Wisconsin's new de facto Majority Leader: Dale Schultz

[Ellipsis]

Remember Dale Schultz? He was the one Republican senator in Wisconsin to vote against Gov. Scott Walker's anti-worker Budget Repair Bill.

Well, with his Republican Party now clinging to a 17-16 majority in the state Senate, Schultz is now going to be the most popular man in Madison, and de facto majority leader of the Wisconsin Senate, simply by virtue of not being a Scott Walker Republican.

Consider this: If Walker tried to pass something like his last budget again, Democrats would have enough votes in the state Senate to kill the bill outright. There would be no running to Illinois to deny quorum, no protracted battle of several weeks; the Senate could vote, and with Jessica King and Jennifer Shilling to go with Schultz and the 14 incumbent Democrats, they would have a functional majority.

So even as a Republican, Schultz, not Republican leader Scott Fitzgerald, is the most powerful man in the Senate—he is the balance of power in Wisconsin, and if he's interested, he could team with Democrats to form a majority coalition, or even switch parties outright.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/10/1005315/-Wisconsins-new-de-facto-Majority-Leader:-Dale-Schultz


http://legis.wisconsin.gov/w3asp/contact/legislatorpages.aspx?house=senate&district=17

[AleksS]

1. I bet there are offers being made...

I bet there are some (extra subtle, extra hush-hush) offers being made right this minute to Mr. Schultz...

[Ellipsis]

8. Oh you know it.

[N7Shepard]

2. Schultz isn't the only one

moderate republicans in swing and blue leaning districts are too scared to rubber stamp Walker too.

He's not going to get any more far right legislation.

[Firebrand Gary]

3. Mr Schultz, it takes character to stand up to your friends.

We may be from different political spectrums, but I still believe that you are a class act.

[Sportsguy]

4. Oh My God, K & R!!!!!!

Dman straight! I was thinking the same thing!

[Greybnk48]

5. HUGE sigh of relief.

At least we have some breathing room here. My whole family is going to participate in the Walker recall, and it can't happen too soon.

[Release The Hounds]

6. He claims he has no plan of switching:

Political rumors ran rampant Wednesday that the Richland Center senator, who has butted heads at times with Gov. Scott Walker and other top GOP leaders, was considering bailing on his party.

Worries were that Schultz would don the "independent" tag, or switch parties altogether - a troubling possibility for Republicans who, after Tuesday's final two recall elections, may hold a majority as thin as 17-16 in the state Senate.

A defection could hurt. But no one need worry - Schultz isn't going anywhere.

"I have no intention of declaring as an independent," he said. "I've been an unrepentant Republican for 45 years, and I don't plan to change that. I may be a different Republican than some of my colleagues around me, but I think that can be a good thing."



http://www.wiscnews.com/reedsburgtimespress/news/local/article_c82a0ccc-c5b9-11e0-995f-001cc4c002e0.html

[Odin2005]

7. Walker's Fascist antics are FINISHED.

[Ellipsis]

9. Funky district

... looks like a little over 1400 square miles, with a total population of 55,000 folks with high unemployment.

[jwirr]

10. After seeing the final results of the 9 recalls (5 won by Democrats)

some other rethugs may think twice as well.

[Ellipsis]

11. 40 people per square mile ...compared to Manhattan's 66940 people per square mile.

Think about it.