NYT: Wisconsin (Union Busting) Bill Advances, Then Stalls

[steve2470]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/26/us/26states.html

MADISON, Wis. — The State Assembly approved a bill early Friday to limit the collective bargaining rights for most public workers, but the measure stalled because Senate Democrats remained out of the state as part of an effort to derail the legislation.

After the vote, Democratic Assembly members shouted at their Republican counterparts, who were escorted from the chamber by the police.

The State Senate cannot vote on the legislation without a quorum of 20 members. There are only 19 Republicans in the Senate, and their Democratic counterparts remained in Illinois to prevent a vote. Wisconsin troopers do not have jurisdiction to order them back home.

Before the vote, Senate Republicans once again issued a “call to the house,” sending out troopers in the hope of finding at least some of the Senate Democrats at home. They found none.

[emulatorloo]

1. Something interesting about the Troopers. They are "exempt" from Walker's bill

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_dc1d1c6c-3d59-11e0-b6a2-001cc4c002e0.html

Law enforcement union members 'at each other's throats' over budget plan
PATRICIA SIMMS | [e-mail] | 608-252-6492 | (26) Comments | Posted: Monday, February 21, 2011 6:00 am

Gov. Scott Walker's plan to end collective bargaining for most state employees is tearing one labor organization apart.The Wisconsin Law Enforcement Association, which represents about 900 state troopers, inspectors, police communication operators, Motor Vehicle Department field agents and other state police, includes some members who have been exempted from Walker's plan, said WLEA President Tracy Fuller on Sunday.

"Our union is being torn apart about this," said Fuller, who is a State Patrol inspector from Madison. "We've got members at each other's throats."

Walker exempted the State Patrol and its inspectors from the bill, but UW and Capitol police, among others in the WLEA, would lose their collective bargaining rights if the budget repair bill passes.

<MORE AT LINK> and it is interesting. (Troopers organization endorsed Walker during his run)

[yellowcanine]

2. The vote was only held open for "seconds". Some democracy.

Debate had gone on for 60 hours and 15 Democrats were still waiting to speak when the vote started around 1 a.m. Friday. Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer, R-Waukesha, opened the roll and closed it within seconds.


Not all Democrats were able to vote in the time allotted and keeping it open for only a few seconds prevented any wavering Republicans from changing their vote. Maybe there is not as much support for this as they are claiming. Otherwise why the need for such underhanded tactics?