Gov. Walker: Layoffs Start Friday Unless Democrats Return, Dems response

[cal04]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2011/03/03/134240213/wisconsin-gov-walker-layoffs-will-start-friday

Wisconsin's political and governing crisis went from bad to worse Thursday.

In what had the feel of a hostage drama, with state workers as the bug-eyed captives, Republican Gov. Scott Walker threatened to start layoffs on Friday if his budget-repair bill wasn't passed.

But it would take the 14 Democratic senators who fled Wisconsin for Illinois to return; all indications were they weren't about to.

(snip)
Democrats, for their part, said it was a stunt, that Fitzgerald didn't have the power to find them legally in contempt and drag them back to Wisconsin.


Senate Democrats won't back down
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/117350748.html

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/03/us-wisconsin-budget-idUSTRE72041C20110303?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FPoliticsNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Politics+News%29


(snip)
Absent Senate Democrats in Wisconsin said they are in talks with the majority Republicans about possible compromises to end a stalemate over a bill, but no deal has been reached.

Republicans on Thursday passed a resolution in the Senate that would compel the Democrats' return to Madison, and authorizes the missing senators be taken into custody if they are found in the state.

Republicans admit they have no way of enforcing the resolution.

[Botany]

1. More time off = more time to gather recall signatures

for Wisconsin Republican Senators and Governor Walker next November.

[Drale]

5. The more people they put out of work

the more people to are available to join the "peasant" uprising.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. "bug-eyed captives"!!!

I want PICTURES or it didn't happen!!

:rofl:

[Hannah Bell]

3. wanker thinks he's mussolini.

[aquart]

6. Oh so do I. And I cherish that final image of Il Duce.

[KansDem]

4. Layoffs, eh? Well, let's start with yours, Scott!

Stay in bed tomorrow, have a cup of cocoa, watch some of the morning game shows...

You deserve it!

[gkhouston]

7. He is so desperate it's almost funny. If this were a movie, I'd be laughing my ass off.

Unfortunately, I know he's capable of doing a lot of damage before he finishes self-destruction. Here's hoping that happens sooner rather than later.

[WhiteTara]

8. how can they conduct any business?

they don't have a quorum.

[RC]

10. There are Republicans. Rules are for others.

[cal04]

9. Sen. Larson (D) on republicans, overreaching, they look like bullies

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117325998.html

(snip)
Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) said Republicans were overreaching and questioned the legality of the steps they've taken.

"They're just going around the bend on this stuff," he said. "I just think it makes them look like bullies, look more divisive, than they have been already."

Larson said the Democratic senators have "been talking to some lawyers. This thing is going to be shot down. They don't have that authority. They are reaching for more power than they have got."

Asked if the Democratic senators would return Thursday, he said, "most likely, not today."