Little-Acorn
02-22-2011, 08:43 PM
Looks like Wisconsin Republicans are finally starting to do their job, even if Democrats won't. With Wisconsin state Senate Democrats fleeing the state to disrupt budget votes (which require a quorum), The Republicans are simply moving on to other bills that don't require quorums. They are now voting on a Voter-ID bill that Democrats have long kept buried, until being voted into the minority last November.
It's about time.
Of course, Republicans can now do this any time, whether Dems are present or absent.
I'm curious about language in the article that says they are trying to "lure the Democrats back". Why do they care where the Democrats are or where they go, regarding these other bills? They can pass these things whether Democrats are there or not. Elections have consequences, as Obama pointed out a few years ago. If the Dems decide to come back to Wisconsin, fine. If not, who cares?
Keep running the bills through and voting them into law, Republicans. That's what the people of Wisconsin elected you to do. If the Dems don't want to participate, no big deal - they don't matter.
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/22/wisconsin-republicans-try-lure-dems-scheduling-controversial-vote/
Wisconsin Republicans Try to Lure Back Dems by Moving Controversial Voter ID Bill
Published February 22, 2011
AP - Wisconsin Republicans are trying to lure Senate Democrats back to the state capital by moving ahead with a controversial bill that would require voters to show photo ID before casting a ballot.
At the same time, the Democrats are being threatened with recalls and having their paychecks withheld -- efforts that the 14 Senate Democrats say won't deter them in their opposition to the anti-union bill that prompted their flight.
Democrats have fought the voter ID bill for years, arguing it would make it more difficult for minorities and elderly people to vote. But a state Senate committee passed the bill Tuesday over the objection of one Democratic lawmaker who tried to participate by phone. The move was a taunt aimed squarely at the Senate Democrats who fled the capital last week to prevent Republicans from voting on a budget-fix bill that would cut deep into union benefits and rights.
One of those Democrats, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, phoned in to the committee meeting Tuesday. But after the chairwoman, Sen. Mary Lazich, pressed him on where he was and whether he was heading back to Madison, Erpenbach said that was up to Gov. Scott Walker, and in the end, he was not allowed to vote.
The absence of all 14 Democrats effectively halted debate on the budget bill, since Republicans, who have 19 members in the Senate, would need 20 lawmakers present to have a quorum for action on spending measures. But Republicans were able to move to non-spending items, such as the voter ID bill, on Tuesday.
It's about time.
Of course, Republicans can now do this any time, whether Dems are present or absent.
I'm curious about language in the article that says they are trying to "lure the Democrats back". Why do they care where the Democrats are or where they go, regarding these other bills? They can pass these things whether Democrats are there or not. Elections have consequences, as Obama pointed out a few years ago. If the Dems decide to come back to Wisconsin, fine. If not, who cares?
Keep running the bills through and voting them into law, Republicans. That's what the people of Wisconsin elected you to do. If the Dems don't want to participate, no big deal - they don't matter.
-------------------------------------
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/22/wisconsin-republicans-try-lure-dems-scheduling-controversial-vote/
Wisconsin Republicans Try to Lure Back Dems by Moving Controversial Voter ID Bill
Published February 22, 2011
AP - Wisconsin Republicans are trying to lure Senate Democrats back to the state capital by moving ahead with a controversial bill that would require voters to show photo ID before casting a ballot.
At the same time, the Democrats are being threatened with recalls and having their paychecks withheld -- efforts that the 14 Senate Democrats say won't deter them in their opposition to the anti-union bill that prompted their flight.
Democrats have fought the voter ID bill for years, arguing it would make it more difficult for minorities and elderly people to vote. But a state Senate committee passed the bill Tuesday over the objection of one Democratic lawmaker who tried to participate by phone. The move was a taunt aimed squarely at the Senate Democrats who fled the capital last week to prevent Republicans from voting on a budget-fix bill that would cut deep into union benefits and rights.
One of those Democrats, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, phoned in to the committee meeting Tuesday. But after the chairwoman, Sen. Mary Lazich, pressed him on where he was and whether he was heading back to Madison, Erpenbach said that was up to Gov. Scott Walker, and in the end, he was not allowed to vote.
The absence of all 14 Democrats effectively halted debate on the budget bill, since Republicans, who have 19 members in the Senate, would need 20 lawmakers present to have a quorum for action on spending measures. But Republicans were able to move to non-spending items, such as the voter ID bill, on Tuesday.