The deed is apparently done, Wisconsin's Senate has said enough with the punkish behavior of the Dems, and has voted to modify the collective bargaining abilities of public-sector unions in Wisconsin.As the gentleman below vigorously asserts, representation is what Wisconsonites voted for, *not* unions!
With the passage of the Senate bill, the Wisconsin Assembly is expected to pass the bill on Thursday and Governor Scott Walker is thereafter expected to sign it into law.
I don't know where The Weekly Standard obtained the below statement (it isn't on Scott Fitzgerald's legislative homepage at present) but I presume it's accurate. Here is Scott Fitzgerald in his own words:
“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.”
Congratulations to the Wisconsin Senate. You showed great deference to the anti-democratic shenanigans exhibited by the opposing party but it was high time to move forward.
Hi RG, stopped by to see your take on things, lots here and will come back after I clear my desk of some things. But, you know how I always visit the spots where the left folks express themselves.... am struck by how overwhelmingly Marxist-like they are...I am sure I am getting a skewed sample and my readings may not reflect the actual Dem party, but between Harry Reid's cowboy poets and this, yikes!!!
Steph
Posted by: Steph Staten | March 10, 2011 at 11:26 AM
Steph, there's a reformation coming to the Dems and their party. One way or the other. And the dumb asses that have led them astray will pay the price for their America-hating stupidity.
This country desperately needs a patriotic left-wing but these public-sector union clowns have made an unholy alliance with the America-haters and forever warped that party.
To hell with all of 'em.
Posted by: RattlerGator | March 10, 2011 at 11:38 AM