Protests In Wisconsin

[AOII Angel]

The democratic delegation fled to avoid giving the Republican delegation quorum. It's a legitimate way to prevent allowing the bill to go forward. If having quorum is necessary to allow a vote, not showing up is an option.

[Beryana]

Actually they have been called to the floor and HAVE to show up. Not showing up is NOT an option. They ran to IL so the Wisconsin State Patrol has no authority to escort them back to work. The funny thing is, for the past 8 years the Democrats have had the majority and the Republican minority never threatened to leave the state to stop a vote for taking place.

And the Madison school district closed the schools because 40% of the teachers called in sick. . . .that's a LOT of subs and most don't have that sort of sub list. If the teachers called in the day/night prior it is easy for the district to make a decision and let the parents know. That sort of system is already in place for snow days. That still does not make it in the best interest of the students for schools to close down like this.

[AOII Angel]

Directly from Wisconsin's Senate Website:

Senate Rule 15. Roll call, quorum. Before proceeding to business, the roll of the members shall be called, and the names of those present and those absent shall be entered on the journal. A member present during any part of a roll call day shall be included in the official attendance roll call for that day. A majority of the membership presently serving must be present to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; a smaller number, however, can adjourn and may compel the attendance of absent members. When a roll call discloses the lack of a quorum, further business may not be conducted until a quorum is obtained, but the members present may take measures to procure a quorum or may adjourn.

http://nxt.legis.state.wi.us/nxt/gat...senate%20rules

So basically, this is NOT unheard of. The Republicans can choose to find the Democrats and "compel" them to attend the session OR adjourn.

[agzg]

I can't prove it to you people since none of you work in my office but I just wanted to tell you that I called it that the Dems would be found in Rockford, Illinois.

Also, I talked to my SIL in NY State and she said the teacher's union there has been talking about possible courses of action should something similar happen in NY (and it might - NY is in terrible financial shape right now).

[Elephant Walk]

The government workers yet again acting embarrassing.

[AOEforme]

Here is the report from the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau which determined that the state will end the year with a balance of $121.4 million. (http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/Misc/2011_01_31Vos&Darling.pdf). Please note the date on the memo: January 31, 2011. This memo has NOTHING to do with the passage of the bill.

Where then is the $137 million dollar deficit coming from? If you continue to read the memo, it shows nearly 1/2 of this deficit comes from programs Walker has pushed through, including a $67 million for a tax incentive plan that benefits employers and $48 million for private health savings accounts.


This is just from the fiscal point of view. This has nothing to do with money. This about the fact that a single bill is busting unions and ruining education in Wisconsin.

If you care at all for the future of the state, you can't cut education. There was an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about a year ago which went over the data from high school and college graduations in the state. Most students in the top 10% of their class left the state, for either college or careers. The article went on to discuss how incentive needed to be created to keep these students in the state, because the state's financial situation would soon deteriorate as well.

When you cut education budgets, you are really just shooting yourself in the (metaphorical) foot twenty years down the line.

A link to the Capital Times Article which more eloquently goes over the financial situation I eluded to above: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opin...c8b2aaaf6.html

[ThetaDancer]

A friend's video. http://vimeo.com/20089255

[agzg]

Sidenote: If you people are on t_witter, you need to be following @MayorEmanuel. His account of what went down between the Wisconsin Dems and his crew (including Quaxlerod) last night is most hilarious.

[KSUViolet06]

I knew what this was going to be about before I clicked the thread.

Yes, things are getting crazy re: the same type of bill here in Ohio.

My teacher friends are not happy campers at all.

[sceniczip]

^^^Teachers at my school aren't concerned. I'm not either at this point. I'm hoping to get a job at a Catholic school, which you don't have the same retirement system. Even if I'm at a public school though I'm still going to set up my own retirement fund in addition to STRS. It's what we've been advised to do and I think it's a pretty good idea. Mom told me starting with my first paycheck I should start putting money away even if it's only $20.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by sceniczip

^^^Teachers at my school aren't concerned. I'm not either at this point. I'm hoping to get a job at a Catholic school, which you don't have the same retirement system. Even if I'm at a public school though I'm still going to set up my own retirement fund in addition to STRS. It's what we've been advised to do and I think it's a pretty good idea. Mom told me starting with my first paycheck I should start putting money away even if it's only $20.

I don't think everyone has been advised to do that, hence, the freaking out.

It's smart, though.

[sceniczip]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

I don't think everyone has been advised to do that, hence, the freaking out.

It's smart, though.

You're right, I don't think they have. They are starting to tell us new teachers that though because they mentioned it at our one student teaching meeting. I think it's also hard because how many 22 year olds are thinking about their retirement? Unless they have someone to guide them through the whole process. One meeting during student teaching though probably doesn't get the point across!

[Drolefille]

Saw this and thought it was cool:
Firefighters (who are exempt from this bill) marched on the rotunda with bagpipes in a show of support for the unions affected.
Vid 1
Vid 2

[ThetaDancer]

On Friday, Republicans in the state assembly started voting on the budget repair bill before the session was scheduled to start. When Democrats arrived (again, before the session was scheduled to begin), Republicans were on the 3rd motion and the microphones for the Democrats had been turned off. When he was finally able to speak, Gordon Hintz, a representative from Oshkosh, was irate. This video of Hintz speaking is making the rounds on facebook, etc.; it sort of explains the tone that has been brewing in Wisconsin for a while. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZsOKNfNkfQ

FYI, the vote was later rescinded.

[AnchorAlum]

Originally Posted by ThetaDancer

On Friday, Republicans in the state assembly started voting on the budget repair bill before the session was scheduled to start. When Democrats arrived (again, before the session was scheduled to begin), Republicans were on the 3rd motion and the microphones for the Democrats had been turned off. When he was finally able to speak, Gordon Hintz, a representative from Oshkosh, was irate. This video of Hintz speaking is making the rounds on facebook, tumblr, etc., but it sort of explains the tone that has been brewing in Wisconsin for a while. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZsOKNfNkfQ

FYI, the vote was later rescinded.

I didn't watch the utuber, but what was the reason given for turning off the mikes? Was it because they cut off debate after X number of hours? News outlets are reporting that there had been over 17 hours of debate on the issue and that the Republicans wanted to vote and Dems wanted to continue debate.

Just asking.