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2011-02-18 Home Front: Politix

Dems missing from Wis. Capitol ahead of union vote

Police officers are looking for Democratic Wisconsin politicians who were ordered to attend a vote on a bill that would strip public employees of collective bargaining rights.

No Democrats showed up for Thursday's Senate session, meaning a vote cannot be taken. Republicans need one Democratic senator to be present.

Technically, they need one more member to make a quorum. The thing is, all the remaining senators are Democrats.

Calls to Democratic leaders were not immediately returned.

Republicans are pushing the anti-union bill proposed by GOP Gov. Scott Walker. Thousands of people clogged the halls of the Statehouse for a third straight day in opposition.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says law enforcement officers were searching for Democrats after they were ordered to attend the Senate session.

Update:

Found hiding safely across state lines in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort in Rockford, Illinois. It is not clear if the bus that took them there had returned to base after dropping them off.

According to the Twitter account of Democrat State Senator Chris Larson from Bay View, "For those looking for us, we are right here, standing with the people of Wisconsin."

Standing with Wisconsin but not in Wisconsin...

When asked by TODAY'S TMJ4's Tom Murray why he would not divulge his location, he said "I don't want those details to take away from the message being sent by the people of Wisconsin."

2nd Update:

Tea Partiers rousted them out (it turns out the politicians are video camera-shy) and herded them back into Wisconsin. For the curious, they did keep the bus conveniently in the parking lot against future need... which arrived considerably sooner than they anticipated.

Posted by Fred 2011-02-18 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11134 views ] Top

#1 It's an 'anti-union' bill as long as you're the one skimming off the cream. It's practical and necessary if you're the one who has to provide the cream.
Public employees would not be 'stripped of collective bargaining rights.' They would still be free to leave their public employment & enter the private sector where they have those rights.
This is happening all over the country. A proposed Ohio bill dramatically reshape long-established union rights for perhaps 500,000 public workers at a time when the state faces a budget deficit estimated as high as $8 billion. Lots of union-generated uproar about this, taxpayers are curiously not being considered at all.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-02-18 00:40|| 2011-02-18 00:40|| Front Page Top

#2 Radio said Zero's operatives are helping roust out the protesters, however.

Posted by Bobby 2011-02-18 06:06|| 2011-02-18 06:06|| Front Page Top

#3 Paraphrasing - The legislation would make public workers pay half the pension cost and about one-eigth of their health care coverage.

Anticipated $30 million savings by July 1 and $300 million over the next two years will help address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall.

Another [you-know-who] article is full of explosive terms like "extract" money from unions, and "take away their rights" by "pro-business Republicans". [spit]

Meaning they got it, and now it can't be taken away, sucka!

Posted by Bobby 2011-02-18 06:32|| 2011-02-18 06:32|| Front Page Top

#4 For those who are not informed, the Bill contains the following:

Pension contributions - Requires employees who pay into the Wisconsin Retirement System to contribute 50 percent of their annual pension payment. That amount is estimated to be 5.8% of salary in 2011.

Health insurance contributions - Requires state employees to pay at least 12.6% of the average cost of annual premiums. Require changes to the plan design necessary to reduce current premiums by 5%. Local employers participating in the Public Employers Group Health Insurance plan would be prohibited from paying more than 88% of the lowest cost plan.

Collective bargaining - Makes various changes to limit collective bargaining for most public employees to wages. Total wage increases could not exceed a cap based on inflation unless approved by referendum. Contracts would be limited to one year and wages would be frozen until a new contract is settled. Collective bargaining units are required to take annual votes to maintain certification as a union. Employers would be prohibited from collecting union dues, and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues. Changes would be effective upon expiration of existing contracts. Law enforcement, fire employees and state troopers and inspectors would be exempt from the changes.

Limited term employees - Prohibits LTEs from being eligible for health insurance or participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System.

Absences and other work actions - Authorizes appointing agencies to terminate any employees who are absent for three days without approval or any employees participating in an organized action to stop or slow work if the governor has declared a state of emergency.

Health care, academic workers - Repeals the authority of home health care workers, family child care workers, UW Hospitals and Clinics employees, and UW faculty and academic staff to collectively bargain.

Debt restructuring - Authorizes restructuring of principal payments in the current budget for general obligation bonds, reducing debt payment costs by $165 million.

Medicaid deficit - Increases general revenue for Medicaid to cover an estimated $153 million deficit.

Corrections - Provides $22 million to address shortfalls in the prisons budget.

Heating plants - Authorizes the Department of Administration to sell state heating plants, with the net proceeds deposited in the budget stabilization fund.

Posted by Mullah Richard 2011-02-18 08:15|| 2011-02-18 08:15|| Front Page Top

#5 Anyone else notice the LSM has failed to mention the protesters are overwhelmingly white, like they mention about every TEA Party gathering? I think I saw a poster with crosshairs on the good Governor as well.

hypocrites

Posted by Beavis 2011-02-18 09:07|| 2011-02-18 09:07|| Front Page Top

#6 Employers would be prohibited from collecting union dues, and members of collective bargaining units would not be required to pay dues.

That's the killer. The power to extort money is a power only the government is suppose to have, but which closed shop unions have been granted. It's the fundamental source of their power. Closed shop puts a lie to the 'free association' 1st Amendment claims.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-02-18 09:07|| 2011-02-18 09:07|| Front Page Top

#7 As summarized by Mullah Richard (thanks Rich!), that bill is indeed 'radical' in the true meaning of the word -- a sharp break from the past.

While I understand the human response to want 'more', the public employees of Wisconsin just don't get how good they have it compared to other people in the private sector with similar jobs, duties and base salaries.

If times were good and public coffers were flush, we wouldn't be pushing limits and controls on the public employee sector. But times are not good. People are hurting. Homes are foreclosed, jobs are gone, hours and wages are cut, and social services are strained.

The unions, if they were long-term smart, would see this and volunteer to 'do their part' -- they would limit their demands now, perhaps even volunteer some cuts and returns, and build up chits for use when the good times return.

They aren't smart.

Posted by Steve White 2011-02-18 09:38|| 2011-02-18 09:38|| Front Page Top

#8 so, it's not "for the chilruns" after all. Whodathunkit?

Posted by Frank G 2011-02-18 10:09|| 2011-02-18 10:09|| Front Page Top

#9 Remember, they are on strike and protesting against the people who pay them. Taxpayers, who go to JAIL if they refuse to pay their taxes.

These spoiled brats need to be reminded they work for us and we can no longer afford to give them better pay and benefits than we ourselves have.

Fire the lot of them. PATCO style.

Posted by No I am The Other Beldar 2011-02-18 10:31|| 2011-02-18 10:31|| Front Page Top

#10 The Police and firefighters unions endorsed Walker for Gov. Police and firefighters are the only unions exempt from this bill. Maybe someone can explain how this is anything but political favoritism.
Just askin.

Posted by DepotGuy 2011-02-18 10:36|| 2011-02-18 10:36|| Front Page Top

#11 ..other than the citizenry can ask the police and fireman to make the ultimate sacrifice in their line of duty to save life and limb of the same citizenry. No difference at all then.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-02-18 10:48|| 2011-02-18 10:48|| Front Page Top

#12 We are going to see more and more of this kind of thing. So many states are broke because of pension plans and liberal unrestricted spending. Illinois, Ohio, California, Florida, and others are going be going through the same process. The crap is going to hit the fan when Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo does the same thing in N.Y. What part of "broke" do the politicians and public unions not understand? So far the politicians and public unions have not had to suffer the effects of a depression (I know, it's technically called a deep recession). The true numbers of 16-17% unemployed and higher in some places approaches 1930s depression figures. Until the politicians and public unions feel the effects of the depression we are "stuck on stupid."

Posted by JohnQC 2011-02-18 11:01|| 2011-02-18 11:01|| Front Page Top

#13 The unions simply cannot allow this law to pass - it'll set a precedent which other states might follow.

Police and Firefighers are first-responders and can be literally lose their life in the performance of their duties. Teachers(1) and Janitors less so. Plus things can get real bad real fast if they strike.

(1) at least in most school districts...

Posted by CrazyFool 2011-02-18 11:06|| 2011-02-18 11:06|| Front Page Top

#14 As first responders and protectors of the public, police and firefighters should remain publically apolitical. We as a nation hold the military to such standard, why not police or firefighters?

When a first respnder union endorses a candidate (and I don't give a damn who or if for good reason it creates a negative implication if that candidate is not elected) they cross a line. When they play union games when they have no dog in the fight -other than solidarity- they are engaging in politics. When they show up at such events dressed in turnout gear playing bagpipes they soil the professional turnout gear which represents the I'm going to help you no matter what honorable trust which both responders and general public must have in each other.

Such cheap carnival tricks should be flatly condemned by the Wisconsin Firefighter Union, indeed nationally, for allowing such petty soiling of the commitment represented by the firefighters' working gear.

And any of those drones out there holding signs claiming all firefighters want labor, which is a headstand in bullshit*, who are not directly related to a firefighter should be socially charged as the cowards they are.

*if you are unaware firefighter unions across the nation who have done some good things are in an effort to do something very bad for their own political gain and that is to unionize firefighters nationally which is unwarrented, unwelcome, and quite honestly too expensive. As the commercial says 70% of firefighters are volunteers...think it is expensive now?

And I am not saying firefighters who are in unions feel different. People can be trained to hook up hoses and shit, not everyone can face hell with no doubt they will win, pure and simple. They work hard and earn the pride they carry. These people are acting like jackasses and you know it, supposed to care for the civilians not bully them out of money when they don't have any.

The rest of the public unions brought this upon themselves by not policing your own unions, which is an utter failure on the union side of the contract. We see how it has worked in the private sector and know damn well that government work is worse. Bunch of crying in a sea of red just makes me think anal seepage.

And for you, Mr. President, in a world of instability you sow that very instability against the government of a major US state? How dare you. We want Walker, want him for what do tell, and don't piss on my back and claim they were saying recall. Walker is Mubarak, Madison is Cairo, these are the storylines you side with? Where is the rightous indignation you presented in Arizona? I pity the people who voted for your jaunt as President.

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-02-18 13:28|| 2011-02-18 13:28|| Front Page Top

#15 I think the Unions should just run the pensions.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2011-02-18 13:30|| 2011-02-18 13:30|| Front Page Top

#16 Worthwhile consideration of the long term implications of the activities in Madison and Rockford.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-02-18 13:48|| 2011-02-18 13:48|| Front Page Top

#17 There is socialism. Then there is radical socialism (unions).

Posted by Slavith Prince of the Trolls4256 2011-02-18 14:28|| 2011-02-18 14:28|| Front Page Top

#18 Reagan had the right idea with the Air Traffic Controller strike.

Posted by Iblis 2011-02-18 14:54|| 2011-02-18 14:54|| Front Page Top

#19 Nowhere to hide for the Wisconsin Senators. Tea Parties only need a phone with built-in video and they become reporters. Such a beautiful thing to behold. I almost hope they come to my town in Iowa to hide. I'd love to get some questions in.

Posted by Charles 2011-02-18 15:27|| 2011-02-18 15:27|| Front Page Top

#20 Can Wisconsin legislators be recalled?

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-02-18 18:24|| 2011-02-18 18:24|| Front Page Top

#21 What is it about LOOSING an ELECTION that these MORONS don't understand?

Posted by Water Modem 2011-02-18 18:54|| 2011-02-18 18:54|| Front Page Top

#22 Close the Department of Education, encourage non-profit private schools. Sell buses penny on the dollar. Property tax free for education centers. GED type test but diploma award option to anyone interested in graduating early. For the rest of the year, hire some unemployed professionals to babysit, talk about the trade they used to work for, learn about furniture, agriculture, services. Rotate around a bit. That gives 6 months minimum to get up and running. Poor families can apply for gov grant based on performance, schools provide classic education and vo-tech choices as early as 7th grade. Make available teaching corriculum by mail or internet..ciminy it would be cheaper to buy and hook up a computer in every house than run the school system. Whatever the babysitting laws are, relax them for kids going to a house for school. There's a place to start.

What sort of parliamentary procedures are available to a simple majority?

Since when was red a union color? Shouldn't it be purple or blue? Or do they understand that this is so unpopular they have to wear another team's color?

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-02-18 18:59|| 2011-02-18 18:59|| Front Page Top

#23 Thats right. What about the tax-payer/voter voting bloc union. These people lying about why they are not at work, but everyone else who suddenly must find the time to watch their kids they can't lie out of work.

Sorry I can't make it in boss, but the people who are supposed to be at work teaching my kid called in hooky so they could go complain on TV about how they are no longer immune from being fired. Yes I know that account is due, but it appears the hooky teachers are very serious about getting more health care benifits before obamacare skyrockets the costs, and the representatives are very busy calling in hooky at another state sleeping well that they cannot be fired for not showing up to work. Thank you sir, I will do my best from home sir.

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-02-18 19:06|| 2011-02-18 19:06|| Front Page Top

#24 I don't think its red - as in red-vs-blue as in American politics - more like Red as in Communism / Socialism. See North Korea, old Soviet Union, RED China, etc...

I never could understand why blue represents Liberals and Red represents Conservatives. You would think that the Liberals (at least since Pres. Wilson) would be more RED). Maybe the media set the colors.

Posted by CrazyFool 2011-02-18 19:06|| 2011-02-18 19:06|| Front Page Top

#25 Never got it either, first heard about it Bush/Gore, thought the colors were reversed but didn't really care. It is days like this I look at how that came to be and think yes there is a massive left-wing presence in the media and this was a false flag purposeful move - OR I could just be really mad 100,000 people will interfere or completely disrupt the lives of the other 5.5 million residents of WI; that is less than 2% of the population.

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-02-18 19:23|| 2011-02-18 19:23|| Front Page Top

#26 Maybe the media set the colors.

Ya think? Who's the blue force? Now in the old days, well get out your AH Gettysburg. Republicans, Blue. Democrats Red (or pink). Same in Chancellorsville. The media got a chucle out of making the trunks the Reds.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-02-18 19:31|| 2011-02-18 19:31|| Front Page Top

#27 Red Staters was based off Red Neck - that's the media's way of denigration by association - just like mis-naming Tea Partiers as Tea Baggers. Which, is a slang term for a sexual act. F*ck the parrot press corps - I can stand the MSM or the celebutards they adore.

Posted by Broadhead6 2011-02-18 20:01|| 2011-02-18 20:01|| Front Page Top

#28 Maybe the media set the colors.

On the back of a 2001 North Carolina quarter, someone cold pressed 'RED STATE' in red, on the tail side, against the Wright Brothers plane. It's proudly hanging on my computer in this bluest of states (MA).

Posted by Raj 2011-02-18 20:20|| 2011-02-18 20:20|| Front Page Top

#29 100,000 people will interfere or completely disrupt the lives of the other 5.5 million residents of WI; that is less than 2% of the population.
So what are the 98% going to do about it? Or will they just keep tuning in 'American Idiot'?

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2011-02-18 20:23|| 2011-02-18 20:23|| Front Page Top

#30 "Avergave teacher pay, $100,000.00." Link at DrudgeReport. Down due to overloaded server...

Posted by Pheter Big Foot6839 2011-02-18 20:38|| 2011-02-18 20:38|| Front Page Top

#31 It all comes down to no accountability, and when someone tries to enforce some accountability, the unions and their co-conspirators rise up in revolt. I'd bet if we started shooting some of those school teachers or union members for aggressive fraud, the whole thing would stop. We, the actual citizens of this nation that do the day-to-day work and make this country work, need to rise up in ARMS to put things right. The entire last two years have been a travesty of republican government and a case study for tyranny. Expect to see a lot more of it before it stops. The only way it's going to stop is when we, the people, stand up and break the heads of those that want to rule us, rather than govern in our name. That includes every damned union in the United States.

Posted by Old Patriot 2011-02-18 23:13|| 2011-02-18 23:13|| Front Page Top

00:33 EMS Artifact