Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

The 14 Senate Democrats who are boycotting a vote on a controversial "union-busting" bill have left the state, a Wisconsin state senator said.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach says the group wants to force negotiations over the Republican-backed bill, which would strip most public employees of their collective-bargaining rights.
Erpenbach said that he and his colleagues had left Wisconsin, but he would not say where.
He said the plan is to slow down the bill because it's "tearing the state apart."
Senate Republicans hold a 19-14 majority but can't vote on the bill unless at least one Democrat is present. Police could be dispatched to retrieve them, but it was unclear if they would have the authority to cross state lines.
"It's kind of unbelievable that they're elected to do a job and they wouldn't show up to do it," Republican Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald told Fox News

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011...#ixzz1EFm8fM1G

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Same thing the Democrats did in Texas to avoid a redistricting vote. LOL!

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

They should just change the law and make their unexplained absence an "abstain" and allow the vote to go on

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Just bring one back.

Does this reek of school ground antics to anyone else?

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

A local NBC station reported that the senators are staying in the Best Western Clock Tower Resort in Rockford, Ill. But a receptionist refused to confirm or deny to FoxNews.com that the senators were there before hanging up.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

I did hear part of this on MSNBC, and I was unclear why they left, but thanks to your post, I understand why they left, so the republicans can not pass the bill. That is a smart move to help the working middle class, firefighters, and teachers. It is about time for democrats to quit buckling down under the republicans and get a back bone and stand up.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

How stupid. If politicians refuse to show up for a vote, they should lose their jobs.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

It is a smart move to disallow the vote of the duly elected officials of the state until the vote will turn in their own favor?

No need to answer.

I know how you feel on the issue.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Absolutely and without question.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

It's funny how people back a certain political party no matter what they do. No independence outside a political party. Talk about sad.
It's okay to not do the job you are paid for, just to show someone else they are wrong. All of those that favor their actions, stay home from work until they come back, and see how long you have a job.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

My goodness, 19 to 14, and a stupid bill that will hurt the working middle class, the ones that put those 14 democrats in office is certainly cheering tonight. I thank God for our firemen and policemen that risk their lives daily, not many people has guts like that, and then the republicans want to take away from them instead of the 2 percent of the wealthiest in our country. Republicans do not have compassion for people, and they call themselves Christians, nothing like Christ at all.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Texas Democrat legislators pulled this stunt a few years ago. What a slap in the face of democracy. When things don't go your way you just leave the state so a vote can't happen?

They ought to forfeit their office if they continue this garbage. The Governor is just keeping his campaign promise with this legislation.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

But they are the ones that are actually hurting these people, by not showing up and voting. Good grief. Take a stand and vote.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

If the Republicans were doing this, you would hear about how they are subverting Democracy.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

That is a very judgmental statement. Do you really believe that? I mean, you're talking about people who are your brothers and sisters in Christ, aren't you?

In this case, the particulars of the bill are irrelevant, and obviously whether anyone will be "hurt" is open to interpretation. What is relevant is that we elect politicians to do a certain job and if they plan to shirk their responsibilities then someone else should hold their office.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

I would feel the same way if it were Republicans. Quit being jerks and do your job.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

If they stayed, what would the outcome of the vote be? And if they left, what would the outcome be? Yes, they did the right thing for the working middle class of Wisconsin. I believe that they did what they were voted into office to do, and that is...what is best for their constituents.

Now come on, think about it, if you knew that your vote would not help, and your presence would only hurt the working middle class (if your cared about them)...What would you do? You have to admit, that it was a smart move.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

I don't agree with you, SS. And they are still being paid with taxpayers money to not do their jobs. I call that theft.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

SS - so you would support Republicans walking out over legislation they disagreed with?
But had no chance to stop except for a walkout.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Well, I don't know if they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. I do know that we are to be like Jesus Christ, and He had compassion for people. Maybe not all republicans believe the same way, and they might just see who they are supporting and remember this when they go to the polls again.

I believe that those 14 democrats are doing what they were voted into office to do, and that is to help the working middle class. If they stayed, it was a sure thing, that it was going to hurt the teachers, firemen and policemen.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

In what way are they doing the right thing for the "working middle class of Wisconsin" by avoiding the vote?

Have you actually read the bill? Visit here if you didn't.

The bill will "..require state employees to pay about 5.8% toward their pension (about the private sector national average) and about 12% of their healthcare benefits (about half the private sector national average). These changes will help the state save $30 million in the last three months of the current fiscal year...."

Did you read this part?

"...These changes will help the state fulfill its Medicaid spending on needy families of about $170 million; funding that the previous administration did not have in its budget. It will also allow the state to spend an additional $21 million in the Department of Corrections."

And this is a huge problem how?

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Cindy we all do have our opinions. But if I am seeing the news correctly, their constituents are in the streets in Wisconsin that voted them into office. The firemen, teachers, policemen and the working middle class...did put them into office. These are the folks that are protesting what the governor and the 19 republicans are doing. These folks in the street are the taxpayers.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Actually, politicians are in office to serve the public in general, regardless of whether they are upper, lower or middle class.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

New Jersey Governor addresses the same type of problem:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner...-daniel-foster

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

The problem is that the governor and the 19 republicans want to cut the working middle class and not touch the wealthy. Read the bill, the pensions that these folks have earned. If you listen to the news, other states have raised the taxes on the rich folks, they wouldn't even miss it. Why can't the governor and the other 19 republicans in Wisconsin do the same? See that is the problem, cut the working middle class, but don't tax the wealthy, that is the republican agenda.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

There are 98,000 teachers in Wisconsin. I am sure they are not happy to be taking a pay cut.
However, many, many private business have had their wages frozen and have had to pay more for their insurance.
We are not on a sustainable path, they good old days of borrowing against the future are drawing to a close.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

SS - it is an amazing fact that as soon as you raise taxes on the rich, they transfer residence to another state.
Every state that has done this has seen a shortfall.
Well, I say every, but I know it is most.
If you want links, I will find them for you.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Republican agenda....Take from the working middle class and give to the poorer class, and let the rich, keep on getting richer and richer, don't take from them by all means.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

You don't think Democrats help their rich friends or the rich the same way?

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

SS - I say this with all due respect.
I am a former Democrat.
I am a former union member/steward and an organizer.
Yes, I organized two manufacturing plants for my union.
I voted and worked in Walter Mondale's campaign.
You need to educate yourself more on how the world really works.
We can never, never elevate the poor by dragging down the rich.
The reason?
The poor will keep doing the things that made them poor and the rich will keep doing the things that made them rich.
You remind me of myself when I was 20 and knew the answer to all of the world's problems.
However, I grew out of it.

Please challenge your opinions and thought processes.
That is why I like AFF, because it challenges me on what I believe.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Seascapes would you prefer the Gov fire some of the teachers and firefighters? Let's see if you have enough on the ball to understand this. THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY! NO MONEY! NO MONEY! It's against the law for the states to print their own money. And it's against the law to steal.....well maybe not, their tax rate is already so high they are stealing from the middle class. But that don't matter if it's the Unions ...anything is okay.

Again, just in case you missed it!!!! THEY DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY!!!

Been Thinkin (Why don't you try that.....thinkin?)

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Yep, the dems are really helping the working class by sinking them in trillions of debt and then pushing for a health care reform bill from which they promptly asked for an exemption for all union members.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

This is a democratic nation. We choose elected representatives who are supposed to represent the people. If the people of Wisconsin wanted a more liberal government they can vote it in. The Democrats are not doing this because they are bleeding heart liberals. They gain the most financial benefits from the Unions, that's all.

Without the passing of this bill they would have to either lay off those middle class workers or raise their taxes to pay for the unionized workers wages and benefits

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Teachers, firemen and police only make up a fraction of the middle class. The Democrat solution is to tax them more to pay for that small fraction

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Farmers used to be mainly Democrats.
However they, as well as a lot of us feel that:
"we didn't leave the Democratic party, the Democratic party left us."

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

this would be an accurate discription of my entire family.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Interesting article on this issue from madison.com:

[B]Wisconsin needs to be fiscally responsible.

There is no question that these are tough times, and they may require tough choices.

But Gov. Scott Walker is not making tough choices. He is making political choices, and they are designed not to balance budgets but to improve his political position and that of his party.

It is for this reason that the governor claims Wisconsin is in such deep financial trouble that Wisconsinites should view this as a crisis moment.

Read more here: http://m.host.madison.com/mobile/new...c8b2aaaf6.html

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

There is a lot of fraction protesting in Wisconsin, I don't believe all those people protesting is just firemen, teachers and police. This will spread to other states probably.

The real problem the media is saying is....the governor and the 19 republicans won't come to the table and talk, and try to solve this problem with the others. The governor is like a dictator, it is going to be my way only. There are also other ways to cut, one way is to tax the weathiest, or to raise the sales tax. Just to target the union workers is just not right.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Thank you twisp....for the outstanding post. Another bad apple in the republican party.

Re: Missing Wisconsin Democrats
 

Which problem should they solve? The problem that the majority don't agree with them?