GOP won't vote on union bill without Democrats

[kpete]

Source: Forbes

Associated Press
GOP won't vote on union bill without Democrats
By RYAN J. FOLEY , 02.21.11, 01:44 PM EST

MADISON, Wis. -- The Republican leader of the Wisconsin state Senate says there will be no vote on a bill taking away union rights for government workers until Democrats return.

Fourteen Democrats skipped town on Thursday, delaying indefinitely action on the proposal that has led to protests drawing as many as 68,000 people over the past week. One of those Democrats suggested Monday that Republicans might try to pass the restrictions on collective bargaining as part of another bill on Tuesday.
But Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says he will not attempt to pass any portions of the bill without Democrats present. The Senate is meeting Tuesday to take up other measures, such as a resolution commending the Green Bay Packers on winning the Super Bowl.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/02/21/general-us-wisconsin-budget-unions_8318634.html

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The backstory seems to be that there's a moderate faction among the Republican senators. And they are apparently refusing to go ahead with that approach. We don't know that latter point for certain yet. But it seems to be the most logical inference to draw from Fitzgerald's statement. And his clear ruling out of such an option seems to leave the standoff in place, with no clear option for Walker absent some agreement with the Democrats.
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/02/big_news_out_of_madison.php

[liberal N proud]

1. Is that a crack in the stalemate?

Or just more rhetoric.

[underpants]

20. I think it is a signal that they realize they are losing the PR battle

this morning Halperin was on Morning Joe saying that the unions were losing the PR battle (the Politico playbook back this up) and then said, "and PR is everything here".

Constitutional rights? ppphhh who cares?
Economic realities? who cares
Diminishing the tax base in a state with a deficit? that is like soooo long term thinking

[liberal N proud]

21. Unions are losing the PR battle?

Then there would be no reason for the GOP to make their comments.

[drm604]

2. I think they just blinked. n/t

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. Or it's a "head fake"

lure the Dems back to the chamber, then pass the bill in a lockstep bloc vote.

[drm604]

4. Fitzgerald said that there will be no vote on the issue until the Democrats return.

I don't see how a statement like that is supposed to lure them into returning.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. Of course there will be no vote. There's no quorum.

But if the Dems can be led to believe there are sympathetic Republicans, then a few might drift into the capitol.

[drm604]

10. They could pass it as part of another bill that doesn't require a quorum

and therefore wouldn't require a return of the Democrats. However, they're not doing that. That may be a sign that the protests are causing them to have second thoughts.

[backtomn]

22. They do for any spending bill

...........and a lot of this would alter spending. What the Repubs might do it pass everything else that they have always wanted.....luring them back to stop the carnage.

[CLANG]

12. No they won't because then they lose.

Do you really think that 1 senator is going to break free and have the entire state want to kill them?

They will not come back until the CB issue is resolved to their satisfaction.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. I hope you're right, but campaign donations can be tempting

and I'm sure the monied interests are chatting with some of the Democrats.

[Kolesar]

7. Fitzgerald or Gov Walker have to say the issue is tabled ...

... else it is B/S.

[Tansy_Gold]

5. Exactly. The pukes have a clear majority, so essentially they can

do whatever they want as soon as there's a quorum.

Unless I've screwed up my own math (which is possible) there are 19 pukes and 14 Dems; they need 20 for a quorum, but only a simple majority to pass legislation. A loss of three pukes would give the Dems a 17-16 majority, but somehow or other I don't think that's really going to happen.

**IF** the alleged moderate three pukes want to stand and be counted, that's one thing. But rumors are quite another. And "secret" negotiations are not negotiations at all. Public -- and accountable -- or not at all.


Tansy Gold doesn't trust any puke any further than she could throw 'em.

[gratuitous]

8. An empty promise; they don't have a quorum anyway

However, I will note that by their absence, the Wisconsin Senate Democrats are letting every Republican off the hook. There may be Republicans who oppose this power grab as much as any Democrat, but they aren't forced to declare anything so long as the Democrats stalemate the Senate by staying away.

It would be a real nice thing if the Republicans who agree with the Democrats made a public declaration, but in so saying, I also give the reason why the Republicans do no such thing.

[quakerboy]

23. would it be better to have them there

and pass this bill? Then we could see if any pubs are on the fence. At the probable cost of having it pass.

[IllinoisBirdWatcher]

9. Let the vulnerable repugnants know how you feel

Listed below are the Republican Senators eligible for immediate recall. They are the most vulnerable to constituent pressure and should be hit with constant daily emails and calls.

Even if you don't live in Wisconsin but have only visited, point out to them what they will lose in tourism and vacation income. Nearly half the state survives on Chicago and Minneapolis area tourists and vacation home income.

If you cannot vote against them, you can always tell them that you will be happy to contribute financially to their recall election.

Cowles - Dist 02 Green Bay, Oconto, Shawano, Outagamie counties phone [phone] toll-free [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Darling - Dist 08 Menominee Falls, Milwaukee North Burbs, Ozaukee and Washington counties phone [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Harsdorf - Dist 10 Polk, Burnett, St. Croix and Pierce counties phone [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Olsen - Dist 14 Waupaca, Waushara, Green Lake and Marquette counties phone [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Hopper - Dist 18 Oshkosh, Winnebago and north Fond du Lac counties phone [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Grothman - Dist 20 Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Washington and Ozaukee counties phone [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Lazich - Dist 28 Milwaukee, Waukesha, Walworth phone [phone] toll-free [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]

Kapanke - Dist 32 La Crosse, Crawford, Vernon counties phone [phone] toll-free [phone] fax [phone]
[e-mail]


If you want to make more calls and send more emails, the entire State Senator list can be found here.

The Assembly Representatives are here.

[itcfish]

11. Amendment

I heard they were trying to make an amendment to the state constitution that is why the vote is not important.

[CLANG]

13. How does it get ammended without the dem senators?

[Kingofalldems]

15. +1000 for Democrats!

[Iliyah]

17. When

this shit fails from all the f**king blacklash, then they can commit to blaming the Dems who should not have returned in the first place, cause ya know the gop aka tea brats are perrrrfeccccttttttt species of mankind and who would NEVER do wrong nor harm anybody all in the name of MONEY.

[AlbertCat]

16. a resolution commending the Green Bay Packers on winning the Super Bowl.

At least the important stuff is getting done!

[savalez]

18. Schumer's WI Senate contribution page

$9000+ raised so far

http://www.actblue.com/page/schumer4wisconsin

[savalez]

24. wow

It's now up to $20,000+

[ElsewheresDaughter]

19. don't trust them...just don't fall for their BS blink