Protests in Wisconsin - Scott Walker

[Howie Felterbush]

Some of us do. I'd rather the state not follow the path to bankruptcy that Illinois is on.

Sorry. I didn't mean all of us, just most of the people I know.

A girl I work with just turned eighteen. Someone in the lunch room asked her if she was going to vote in the recall. She said, "What's the ******* point? If someone in Madison doesn't like who I help elect they're just going to make me vote again!"

Got a huge laugh, but then again, as far as I can tell from yard signs and other such nonsense, this area is mostly pro-Walker.

 

[BenBurch]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wiscon...s-down-parts-of-act-10-4k4qdap-145208985.html

A federal judge in Madison on Friday ruled that portions of Act 10 - the lightning-rod measure from Gov. Scott Walker that removed most collective bargaining for most public employees - are unconstitutional.

Critics of the law welcomed the decision as a major victory, but backers of the legislation seemed unconcerned since the ruling preserved a main limit on bargaining, and suggested broader restrictions would pass muster if applied to all state workers.

 

[Reginald Hobbes]

Not a big victory for opponents of Act 10, the most important parts of the law were upheld.

The court sided with state officials in upholding limitations on what can be bargained, but found the two other provisions violated the union members' equal protection and First Amendment rights, considering that the same rules did not apply to unions for public safety workers such as police and firefighters.

These are the two provisions of the law the court struck down:

Requiring annual re-certification of general employee unions by an absolute majority of all employees in the bargaining unit, as opposed to a majority of those voting.

Prohibiting the automatic deduction of dues and fair-share payments from payroll checks of general employees.

 

[BenBurch]

True. but it seemed relevant.

 

[Beerina]

And Walker is calling for the state police to go and arrest them/round them up to force a vote.

Many states, and the federal government, have constitutions that specifically allow the congressional leadership to physically compel the presence of legislators precisely to prevent this kind of activity.

No, you don't actually get to run and hide to prevent business from being done.

It's rarely used, but sometimes is. That's what the "Sergeant at Arms" is for in the US Congress.