To Be a Republican Lawmaker in Madison

National Review Online ^ | 2/17/2011 | Jay Nordlinger

[daylilly]

Randy Hopper is a state senator in Wisconsin. A Republican. He is now holed up with his colleagues — his Republican colleagues — in the capitol. The Democratic senators have apparently fled the state. Hopper says, “None of my colleagues from the minority party decided to come to work today.”

The Democrats are denying the Republicans the quorum necessary to vote on key fiscal legislation.

Hopper says, “I spent two years in the minority, and I came to work every day, even when I didn’t like the bills the majority was passing. I thought it was my job.” The Democrats, he says, “have relinquished their duties. The people sent them here to do a job, and they are refusing to do it. They’re in hiding. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

[eyedigress]

I have a habit of looking at the parking lots of public taxpayer funded jobs. They seem to be doing quite well.

[daylilly]

We are fortunate to have individuals who are willing to take the arrows [Rush Limbaugh said this today]. The followup post said the lawmakers had been literally pushed around by the protesters. Where do we find such men and women?

Just like the founders did, who risked their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor. Many of the signers of the Declaration did not go unscathed from their stand.

These guys in Wisconsin are NOT sunshine soldiers.

[Thunder90]

Walker should start firing workers until the budget is passed. The Dims will be forced to come back then.

[TwoSwords]

He was nothing if not prescient.

[BAW]

Basically if I were Walker, I’d set a deadline to be in chambers Friday else I’d declare those seats vacant, and issue writs of election to replace all 14 democrat senators.

Excellent idea. Logical.

[Mygirlsmom]

I think the Dems want the 6000 layoffs. They think they can pin that on Walker as well.

I have to hand it to Scott. You would think what he put up with as Milwaukee County Executive trying to undo the tremendous damage done by Tom Ament and Company would have made him quickly lose his taste for taking on the destruction left in the wake of Jim Doyle.

That man practically did magic with the county tax rate - managed to put forth 8 or so straight budgets without a tax increase and he was vilified to no end for trying to hold together what was ransacked and destroyed by greedy Dems lining their own pockets.

[TwoSwords]

Every American should want independent journalism. No one off-limits. This isn’t happening at the media or collegiate level. This is the one thing I find the conservative movement really failing to address. We have no reason to accept their biased reporting. We should bow our backs and say if this continues we’ll destroy you. This is the battle. We are losing it.

[headstamp 2]

“The Democrats, he says, “have relinquished their duties. The people sent them here to do a job, and they are refusing to do it. They’re in hiding. They ought to be ashamed of themselves.”

That’s the problem Senator, Democrats have no shame. You need to deal with them accordingly.

[takenoprisoner]

Yea I heard. The last I heard they left there to hold-up in another location. This is what commies do when they realize they are outgunned. Get the hell out of Dodge!!!

[goat granny]

Since the demo senators have deserted the capital/state could their offices be locked and their staff fired...

[ratsreek]

I think you meant the Fifth Column. The word “Fourth” comes into play in a political sense in connection with the “Fourth Estate”, meaning the press and the access enjoyed by its journalists (generally meaning the print media).

A Fifth Column refers to a shadow or clandestine organization operating from a position of power and/or access inside a government. The Fifth Column organization clandestinely or deviously advances an external enemy of the government through means unwittingly provided by the government or secretly and/or deviously advances a trojan horse-type agenda that is inherently harmful to the government without an external enemy by damaging or weakening it. I think these are the situations you were referring to. IMO, both scenarios are now present.

The term came from a situation during Spain’s war just before WW2. Some general had four columns of his guys marching in to take over a city and it was reported that there was a fifth column already acting secretly within the city to aid the soldiers from within by having wormed their way into the system to learn what was what, who goes where, who’s on first, etc..

[ratsreek]

Of course, if you meant that the “Fourth Estate” has largely joined the “Fifth Column”, you’d be right! And if that combination is what you meant by “Fourth Column”, it’d probably be fair to call it that, at least on FR! :)

[ratsreek]

We’d all love to see them and the no-show teachers get the boot, but I suspect Walker has a cooler head. Walker and the pubs have the numbers. All they have to do is stand firm and maximize the power and benefits of their majority. The rats are looking really bad right now. As much as I’d like to see them sent packing, I don’t think Walker should come off as too punitive and wrathful. He was elected to bring the budget under control, not punish and create chaos. But I do agree he should find some means of teaching them all a solid lesson in a very public way.

[fortheDeclaration]

They did the same thing in Texas when they lost the House.

[crosshairs]

Basically if I were Walker, I’d set a deadline to be in chambers Friday else I’d declare those seats vacant, and issue writs of election to replace all 14 democrat senators.

Well played sir!

[justlurking]

Basically if I were Walker, I’d set a deadline to be in chambers Friday else I’d declare those seats vacant, and issue writs of election to replace all 14 democrat senators.

I think this is an excellent idea, but can the governor do it?

I wondered about this when the same tactics were used in Texas. But as far as I can tell, a state legislative office doesn't become vacant in Texas unless:

• The officeholder dies.
• The officeholder resigns or declines, in writing.
• The officeholder is removed by a court or tribunal.
• The officeholder is declared ineligible by a court or tribunal.
• The officeholder accepts another office that cannot be held simultaneously.

I concluded that the governor could not simply declare the office vacant, and legal proceedings were required to remove someone from office.

However, I wasn't able to find anything about that procedure, or what might constitute grounds for removal. I suspect that it's something that would have to be initiated by the Senate itself, to avoid issues with separation of powers.

[kevkrom]

I don’t get why they don’t simply declare they have a quorum and then proceed to do business. Who’s there to object to the math “error”?

If the numbers weren’t so close, you can bet the ‘rats would have left one guy in town to make this kind of objection, but they can’t in this case because the count is literally off by one.

So, intentionally mis-count and move on. Use the “standing” argument to prevent anyone except one of the missing politicians from filing a court objection. If one of the ‘rats shows up to court, haul ‘em back to the capitol to re-do the vote.

[Wisconsinlady]

BELOW IS AN UPDATE FROM A STAFFER SENT OUT AT 12:09 A.M. AFTER MIDNIGHT LAST NIGHT.

Dear Taxpayers,

This has been a Most Interesting day here at your State Capitol to say the least. Here is a quick summary of things you might want to be aware of:

1) Senate Democrats Make a Trip to Illinois - At some point during the Wisconsin Senate proceedings today, several Senate Democrats deemed it necessary to make a trip to Illinois rather than working on solutions to our $3.6 Billion budget deficit.

If you have not seen this footage already, here is the Rockford Tea Party helping to direct two of Wisconsin’s Democrat Senators back to our side of the border.

Video (1 Minute): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxKk3DSW6Sk

2) Senator Grothman on CNN - If you are awake at 6 a.m. (Friday), feel free to tune in to CNN as Senator Grothman will be debating another Wisconsin Democrat Senator that we are told is staying somewhere in the Chicago area. The time has come for a sobering conversation about the need to put Wisconsin’s financial house back in order.

3) Little Children on the March at the Capitol - Little children looking to be elementary school age have been brought into the Capitol protest that took place today. One little girl who was standing outside our window from Independence, Wisconsin, told us that she was here yesterday and today but wasn’t sure if she is coming back tomorrow. She said she wasn’t sure why she is here other than her teacher told her they had to be here as their school was going to lose a lot of money.

Taxpayers, do you think it is appropriate for little kids to be used in this manner? Parents, do you know where your children are these days?

4) Has Your School District Been Plagued with a Rash of “Sick Outs?” - Throughout the day, we have taken numerous phone calls from distressed taxpayers inquiring about school districts that are abdicating their responsibilities to students, parents, and taxpayers. Here is an interesting post on one of my favorite blogs (Boots & Sabers) from an administrator stating,

“Staff that chooses to take action tomorrow will be subject to loss of wages and potential disciplinary action.

If the district has to call off school, we will consider extending the school year.”

Full article: http://www.bootsandsabers.com/index.php/weblog/permalink/west_bend_schools_stance/
Teacher Salary/Compensation: http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/99999999/APC0110/80221166

“In the 2008-2009 school year, Wisconsin’s average salary for all teachers was $50,424.”
page 666, Wisconsin Blue Book - http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/09bb/index.htm

Average per pupil spending (2008-2009): $12,471 -
page 666, Wisconsin Blue Book - http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lrb/bb/09bb/index.htm

5) Keeping Informed - If you would like the latest updates on what will be happening at your State Capitol tomorrow, please see:

Vicki McKenna at 10 a.m. - http://www.newstalk1130.com/pages/vicki_mckenna.html
Vicki McKenna at 3:06 p.m. (Friday) with Senator Grothman - http://www.wiba.com/pages/vicki.html
Charlie Sykes - (Senator Grothman was on today) - http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesykes
Mark Belling - 3 p.m. - http://www.belling.com/
Wispolitics: http://wispolitics.com/
The Wheeler Report: http://www.thewheelerreport.com/

6) Out-of-State Protestors Coming to Madison on Friday? - The word we have received is that busloads of out-of-state protestors will be at the Capitol on Friday. If this should prove true, it’s most interesting out-of-state folks are taking such an active interest in our $3.6 Billion budget deficit. Do you think ACORN, etc., will be visiting our state?

Stay tuned….

Tonight, chanting protestors with drums are still here at the Capitol. I hope this information is helpful to you as this is a defining moment in Wisconsin. As always, feel free to share this information with others.

Have a good night.

Working for Wisconsin’s Families,

[zeugma]

It happened a few years ago in Texas too. Democrats act like children.

[zeugma]

I think this is an excellent idea, but can the governor do it?

Most states have provisions for abandonment of office.

Unfortunately, there aren't any republican politicians to actually enforce them.

Rule of laws only applies to us little people that they can suck money out of with traffic fines.