Shouting “Shame!” on Wisconsin Assembly floor before “union-busting” budget bill vote
This is video from the gallery of the WI Assembly past 1 AM in the morning on 2/25/2011. The Democrats have just been told by the speaker pro tempore there will be no more debate before the vote, even though there were more than a dozen Democrats in the queue to speak. They shout “Shame! Shame! Shame!”
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Wisconsin Assembly Charges Toward Vote on Budget Bill, Senate Remains Stuck
FOX News
Wisconsin Republicans in the state Assembly charged toward a vote on their controversial budget bill Thursday after compelling Democrats to limit debate, though the Senate remained stuck on account of 14 boycotting lawmakers.
The modest breakthrough on the Assembly side was announced at dawn following more than 42 hours of debate which began Tuesday morning. Under the plan, the Republican majority will allow another 38 amendments to be considered, for no more than 10 minutes apiece. That puts the Assembly on track for a vote perhaps as early as midday.
Though the announcement was pitched as a deal, state Democrats said Republicans were unilaterally bringing the debate to a close. One aide in Minority Leader Peter Barca’s office said Republicans gave the Democrats two options: debate 38 additional amendments or end debate immediately.
Democrats, who are in the minority, don’t have the votes to stop the bill once the vote occurs.
The movement on the Assembly side, though, stood in contrast to the situation in the Senate, where 14 Democratic lawmakers were still absent, blocking a vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s plan to curb union benefits and collective-bargaining rights.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald’s office confirmed to Fox News that state patrol officers had once again been dispatched to the homes of Democratic senators in the hope of persuading them to return. However, one of the 14 absent lawmakers said the caucus is still out of state and will not be swayed by police showing up at their doors. Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach said the senators will not be returning Thursday.
Passage of the bill in the Assembly would be a victory for Republicans and Walker, but the measure must still clear the Senate.
The battle over labor rights has been heating up across the country, as new Republican majorities tackle budget woes in several states. The GOP efforts have sparked huge protests from unions and their supporters and led Democrats in Wisconsin and Indiana to flee their states to block measures.
Walker reiterated Wednesday that public workers must make concessions to avoid thousands of government layoffs as the state grapples with a $137 million shortfall in its current budget and a projected $3.6 billion hole in the next two-year budget.
The marathon session in the Assembly was grand political theater, with exhausted lawmakers limping around the chamber, rubbing their eyes and yawning as Wednesday night dragged on.
Around midnight, Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, accused Democrats of putting on a show for the protesters. Democrats leapt up and started shouting.
“I’m sorry if democracy is a little inconvenient and you had to stay up two nights in a row,” Pocan said. “Is this inconvenient? Hell, yeah! It’s inconvenient. But we’re going to be heard!”
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Wild Thing’s comment………
It passed It Passed!
Just saw the 2:30 am ET breaking news update on Fox News… the Wisconsin Assembly did indeed pass Gov. Walker’s bill! WOO HOO!!!
The Dems would have walked out but GOP Stopped Debate and took the vote, Quick and sweet! Dems yelling shame, shame, shame, over and over, while Elvis(GOP) left the building!
This was the first huddle! Now the Senate still must pass the bill. This was just the Assembly. It has to go to the
Senate and then on to the Gov. But the way it passed was awesome! They may be voting on the bill later today.
This is a great move forward for freedom and liberty. Congratulations Wisconsin, and may the rest of the states emulate you!
Let us start putting public union requests/demands for wage and benefit increases on the ballot, along with the mayer’s/governors/presidents counter offers. Then these demands would be subject to the discipline of the market, just as are those in the private sector. Any associated tax increases should be part of the options, determined by an independent agency. Refusal to work under voter selected contract terms would result in dismissal. This may not be perfect; I hope it will serve as a starting point.
Dems acting like rabble. How typical.
Finially…Something is done. I wish California had the same balls. And think about the people first and not the UNIONS! the unions feel that they could harass the public and bank on us as much they can. This video just proved it. I am so scared that the unions will knock down my door and beat the crap on my family and myself because I am ANTI-UNION!!
Why not make contract expiration dates coincide with elections, and place governments’ offers and union demands on the ballot? This would make those demands subject to customers ‘vetoes’ just as in the private sector where price increases due to labor costs cause customers to buy non-union (ask the UAW). Who will hold down management offers? The voters can also decide whether to accept tax increases as a price for those better wages & benefits. If they reject the increases, they do so by voting out the existing “management” just as do shareholders by selling off their stock.
This the first victory. Now for the Senate.
My Son works for a Concrete company, they check the concrete for analysis, Foundations, soil samples and anything that has to do with pouring concrete. He had a job at the (‘Generous’ Motors’) GM, Lordstown plant, at 1AM, they poured 400 yards. And he got to see the UAW first hand. So I asked him what he thought of the UAW, his response was, “Lazy, disgraceful, sloths.” I thought that was a pretty good first impression. He said, He couldn’t believe they get paid for doing nothing, they sit down most of the night and barely move at all. One of the many reasons all cars are so over priced.
It is always amazing how entitled some folks feel. Sooner or later we have to cut back at all levels.
Thank you everyone for your great input.
Mark, thank you for sharing about your son and what he he has experienced and thinks about the UAW.