Wisconsin Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Union Bill

MADISON, Wis. - Protesters clogged the hallways of the Wisconsin state Capitol on Thursday as the Senate prepared to pass a momentous bill that would strip government workers, including school teachers, of nearly all collective bargaining rights.

The nation's most aggressive anti-union proposal has been speeding through the Legislature since Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced it a week ago. After clearing a major legislative hurdle Wednesday night, it was headed to votes in the Senate and Assembly.

Hundreds of protesters massed outside the Senate chamber on the second floor of the Capitol early Thursday, hours before the planned vote. Republican leaders said it has the votes to pass in both the Senate and Assembly. Protesters who oppose Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers gathered in the rotunda at the State Capitol in Madison on Wednesday.The bill marks a dramatic shift for Wisconsin, which passed a comprehensive collective bargaining law in 1959 and was the birthplace of the national union representing all non-federal public employees.

Thousands of protesters, including children and teachers from more than two dozen schools forced to close due to high absences, were expected in and outside the Capitol for a third day of protests. Schools in Madison, the state's second largest district with 2,600-union covered employees, closed for a second day.

http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/17/wisco ... nion-bill/

watching the news a few minutes ago, the democrats didn't show up to vote for this bill...so what do liberals do, we don't get our way? We will not not show up to vote!

Walker takes broad swipe at public employee unions
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/ ... 03286.html

Saying those who didn't see it coming must have been in a "coma," Gov. Scott Walker unveiled sweeping legislation that would severely curtail public employee rights and dramatically change the way Wisconsin negotiates with unions going forward.

Officials alerted the Wisconsin State Employees Union on Friday that expired collective bargaining agreements would be canceled March 13. State unions have been operating under the terms of their previous contracts, an arrangement that can be terminated with 30 days notice.

This is a beautiful thing.

So how do the Democrats react?
Dems missing from Wis. Capitol ahead of union vote

MADISON, Wis. – Police officers were dispatched Thursday to find Wisconsin state lawmakers who had apparently boycotted a vote on a sweeping bill that would strip most government workers of their collective bargaining rights.

The lawmakers, all Democrats in the state Senate, did not show up when they were ordered to attend a midday vote on the legislation.

You can run, but you can't hide!

I am really proud of the way the Wisconsin GOP is handling this. I hope it spreads to all states.

You can expect this to happen around the county..we can't afford to pay extra..yet, union workers don't care! Time to shut them down..I'd say go ahead and vote without them..the dems are not doing their jobs by walking out.

Let's be clear about the issue. The "Budget Reform Bill" has nothing to do with fixing the deficit nor the economy. It is about bargaining rights, rights that Wisconsin was the first to make law. It is and was to help middle class have a say in their working conditions and pay. If all public employees lose bargaining rights, they lose ...all power to negotiate.

Under the guise of a so-called "budget repair bill," Governor Scott Walker has unleashed an unprecedented attack on the rights of unionized public employees.

Walker's budget has nothing to do with solving Wisconsin's fiscal challenges and everything to do with enacting an anti-worker, anti-union, corporate agenda.

Walker's budget will revoke the rights of unionized state nurses, home care workers, child care workers and UW employees, local school teachers, and other public servants to form and maintain their unions.

Are Wisconsin Public Employees Over-compensated? http://www.epi.org/publications/entry/are_wisconsin_public_employees_over-compensated/
Read the article. They found that public employees ARE NOT overcompensated when compared to private sector-even factoring in their benefit packages. I have mixed feelings about the whole thing, but I find that most people base their decisioin on anectdotes and emotion. To be truly informed, everyone must get the facts.

Guess I am just baised because most of my family back in WI are teachers.

Photo, did you watch the interview from the new gov? He is right on, we need to cut everywhere, its starts with the teachers union, I hardly think what he is asking will make anyone go broke, why shouldn't they pay more into their healthcare and retirement bennys? I don't think that's asking to much. I have many family members that are teachers as well in the Watertown and Waukesha school dist..they feel it's time to tighten their belts.

Dems missing from Wis. Capitol ahead of union vote

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110217/ap_ ... get_unions

Police officers were dispatched Thursday to find Wisconsin state lawmakers who had apparently boycotted a vote on a sweeping bill that would strip most government workers of their collective bargaining rights.

The lawmakers, all Democrats in the state Senate, did not show up when they were ordered to attend a midday vote on the legislation.


F'N COWARDS!! If they can't get their way then they run and hide!! The Democrats have never had the balls to stand up for anything that is right and in the best interest for America!!

Guess nobody likes it when bills are shoved down their throats. :Whistle

This bill is a retribution by the governor for not backing him in the election. He does not share their priorities: family first.Consider the speed at which he wishes to have the bill passed. Do you not sense the urgency? Ask yourself "Why is ...he trying to get this through the Joint Finance Committee and into the Senate andHouse so quickly?" He knows it is bad policy!

You seemed to be pretty upset when this tactic was used by Obama & Pelosi on the health care bill. :bash

Public sector unions SHOULD be illegal. They negotiate with someone who does not have the ability to go out of business, which gives the union unfair leverage. Basically they are negotiating with the people who they put in power.

Good for Wisconsin!!

Interesting, the democrats found a way to counter a forced vote, very enterprising of them and much better than sitting there and whining about it. I much prefer action to whining.