AP Images
Wisconsin protesters gather today outside the state capitol.
After two weeks on the run, the Wisconsin Senate passed a resolution Thursday ordering the arrest of the missing state senators. The fourteen Democrats fled the state to avoid voting on Governor Scott Walker's controversial budget repair bill that would strip collective bargaining rights for state workers and require them to pay more for their pension and health care benefits.
The proposed bill has set off a fourteen day protest on the State capitol that peaked last Saturday with over 70,000 protesters, teachers, students, and union employees, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
No need to call off the cavalry quite yet - it is unclear whether the arrest resolution is even constitutional. According to NBC News research, the Wisconsin constitution does not allow for the arrest of legislators in session. The exception to this is in cases of felony, treason, or breach of the peace.
The clock runs out at 4PM today for the missing senators, tucked away in undisclosed Illinois locations, to return to the state and appear before the Senate. A 19-0 vote by Senate Republicans set the deadline. They also instituted a "call of the house," which means the Senate Sergeant at Arms can take them into custody with or without force and/or the the help of law enforcement. However, that is only in effect if they cross the border back into Wisconsin.
Madonna's Borderline seems like an appropriate song for anyone taking a road trip from Illinois to Wisconsin today.
Time's a ticking...
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Yes, they are in session. In order for the Republicans to take this action, the Democrats had to miss 2 consecutive session days.
Mr. O'Donnell,
Enjoy your show. Keep reporting about the lack of leadership from Republicans in Wisconsin government and continue defending the workers right to be heard. This question relating to truth in journalitic reporting needs to be addressed. You, Rachel, and Ed seem to gloss over comments made by ultra conservative TV. One example is that Huckabee keeps beating the dead horse as it relates to President Obama's birth place, citizenship, where he grew up, etc. You do identify errors in comments made about the President and usually prove them as false. In my opinion, some of the comments from the right wing have racist overtones. Why can't you and the others come out and tell it like it is????? The truth will set ALL of us free. Thank you for your time.
I merely had an opinion to make. Sorry I offend your sensitive side. Are you Anti- anything else of note???
Where is the pod cast for The Last Word...please hurry!
Please stay on top of that creep that called the protesters slobs. He is awful. You did a great job last night with him. Stay on him, he is the slob!!
Yea, he (the slob guy) never really answered the questions and definitely did not apologize. He was rather smug about it. I can insult republicans without lumping them all together, why can't this guy do it with protesters??
I just love how people are trying to make running away seem like something heroic.
Btw, the point that annnottheman was trying to make is that yes, the congress is in session, but these missing senators are not. They are openly refusing to attend and participate, and so they may not qualify as being "legislators in session".
I just love how people like you, catnip, disparage the way the missing senators made it possible for the overwhelmingly supportive public opinion to be heard, rather than allowing the other party to rubber stamp this heinous, unpopular bill.
It is the modern exercise of the principle of actual representative government, and I think it's fabulous.
I cant determine what's a bigger joke. these senators, obama's heinous healthcare bill or you.
Breaking news...Wisconsin governor watches Mommar Q or K or G whichever you choose and also goes rogue. Maybe they both are off their meds
Either Gov. Walker is against all collective bargaining or he isn't. He wants his cake and eat it too. But wait, for those he still will let collective bargaining be used, is it because the Fitzgerald brothers father is the Chief of Wis. Troopers and maybe doing them a favor; also isn't Walker have bodyguards who are troopers. Ironic huh? Walker needs to be put on Undercover Boss show and make him work as a teacher, nurse, etc. Maybe, I really don't know, but maybe he would get the idea. The more I see of some of these Republicans Walker works with, such as the senator who referred to protestors as slobs, the more I see how dirty and low they will go. Ya know when he was a county executive, he said he would give back part of his salary. Well that lasted for a little while, only giving back $10,000 dollars the last few years he was in office. Do you think he figured out he couldn't live on such a small amount? And He expects everyone else to? If you considered what he made was a small amount.
I enjoy your show and keep up the good work telling the American people the real story of what's happening.
P.S. I think Gov. Walker's actually can't believe these Senators haven't come back just because he speaks. If Gov. Walker would quit giving so many news conferences all the time, that time could of been spent resolving all this!
Could I get some of what Scott and the Senate leader smoking?
This man is a disgraceful representative of our government. I am ever grateful I do not live in WI. However, after watching some the republican senators, they too are a disgraceful lot. How can the people of WI sit by and watch these guys trash their statre and not begin demanding recall of these liars? I am ever grateful that Americans are waking up all over this country. The republicans may have won Congress in 2010 but I can tell you it will be shortlived. Everyone I speak to, including most conservatives are shaking their heads and wondering what the hell these people are thinking. Keep up the great work republicans you are sending more and more independents to the arms of the democratic party. Remember 77% of Americans are against Walker and his own state residents now say, knowing what they now know, they would not have voted for this man and these people. Works for me.
Give us time. Give us time. Recalls are underway for any of them who are eligible. For Walker, we have to wait a year.
In case anyone is wondering, I never voted for him or my Republican state representatives in the first place.
Mr. O'Donnell,
The job you do is great. My question is can the people of Wisconsin start a recall of these Republican henchmen? All the people who wanted change now have this to deal with.
Change the name of your show to the Last Atempt! Grown men and women elected to the state senate not staying behind and voting there convicitions but instead running and hiding like cowards. The elections in 2010 the people spoke loud and clear,buck up and deal with it!
If you want to know who put the workers on the spot and is behind Gov. Walkers stance . Take a really good look at the donors of these GOP members , while unions do support the Dem. take areal good look at the Chamber of Commerce and who they support. Gov. Walker was planted by the GOP to test the waters before 2012 to focus message and agenda .
The democrats in wisconsin should be fired. only politicians can not show up for work and keep their jobs. calling them heroes is an insult to every real hero out there.
As a Wisconsonite, a democrat, and a lawyer I am more proud than ever of Wisconsin Democratic Senators. The job they are charged with is one of representation. As such, I expect them to take every measure possible to make the voice of the people heard. Realizing that with a quorom the bill would have undoubtedly passed, they rightly concluded that the only means of representing the people's voice was to prevent a quorom. The only means to achieve such a result? Flee. To say the dems have not done their job, but yet still hold that Walker has done his job is a farce. Walker has a checklist, created by the conservative right and whether you believe he is testing the waters for the 2012 GOP agenda or otherwise, the fact is that he refuses to listen to a 77% majority disappproving of his actions regarding collective bargaining. But this is not new in the GOP is it... Compare distribution of wealth to households affected by reduced collective bargaining rights and one will find a grossly disproportionate impact.
2 items to post, and don't know where else but here.
1) Take a look at wikipedia, or google, to discover some interesting info re the Koch Brothers mommy: "Ilse Koch. During World War 2 the infamous Ilse Koch was known as the Bitch of Buchenwald for her bestial cruelty and sadistic behavior. She was the wife of ..." It was she who became known for her skin lampshades.
2) Some deeper information about Charlie Sheen, his women, and manipulation. I've been visiting this site for some time, and trust the deeply disturbing stories they cover.
Thanks for your excellent coverage, and allowing the slob to make his case.
Rewrite: Ilse Koch is NOT mother of the brothers. I passed on inaccurate info. My Bad, and I'm sorry. Ilse committed suicide in jail 1967.
Thank you, MSNBC, each and every one of the shows for keeping this on the forefront. What the 14 Democrats are doing is protecting the rights of the workers -- not only in WI but throughout the US. They are sending the message that the American worker is not going to allow you to trample of them! This is no different than a fillibuster or when Abe Lincoln jumped out the window so a vote couldn't be taken when he was in the IL legislation.
I am not in a union, but I admire the 14 for standing up for the workers. Those legislatures voting for what this governor wants should be ashamed of themselves. What the Republicans are doing to the people of the state is unforgivable.
In looking at this Bill (Assembly Bill 40) there is nothing that will help the state. Education is cut by millions, health care for the lower income and seniors is deeply cut, recycling is no longer funded, vouchers are being used to send children to charter schools that do not have to follow the same rules and standards of public schools -- not just for those in poor areas, but now for all ... even the rich child! And at the same time he is giving rich corporations huge tax breaks. Just doesn't seem fair that the working class pays more while the rich companies get to pay less.
I guess we now see what a governor without a college education gets you. I'd suggest he return to the classroom, but the state won't have quality teachers remaining to teach him....they are all going to move to states that appreciate them.
dont return until walker step down out of office walker is a power hungry idiot who needs to loose his job and get replaced
It AMAZES me that when the Republicans were ushered into office they screamed, "The American people have spoken!!". Now that the American people are showing up bodily, through state-wide polls and on National television their disgust of the antics of the Goverment...THEY JUST USHERED IN, those representatives are calling them "slobs", "thugs", "the wealthy" and many other pompous words. Yeah, I think the republicans are out-of-touch with who is REALLY the working middle class.
This is the culminating activity that began with No Child Left Behind. Artificial tests force teachers away from education into "teaching to the test". This artificial testing has students using short term memory and taking cues from questions and answers to do well on the test. Since this is not the way m,ost kids learn, they don't do well. And that becomes the teachers fault.
Let teachers teach, take back their profession. My book "Saving Students From A Shattered System" Should be on Lawrence O'Donnells desk Monday
I work with severely disabled student. I changed diapers, do categorizations, clean g/j tubes, fill out all the paperwork that goes with my students disabilities, and yet still teach math,reading, English, social studies and science. I make about 35,000 a year. My lavish lifestyle is nonexistent.
What you guys need to do is find some guy in that crowd who happens to be a plumber and whose name happens to be "Joe," and interview him.
I don't understand why the Governor is getting away with his outrageous behavior i am very glad your station is presenting the truth. I also would like to make you aware that here in Michigan we also have a problem where the republicans are trying to eliminate collective bargaining by legislating bills. Further, one bill, entitled the Emergency Financial Manager Act would allow an appointed Emergency Financial Manager to terminate, existing collective bargaining agreements, and terminate existing elected officials. To address these concerns our AFSCME Union is seeking a National Day of protest at every state capital in the country, on April 13, 2011, from noon to 5:00pm. Please include Michigan in your media reports
Terrific! Only republican lawmakers are trying to pass a law allowing themselves to arrest only democrats. Will the new law also change existing law to mean, that if the democratic legislators are in jail, the republicans are then allowed to enact laws without a quorum? It seems that republicans are willing to stoop even lower than Ghadaffi to get their own way.
How about also allowing the people of the US to pass a law to arrest only Wisconsin republican legislators? It's almost the same thing except that, wheras the republican law abolishes workers civil rights, the peoples' law will preserve them. It works for me.
Lawrence, your a lawyer, help us Wisconsinites figure this one out. Our Republican Speaker of the Senate, Mr. Fitzgerald, has just issued a "resolution" and signed 14 individual warrants ordering the Democratic senators be "detained" and returned to the Senate chamber.
The United States constitution does not give State Republican the right, authority, or power to sign these arrest warrants. A warrant must be signed by a judge and charges must include probable cause. In addition, he cannot order law enforcement to bring the arrested individual to the Senate chamber without due process. This is not a 10th amendment issue subject to states rights. Fitzgerald cannot declare illegal and void issues of the 4th,5th,and 6th amendments rights guaranteed to all our Senators.These powers were delegated to the Federal Government at the signing of the US Constitution. Separation of powers is a central provision of our democracy and not subject to the fears and tantrums of any individual or party.
To make this even more scary, the 03/04/2011 Journal/Sentinel states that Wisconsin Attorney General, J.B.Van Hollen said,"I haven't reviewed the bill." Now don't you think before all of this grand standing by Mr. Firtzgerald, our AG should have been on top this, consulted, and then weighed in regarding the legality? You'd think, but then our AG is a REPUBLICAN. Help us please, we're in bull______— up to our "deep fried cheese curd necks."
Ronald Reagan Oct. 19, 1982
"Ever since martial law was brutally imposed last December, Polish authorities have been assuring the world that they're interested in a genuine reconciliation with the Polish people. By outlawing Solidarity, a free trade organization, they have made it clear that they never had any intention of restoring... one of the most elemental human rights—the right to belong to a free trade union"
Thank you for this post. When I first heard Walkers claim that Reagan's firing of air traffic controllers put the first crack in the Berlin wall, I just didn't remember it that way. Sure enough, I checked a few sources, and the first crack came in Poland with Lach Walesa and his union movement called Solidarity.
"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike"
- Adolf Hitler, May 2, 1933.