The Wisconsin Cheese Showdown

[DrScholl]

It is so ridiculous that Republicans always have to create drama when the come into power. The message is clear that they need to back off, but we all know they never take a hint.

[DrScholl]

Good for them.

[DrScholl]

Walker is not going to back down, he's done this in Milwaukee and will do it again. According to the WI Constitution all that needs to be done is separate the collective bargaining provision into its own bill, which can be passed with a simple majority. Once that's done the AWOL Dems will have to come back on the budget and everything else. Did they not remember what happened to the Texas Dems who pulled the same stunt 8 years ago? Got the boot in the next election.

"The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service."

- Franklin Roosevelt

The issue is the quorum and nothing can be passed with out a proper quorum. Until they come back, Walker can't do a thing.

[DrScholl]

I believe the state patrol could bring them in, which is why they left the jurisdiction.

[DrScholl]

Wrong; they can pass anything non budget related with a 50% quorum.

Time to gerrymander.

I didn't mention other measures, just the one being discussed here. The Republicans were already going to gerrymander (perhaps dummymander), so the opportunity is any different right now.

[DrScholl]

This sets a TERRIBLE precedent... if you can't win a legislative fight, just abandon your job.  Sure, it's just once now, but soon it'll turn into only for "important" bills, and then you'll see it happening for pretty much everything.

Look at what happened with the filibuster... it's become abused to the point that it's now a procedural motion that nearly every bill has to overcome.

If the bill wasn't a real problem, they would not have gone to such lengths. I think that some procedural measures like this are necessary, to guard against the majority overstepping with legislation.

[DrScholl]

This isn't procedural... this is not doing your job.  Procedure is a filibuster or other actions in the chambers.  Leaving the state is leaving your job.

Well, the majority can't do anything without a quorum, so it does relate to procedure.

[DrScholl]

But I'm guessing that you'd oppose the Sergeant at Arms bringing these people back into the chamber... as is legal procedure?

The Sergeant at Arms has to do their job regardless, so had they remained in the jurisdiction and being returned to the capitol, there would be no legit reason to oppose that.

[DrScholl]

Lets hope those recalls go through. There needs to be consequences to this action.

[DrScholl]

No matter how this went, the result was going to be the same, Republicans have stepped in it in Wisconsin. Next election, they are going to have zero credibility for overreaching and swing voters aren't going to be perceptive to them. What reason would they have to be?

[DrScholl]

Because they acted like adults and fixed the state's fiscal mess without raising taxes?

The next scheduled state election is over a year and a half away.  That's an eternity in politics.  Things that are important today may be forgotten.  Or not.

Remember - recalls work both ways, too.

Steaming pile of manure, the fiscal portions were removed, which is why this foolishness passed.

This is not something that will be forgotten, when a party overreaches, it has consequences.

The Democrats aren't the one who stepped in it, the Republicans are, it's not hard to see who is in the most trouble for a recall. But delude yourself if you like.

[DrScholl]

But how does taking away rights make anything better? Especially since every financial provision was removed from the bill so that it could pass. This is not about what it's been made out to be and I wouldn't be surprised if Republicans tried to find way to extend this into private sector unions.

[DrScholl]

Interesting way to put it...

The definition of a Freudian slip. The supporters know what the real game is, which is why they are so glad about the passage.

[DrScholl]

The healthcare bill that was debated for nearly a full year? The one based on past Republican proposals? The one where Obama and the Democrats bended over backwards to moderate Republicans trying to include them in negotiations? The one where members of the public were allowed in the House and Senate chambers to see the votes on the legislation? That one?

And despite all that, it still hurt the Democrats, which is the point I was making in the post you quoted.

It also included a lot of Republican amendments that were introduced over the long period of debate.

[DrScholl]

All 20 of the 20 largest industries donated more to Democrats in 2010 than Republicans.

If that is true, which it probably isn't and was made up on the spot, it doesn't mean much of anything since the Republicans do bigger and more favors for corporations than Democrats do. That aside, it's very hard to believe that industry would have given more to Democrats in 2010 of all years.