful campaign to fire the state’s anti-worker lawmakers, this bill could be repealed as soon as the snow starts to melt in spring of 2012.

Third, Wisconsin also has the power to ensure that no future lawmakers can repeat Walker’s assault on working familes:

Constitutional amendments. SECTION 1. Any amendment or amendments to this constitution may be proposed in either house of the legislature, and if the same shall be agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses…and if, in the legislature so next chosen, such proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a majority of all the members elected to each house, then it shall be the duty of the legislature to submit such proposed amendment or amendments to the people in such manner and at such time as the legislature shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and ratify such amendment or amendments by a majority of the electors voting thereon, such amendment or amendments shall become part of the constitution

In other words, the Wisconsin Constitution can be amended in a three step process: 1) the current legislature must approve the amendment; 2) after the next election, the new legislature must approve the amendment; 3) the voters must ratify the amendment by a majority vote. Under this procedure, Wisconsin could amend its constitution to permanently protect working families as soon as 2013.

In Ohio, pro-worker lawmakers are already planning a ballot referendum to overrule an anti-worker bill that is moving forward in that state. Wisconsin law will require working families and their supporters to jump through a few more hoops to reverse Walker’s actions. Nevertheless, they unambiguously have the power to repeal Walker’s bill in 2012 and to ensure that similar bills can never become law again in 2013.

If it's illegal, they can take legal action, can't they?

With just 3½ weeks before the election for Milwaukee County executive, Rep. Jeff Stone has a major problem.

His name: Gov. Scott Walker.

Stone has stood with the first-term governor, distanced himself from Walker and then cozied up to him once again.

And that's been in just the past two weeks.

Now Stone's county exec opponent, millionaire philanthropist Chris Abele, will try to exploit the long-standing links between Stone and the state's increasingly controversial and polarizing chief executive.

Which law do you propose made that illegal george?

Or are you having problems understanding what illegal means?

parados wrote:

Which law do you propose made that illegal george?

Or are you having problems understanding what illegal means?

The Democrat Senators in question fled the state jurisdiction precisely because the state police were empowered by law to physically deliver them to the State Legislature so they could perform the duties for which they were elected and are still being paid. --- That law.

You are an ass.

The Democrat Senators in question fled the state jurisdiction precisely because the state police were empowered by law to physically deliver them to the State Legislature so they could perform the duties for which they were elected and are still being paid. --- That law.

You are an ass.

Exemption from arrest and civil process. SECTION 15.
Members of the legislature shall in all cases, except treason, fel-
ony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest; nor shall
they be subject to any civil process, during the session of the leg-
islature, nor for fifteen days next before the commencement and
after the termination of each session.

I heard the troopers say they could not compel them to do anything under the law. It doesn't matter that the GOP ignored the Wisconsin Constitution to try to compel the troopers to do something that would be illegal for law enforcement to do.