Leader: Wis. Senate to convene without Democrats

Yahoo/AP ^ | 2/20/11 | RYAN J. FOLEY

[EBH]

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin's senate majority leader says the chamber will convene to pass non-spending bills and act on appointments Tuesday even if minority Democrats remain out of state.

Republican Sen. Scott Fitzgerald told The Associated Press on Sunday that he would be reviewing which bills and appointees to schedule for action. He says senators can't wait around "twiddling their thumbs" until the Democrats return.

Fourteen Democrats fled to Illinois last week to delay action on a budget bill that would effectively eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public employees. Republicans need 20 of 33 members to have a quorum to pass any spending bill but only a simple majority of 17 for other items.

Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller says Democrats will not return until Gov. Scott Walker is ready to compromise on his labor proposal.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information.

[keats5]

“If this was the private sector, they would be considered to have abandoned their jobs after 3 days.”

Perhaps the Republicans should pass a law to that effect.

[keats5]

“If this was the private sector, they would be considered to have abandoned their jobs after 3 days.”

Perhaps the Republicans should pass a law to that effect.

[Vigilanteman]

Great list. Another good one to add would be presidential electors assigned by congressional districts (used in Maine and Nebraska) rather than winner-take-all. This could leave the RATs with as few as 2-4 electors from Wisconsin!

[meyer]

And what is REALLY amazing to me? The Media is actually COVERING those FACTS!

That's good to see. And surprising!

[prairiebreeze]

Condolensces on your loss, mware. God bless you and yours.

[bcsco]

Yep. I downloaded that. I was one of the first to call the Clocktower Inn (one of the first FReepers, perhaps). There was a thread about it on Thursday. Being in Rochelle, 35 miles south, I got on the phone right away after posting the contact info on the thread.

I talked to a woman at the Inn who told me they were getting “a lot” of calls. She said she’d talk to the general manager. After that, others on the thread said they were unable to connect so I took it the phone bank was really lit up.
Had to go to a banquet that night, so had to get off the PC and dress for it. But Friday evening, a Rockford station had an interview with one of the senators who was in DeKalb (about 40 miles southeast) at Northern Illinois University. I also heard that others had scattered around the Rockford area.

[eyedigress]

Obama’s Legacy = Public Union Buster

[Repeal 16-17]

The Wisconsin senators are republicans, not necessarily conservatives. Voting against rinos without democrats is always easier. It will not be as easy for them to compromise, make deals, or reach across the isle.

Ah, yes, the RINOs. Good point.

Then the Wisconsin Senate should pass every non-fiscal bill that would have failed due to a RINO-Democrat alliance. Show the Democrats that they have cut off their noses to spite their faces.

[eyedigress]

If I miss two days my friends are kind enough to visit. Three days had better be a problem. I did it once and was out for 12 weeks. It was handled by my employer just fine.

[mware]

My brothers got home yesterday.

I haven't had a chance to talk with them about the Wisconsin wandereds yet.

[knittnmom]

Just got a robo-call from my union, claiming the Republican caucus is wavering. Funny, this article doesn’t look like “wavering” to me.

[timestax]

Drug tests for President obobo , and ALL the White Hut regime henchmen! why not?

[Track9]

10-4 on that! Good idea.

[Tzimisce]

The entire state of Wisconsin has come to a screeching halt because of an army of well entrenched thugs.

I wonder how many other states we’ll see where the little people will be put in their places....

[hosepipe]

Wisconsin republicans had better not let this crisis GO TO WASTE..
They need to get busy and DO SOME BUSINESS... it should cost the democrats for doing this..
If it don't IT WILL BE REPEATED..

[sgtyork]

Sorry for your loss mware.

[fortheDeclaration]

It wouldn’t be compromise, it would be a surrender.

[stubernx98]

Ripon is the Navigation point we all fly to when enroute to Oshkosh EAA Air Adventure, then follow the railroad tracks to Fisk, then rock your wings when identifyed for directions to the active runway.

Now i know why I am a Republican, the Tea Party Division

[ScreamingFist]

Looks like they might be reading FR?

Yes, apparently they can have quite the "Ho Down" without a single dem in attendance.......watch the short bus arrive back in Madison very quickly.....

[UnwashedPeasant]

Here is a summary of legislation proposed in this thread, so as not to let this "crisis go to waste":

CORRUPTION/WASTE

• Cull out the collective bargaining portion of the current budget bill and vote on it as a stand-alone non-budget bill.
• Eliminate State departments that are just arms of the left. The WI equivalent of HHS, EPA, NEA etc and just eliminate them.
• Drug tests for politicians

BASIC FREEDOMS

• Right to Work (teachers, etc., can opt out of the union)
• Open/Concealed Carry, no permit required
• Personhood Rights (maybe as a Constitutional Amendment)

EDUCATION

• School Choice (Vouchers might be considered fiscal and require quorum)
• End teacher tenure (including state colleges)

IMMIGRATION

• Check immigration status anyone using Emergency Room for preventive care, and deport offenders
• Anchor babies

ELECTIONS

• POTUS candidates MUST show a LEGAL Birth Certificate.
• Photo ID to vote
• Clear the voter rolls and make everyone reregister with authentic ID.
• Prevent students at the UW from voting in Madison & also absentee at their parents’ addresses
• Serious penalties on those who vote illegally.
• No more open primaries.
• No more registration on the day of the election.
• No more “provisional” ballots.
• If there are more ballots in a precinct than voters, it is considered automatic fraud.
• Official found guilty of election fraud loses their state pension, benefits, etc
• Runaway legislators succession: Declare the empty seats vacant and call special elections.
• Presidential electors assigned by congressional districts (used in Maine and Nebraska) rather than winner-take-all.

WELFARE

• Sterilization required to stay on Welfare over 3 years
• No more food stamps for fat people.
• And people receiving welfare can not own pets.
• Drug, alcohol, and nicotine testing for ANYONE on any kind of public assistance.

LOCAL ISSUES

• Eliminate 10% ethanol mandate
• Eliminate emissions testing for SE Wisconsin
• Allow spear fishing for everyone.

FISCAL ISSUES

• “What happens if nobody calls for a quorum and all votes are by voice vote?”