Missing Wisconsin Democratic senators now face daily fines

[Skip_In_Boulder]

Also heard on Ed Schultz when he was talking with on of the Wis. Senators.

The 14 Wisconsin state Senate Democrats who left the state two weeks ago will now face fines of $100 for each day they stay away.

Republicans remaining in the Senate approved the daily fine today with none of the Democrats present.

The Democrats left Wisconsin in order to delay indefinitely a Republican-backed bill taking away collective bargaining rights from public employees.

The resolution passed today also requires the missing Democrats to reimburse the Senate for any costs incurred during attempts to force them to return. Their salary and other per-diem payments can be withheld until they pay back the penalties and costs.

Republicans have already withheld the checks of missing Democrats from direct deposit and denied access to copying machines for their staff.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_17520068?nclick_check=1

[nebenaube]

1. Wi is locked into the wrong debate!

For two weeks, we’ve gleefully sunk into a relatively petty debate about pension contribution percentages, health care benefits, and wages for middle class Americans. Often, this argument has devolved into simple jealousies, of one middle class worker upset that another has, thanks to a strong union, better wages and benefits than they have. It often sounds unsettlingly childish: “I don’t have that so you shouldn’t.”

There are certainly details in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill worthy of discussion and argument, but his bill is not being proposed in a vacuum. That is where we fall into the trap that takes us to the wrong debate.

http://www.ppulse.com/Articles-c-2011-02-25-97101.114136-Locked-Into-The-Wrong-Debate.html

[Skip_In_Boulder]

3. Really, this is starting to look like the implementation

of a police state. What with the defying of lawful court orders and all.

[goddess40]

12. That's the debate the media has chosen to report

Those protesting know it's about union busting and not just at the state level.

Since the Citizens United award by the activist judges in the Supreme Court the top ten contributors for political parties have shifted from a 5-5 split to a 7-3 split in the republican's favor. The last three main contributors for dems are SEIU, AFSCME and WEAC. I say Rove say on Fox that if they can get rid of the final three it, meaning elections, would be a clean sweep.

It's not about the money, it's about elections and republicans ruling as a single party.

[tabatha]

2. How could it be passed without a quorum?

[Skip_In_Boulder]

4. I think it can pass without a quorum

because it doesn't involve a budget item.

[KansDem]

7. But where is the fine money going?

Isn't it going to the State of Wisconsin? And if so, doesn't that affect the state budget? :shrug:

[Skip_In_Boulder]

10. LOL, Well one could potentially construe it that way but I'm

sure that's not how these fascist are looking at it.

[yurbud]

5. I think they have a different quorum standard for non-budget items.

[Viking12]

6. Budget items require a quorum of 20. Non-budgetary items only require a majority of present Senators

[efhmc]

8. Where can one donate?

[leftygolfer]

9. Being a hero can incur a cost

and we should be there to help them if they need. I don't have much, but I'll send in what I can if they continue to hold out for all of us.

[Larkspur]

11. Recall the Republican State Senators & Gov. Walker!

Walker may not be eligible for recall yet, but some of the Republican state senators are.

[Earth_First]

13. Where do I contribute?

I'll donate one week worth of fines...