Early this morning, the Wisconsin Assembly passed a bill to strip most public workers of their collective bargaining rights. After debating for more than 60 hours straight, Republicans shut down the debate and called a surprise vote. BAM — just like that.
This is the first big action on fulfilling Republican Governor Scott Walker’s master plan of so-called budget repair. The measure now goes to the Senate, where minority Democrats have been missing for a week, preventing a vote in that chamber.
Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer opened the roll and closed the seemingly never-ending debate within seconds. Democrats looked around as if the rug had been pulled out from under them. Only 13 of the 38 Democratic members managed to vote in time. At that point, the Dems got up, chanting "Shame! Shame! Shame!" and “Cowards!” as Republicans filed out of the room.
Slate.com reporter and MSNBC contributor Dave Weigel posted this video of the chaotic scene.
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A fix for this problem : the upper goverment needs to be held to the same standard ,
If we the people have to go back to the 1920's, then what we paid the Governor and so on should make what they made in 1920's. Also they don't get the right to vote themselves a raise, the voters should set their pay.
Fight over when it takes from them.............
I say shame on the education system in WI. The education of the children there is poor to say the least. Why doesnt anyone address that. Its all about union dues to elect Democrats. Woe to the children.
Wait til he sells the power plants to the Koch brothers and utility rates go through the roof. What moron would have voted for a bill that 1) hurts middle class workers and b)gives a free hand to Walker and his corporate friends, Koch Brothers? I have to scratch my head and wonder where their brains were on election night?
And Koch Brothers money to elect a governors who sleeps with the slime. By the way, I just had a chance to watch one of your republican state representatives (Sanders) I believe. What a smug, obnoxious individual. Stand frim democratic senators. Don't go home. I'm praying for you.
That's not true Wisconsin ranks 2nd in the country in SAT scores. The proof is in the numbers.
CHECK IT OUT: Cenk Uygur on MSNBC is obviously not aware of it but, he just showed a different video camera shot of the Wisconsin Democrats shouting "shame, shame, shame," which clearly shows a man in the back of the room who is walking out along with his fellow Republicans giving THE FINGER big time to someone!
It is so difficult to watch your show because you are so hot and cold. Last night and tonight your failure to push these Wisconsin politicians has been infuriating. Everyone watching keeps waiting for you to hold these guys feet to the fire and you don't. You are perfectly capable of doing so because we have seen it before. I am having a hard time supporting your show because of it even though I want to.
Completely false. Wisconsin not only has some of the highest SAT/ACT scores in the Nation but also one of the highest graduation rates. I keep wondering how the heroes of a year ago (the teachers, firefighters and police) have suddenly become bottom feeders sucking the life blood out of America! There is a last ditch effort going on in this State to keep a "voice" for the little guy. I am absolutely in awe of the Democratic Senators and Representatives, they are all that is standing between middle class workers and a Ideologue Governor. In six short weeks, this Governor has torn his State apart and refuses to even speak of a compromise. He has been exposed and is guilty of abuse of trust and power. Shameful.
Yes, they are the best of the worst in a country that is failing their children when compared to most countries: a record to be proud of.
I completely agree with you. Do you think all the students of WI are absolutely brilliant. I work in public schools. It takes years of hard working dedicated teachers, assistants and parents to raise a successful child. Why you all would be willing to throw it away to march like a bunch of lemmings with this obnoxious governor is beyond me. The middle class in this country needs to speak up in defense of its jobs and its very life. Look, in November the wealthy spoke up and look what they got. Think about it.
My state of Nevada is a right to work state. Unions are extremely limited in what they can bargain on. Unfortunately, Nevada leads the country in unemployment and home foreclosures.
The State of Texas has completely eliminated collective bargaining and that state still has a 26 billion dollar deficit. So if unions are so bad then why are right to work states in such a bad way? Compare a right to work state to a union friendly state and the right to work state comes out on the bottom.
The conservative right always plays the blame game. They hold to this fascist belief that there is always this "other" group that is the cause of all of America's problems.
If you are a white male protestant large business owner then you are safe. None of the nation's problems is your fault. If you are in any other group then it is that minority that is causing the problem.
If you are homosexual it is your fault because you a degrading the moral fiber of the nation and you are against family values and are destroying the sanctity of marriage.
If you are in a union then you are being very greedy by trying to get the government to pay for all the health and pension benefits they want regardless to the cost to the taxpayers.
But if you are the Koch brothers you are safe. If you are Goldman Sachs you are safe. If you are the CEO of Bank of America you are safe. None of the countries problems is their fault.
If you agree with the Conservative view point then you are safe and all problems are not your fault it is that "other" group. Conservatives are great at finding blame and pointing fingers but they are very bad at finding solutions and doing what they say they want to do.
How about we all have votes like Wisconsin, at 1 A.M. and you can only vote for a few seconds. Nice Democracy!!!
Like when Obamas congress passed obama care in the middle of the night, these folks delibrated for 60 hrs, Instead of staying and voting there convictions the Dems ran and hid like cowards!
yes - elections have consequences ...
but November 2010 was not the last election ... and I predict this will be a one term governor .... sine he in no way campaigned on taking collective bargaining away .....and the next election will see the balance of power take a big shift..
nothing that's done by this legislature now can't be reversed in the future...
just wait - paybacks are indeed a b***h
and those who do not have a good grasp on history are doomed to repeat it...
If the power plants are sold, that can NOT be undone by the legislature. And if residents utility bills increase dramatically, it will be the power plant owners that win, and the Wisconsin residents that will have to pay for it.
Comstock, I have an idea. If the Koch brothers get their (rumored, corrupt) deal to but the 42 power plants in WI, what if the next Dem. legislature uses Eminent Domain to but them back in the "public interest" for even less than they paid?
I would LMFAO.