Article

2011-03-10 Economy

WI senate passes bill stripping collective bargaining from public workers

Bypassing Democrats hiding out in Illinois, Wisconsin Senate Republicans voted Wednesday night to strip state workers of their collective bargaining rights.

Republicans voted 18-1 in a hastily arranged special conference committee. None of the Senate Democrats were present.

All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker's so-called "budget repair bill" -- a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall..

The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights,and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved that bill a short time later.

Posted by lotp 2011-03-10 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11136 views ] Top

#1 Because of the insane union contracts in Wisconsin, one Madison bus driver, John E. Nelson, was able to make $159,000 in 2009 -- about $100,000 of which in overtime pay. Jackie Gleason didn't make that much playing bus driver Ralph Kramden on "The Honeymooners." Seven bus drivers took home more than $100,000 that year. Ann Coulter

I think insane state worker compensation has finally reached it's limitations.

Posted by Ebbomose Sinatra3659 2011-03-10 00:04|| 2011-03-10 00:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Die unions die.

Posted by AzCat 2011-03-10 00:13|| 2011-03-10 00:13|| Front Page Top

#3 A step in the right direction.

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2011-03-10 03:00|| 2011-03-10 03:00|| Front Page Top

#4 Watch out for the union thugs and leftist twerps trying a false-flag operation today or tomorrow to try and shift the blame to the Tea Party and the Right. Said operation will be violent.

It's coming.

Posted by Steve White 2011-03-10 07:50|| 2011-03-10 07:50|| Front Page Top

#5 ...especially in the face of the behavior of the other side which is no longer backing down. Normally, upon 'thinking' creatures that's a signal to step back and reassess what you're doing before making another move. In this case, they'll just double down the lower primate intimidation behaviors.

Posted by Procopius2k 2011-03-10 08:29|| 2011-03-10 08:29|| Front Page Top

#6 Senate Majority Leader Fitzgerald Statement on Senate Action

After nearly a month of debate on the budget repair bill, nearly three weeks of childish stunts and delay tactics from the Democrats, the longest public hearing in state history and the longest Assembly debate in state history, the Senate met tonight to pass the non-fiscal items in the Budget Repair Bill. Sen. Fitzgerald released the following statement:

"Before the election, the Democrats promised "adult leadership" in Madison. Then a month and a half into session, the Senate Democrats fled the state instead of doing their job.

"In doing so, they have tarnished the very institution of the Wisconsin state Senate. This is unacceptable.

"This afternoon, following a week and a half of line-by-line negotiation, Sen. Miller sent me a letter that offered three options: 1) keep collective bargaining as is with no changes, 2) take our counter-offer, which would keep collective bargaining as is with no changes, 3) or stop talking altogether.

"With that letter, I realized that we're dealing with someone who is stalling indefinitely, and doesn't have a plan or an intention to return. His idea of compromise is "give me everything I want," and the only negotiating he's doing is through the media.

"Enough is enough." "The people of Wisconsin elected us to do a job. They elected us to stand up to the broken status quo, stop the constant expansion of government, balance the budget, create jobs and improve the economy. The longer the Democrats keep up this childish stunt, the longer the majority can't act on our agenda.

"Tonight, the Senate will be passing the items in the budget repair bill that we can, with the 19 members who actually DO show up and do their jobs. Those items include the long-overdue reform of collective bargaining needed to help local governments absorb these budget cuts, and the 12 percent health care premium and 5 percent pension contribution.

"We have confirmed with the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the Legislative Council and the Legislative Reference Bureau that every item in tonight's bill follows the letter of the law.

"The people of Wisconsin elected us to come to Madison and do a job. Just because the Senate Democrats won't do theirs, doesn't mean we won't do ours."

Posted by Beavis 2011-03-10 08:29|| 2011-03-10 08:29|| Front Page Top

#7 What does this mean for the possibility of layoffs? Can WI now start cutting payroll?

Posted by AlanC 2011-03-10 08:40|| 2011-03-10 08:40|| Front Page Top

#8 I gather the unionists smashed all the windows in the bus that senators were using, fortunately they were not on board at the time. However, I hope the governor is prepared to bring out the National Guard if the unionists and agitators decide to attack the House.

Posted by Anonymoose 2011-03-10 08:45|| 2011-03-10 08:45|| Front Page Top

#9 This is just the beginning. Other states will soon follow. Fiscal sanity must be brought back to government. It must start with the local and state levels first.

Posted by Besoeker 2011-03-10 08:45|| 2011-03-10 08:45|| Front Page Top

#10 At some point it's either the tapeworm - or you.

A number of states are going to have to face that choice. It'll be interesting to see how many choose to die so that the tapeworm can live (for a little while longer at least).

Posted by CrazyFool 2011-03-10 09:18|| 2011-03-10 09:18|| Front Page Top

#11 Wisconsin Senate Democratic leader Mark Miller said Wednesday Democrats will "join the people of Wisconsin in taking back their government," but he refused to say when.

Miller then declined to offer specifics on how the Democrats might overturn the legislation but added, "Don't worry....we got a plan. Hey...we stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

Posted by DepotGuy 2011-03-10 10:42|| 2011-03-10 10:42|| Front Page Top

#12 Good on them. Enough with the trying to negotiate and work with thugs. Now start the lay offs.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-03-10 11:27|| 2011-03-10 11:27|| Front Page Top

#13 Unions - a 19th century solution to a 19th century problem.

Posted by Iblis 2011-03-10 12:51|| 2011-03-10 12:51|| Front Page Top

#14
DU has gone berserk

"I'd almost be willing to get a job in order to participate in A NATIONAL GENERAL STRIKE "

Posted by Beavis 2011-03-10 13:14|| 2011-03-10 13:14|| Front Page Top

#15 Good. The public unions are out of control. They don't respect democratic processes--only mob rule.

Posted by JohnQC 2011-03-10 13:36|| 2011-03-10 13:36|| Front Page Top

#16 DU has gone berserk

"I'd almost be willing to get a job ..."

Obviously.

Posted by gorb 2011-03-10 13:53|| 2011-03-10 13:53|| Front Page Top

#17 DU has gone berserk

The more they whine, the more I know it was the right call.

Posted by DarthVader 2011-03-10 14:55|| 2011-03-10 14:55|| Front Page Top

#18 Can get the jest by the avatars, but a number of posters who stuck around, by the end, were conceding as only a liberal can do, that everything was legit and they, whoever they are, lost and now what?

Someone busted out the scratchy pussy, I'd call it a day without a lexicon.

Posted by swksvolFF 2011-03-10 17:40|| 2011-03-10 17:40|| Front Page Top

#19 And Assembly passed it. Game over, unless someone takes a potshot at Walker. In which case it still gets signed, just delayed a couple days.

And don't think anybody isn't thinking about doing that. The sheer scope of Death-threats means at least a couple are. Saying a Prayer tonight for the Winsconsin Republicans safety.

Posted by Charles 2011-03-10 20:26|| 2011-03-10 20:26|| Front Page Top

#20 Wis. GOP Given Detailed Death Threat for Union Vote
Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your familes will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks.

Is this what our taxes pay for?

Posted by Goober Spusorong9530 2011-03-10 20:44|| 2011-03-10 20:44|| Front Page Top

#21 Is this what our taxes pay for?

No. It's what our employees pay their union dues for.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2011-03-10 21:18|| 2011-03-10 21:18|| Front Page Top

00:33 EMS Artifact