I direct you to the Wisconsin state constitution. Article IV, Section 7 (Organization of legislature; quorum; compulsory attendance):
Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide.
Article VIII, SECTION 8 (Vote on fiscal bills; quorum)
On the passage in either house of the legislature of any law which imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases, discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state, the question shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the journal; and three-fifths of all the members elected to such house shall in all such cases be required to constitute a quorum therein.
Which apparently means, as the person who passed this along to the person who passed this along to me notes, that all the Wisconsin Senate has to do is separate out the portion of the budget bill that involves collective bargaining, pass that with a simple majority, and lo! Problem solved, and no more excuses for Wisconsin Senate Democrats to hide like little scared bunnies.
Moe Lane
Moe Lane
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Jeff Emanuel
This garbage just ticks me off.
bcochran1981 Thursday, February 17th at 2:51PM EDT (link)Oh no, Wisconsin Dems, don’t stand up for something you supposedly believe in. No, what you should do is run away. What moron thought up this strategy? Just from an appearance standpoint, what looks better? Standing there screaming about the injustice, standing up and fighting against “authority,” pushing back for something you support? Or….running away?
What a bunch of punks.
You can fool all of the people some of the time, some of the people all the time and liberal voters every time.
What moron thought up this strategy?
Duke Thursday, February 17th at 3:06PM EDT (link)Take your pick, from Lena “Do you know who I am?” Taylor to Red Fred Risser (about a 50-year veteran of the WI legislature). I’ve been involved in Wisconsin politics since the ’70s and the Dems have always been a bunch of punks.
They had control of both houses and the Gov. office for the past 4 years and ran us in the poor house. Now, like the corrupt former Gov. Diamond Jim Doyle, they’ve just run away.
We need to do anything, spend anything, and bear any burden required to eliminate these childish despots from our governent, both state and national. It’s time the adults took control, and these children were relegated to history forever. As history dictates, our future as a nation depends on it.
It’s not about a purge. It’s about an insurrection.
That is Standard Operating Procedure
antisocial (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:46PM EDT (link)You remember Barack Obama handing the Mike to Old Billy and runs away.
Obama Doctrine – Boot On The Throat
—————————–
What is to be done?
——————————
No. You can’t – Moe Lane
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The Emperor has no clothes!!!
Monty Python comes to mind
grateful_red (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 6:29PM EDT (link)Bravely Robin ran away, (No!)
Bravely ran away, away. (I didn’t!)
When danger reared its ugly head,
he bravely turned his tail and fled. (No!)
Yes, brave Sir Robin turned about (I didn’t)
And gallantly, he chickened out.
Bravely taking to his feet, (I never did!)
He beat a very brave retreat, (Oh, lie!)
Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin. (I never!)
Here's a couple of the chicken hawks
Duke Thursday, February 17th at 11:25PM EDT (link)Check out some of our AWOL Democrats in IL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxKk3DSW6Sk
Two of our childish Senators. H/T to our friends in the Rockford IL Tea Party!
It’s not about a purge. It’s about an insurrection.
cool video duke
Doc Holliday (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 11:33PM EDT (link)my advice is to drop the word chikenhawks from your lexicon when posting here. I don’t think you meant harm by any means, but that term is solely used by the hard left to discredit any Republican who never served in combat. Of course the term is almost exclusively used by leftist losers with BO, who look down on the military, but it is just the way it is.
Molon Labe!
Car model
icesweeper Friday, February 18th at 12:03AM EDT (link)I’m not real sure, but at the end, as they drive off, it looks like a Mazda, but I can’t tell what model it is, and I’m not a car buff. Checking the UAW approved list, there’s only a couple of Mazda models on there. I’m just saying….. you know, that maybe they should be a little careful what they drive, or buy with their own money, since they think unions are such a great idea. You know, just saying………
http://www.pricewheels.com/blog/2009/09/27/uaw-releases-list-of-2010-union-made-cars-and-trucks/
I also thought all the weenies rode down there together in a bus, and that car had Wisconsin plates on it. Hmm, a half truth, can’t be….
Well? What the heck are they waiting for?
Martin Knight (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:03PM EDT (link)Pass it! Pass it!! Pass it!!!
Moe, I'll bet that you know more about
Flagstaff (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:05PM EDT (link)the rules governing the Wisconsin House than the members do. Or “the person who passed this along to the person who passed this along to [you]” does.
We’ll know by what they do.
Buffett Rule #1: “Tax rates don’t matter if you don’t pay your taxes”
– Unnamed tax adviser to Warren Buffett, Leavenworth, KS, 2011
Buffett Rule #2: “A parrot in every pot and two Volts in every garage”– Jimmy Buffett, at a seance in Margaritaville, 1977
Actually, I've still got calls and emails out to confirm this.
Moe Lane (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:12PM EDT (link)It’s a freaking madhouse in Madison right now, which is why I’m still officially speculating on this.
The Kim Kardashian of blogging.
Check out my blog at http://moelane.com/.
http://moelane.com/filthy-lucre-filthy-lucre/
http://twitter.com/moelane
My (combined) wish list.
Well one thing's for sure
bk (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:39PM EDT (link)If ALL of them are gone, there won’t be any around to raise points of order regarding whatever actions the Republicans take.
Wouldn't be surprised
jcrestonm (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:59PM EDT (link)I am sure whatever hotel they are all staying at will be expected to be fully paid for with taxpayers dollars as well. They may have even paid for their lodging and meals with a government credit card. Hopefully someone can check into that as well.
Ronald Reagan: “I notice that everybody who is Pro-Abortion has already been born.”
Good call!!
reggie1 Thursday, February 17th at 4:38PM EDT (link)They’ll try to deduct their costs today as business expenses, when they are admittedly running away from doing business. Should be a slam-dunk if audited.
Unfortunately, this would be a dish served cold. It’s for 2011 taxes, and I’m sure they all extend into October. That’s October, 2012.
Actually, that’s in time for any of them running for re-election in 2014 to be called on it by their opponent.
The Union's Will Pay Their Expenses
flannery Friday, February 18th at 10:06AM EDT (link)No problem with expenses. The Unions have been kicking back “collectively bargained” wage and benefit increases to the Democrats for years. The Unions will be more than happy to foot their out of state expenses.
Let us know.
Flagstaff (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 5:23PM EDT (link)I fear this will be another instance of a Republican being hesitant to do what he can do because it’s a little bit out of the box.
The saying is that “the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong… but time and chance happen to them all.” What does that mean?
It means, “strike while the iron is hot,” “opportunity knocks but once, ” “time and tide wait for no man,” and “the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.”
That is, if you come to a fork in the road, take it!
I suggest the Speaker of the WI House unlock the doors to the Democrat members’ doors. I’m sure their constituents who are occupying the capitol building would love to avail themselves of their facilities.
Then follow Moe’s suggestion. As far as whether it (Moe’s advice) is legitimate or not, I’m sure it’s been done before if it is. Any Wisconsin historian should know.
Buffett Rule #1: “Tax rates don’t matter if you don’t pay your taxes”
– Unnamed tax adviser to Warren Buffett, Leavenworth, KS, 2011
Buffett Rule #2: “A parrot in every pot and two Volts in every garage”– Jimmy Buffett, at a seance in Margaritaville, 1977
The Time Has Come To Declare These Senators Derelict
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:10PM EDT (link)and call new elections for their districts.
Mr. Obama is pretending that an economic “recovery” is underway when he knows damn well that the banking system is just blowing smoke up the shredded *** of what’s left of that economy – James Howard Kunstler
Thank you..
pragmatic Thursday, February 17th at 8:34PM EDT (link)This was my thought exactly. If I were a constituent in one of their districts I would be doing everything to remove them from office.
OR, get everyone riled up and file missing persons reports.
They also need to be charged, individually, for their little field trip.
My wife says politicians behave like they are in junior high. First we had “Prom Night” during the SOTU and now a field trip. Makes me wonder sometimes.
“The unapparent connection is more powerful than the apparent one.”–Heraclitus.
If anyone in WI actually thought this was "for the children"...
Jack_Savage (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:11PM EDT (link)…hopefully they have been disabused of that notion by now.
Dues Deduction is the Real Issue
flannery Friday, February 18th at 10:11AM EDT (link)The bill eliminates a statutory provision that gives the Unions automatic remittance of dues from the Employer to the Union. The bill eliminates this provision and makes the Unions responsible for collecting dues from their members. Without Employer withholding of dues the Unions will never get the money from their members. This is the issue that scares the Union bosses more than wage or benefit changes.
Dem Senators flee State
briankv Thursday, February 17th at 3:12PM EDT (link)From WIPolitics.com
Budget Blog: Erpenbach: ‘We were left with no choice’
2/17/2011
Sen. Jon Erpenbach told WisPolitics this afternoon Senate Dems left the state in an attempt to force Republicans to negotiate a compromise to proposed changes to the bargaining rights of public employees.
Erpenbach would not disclose where he was or how many of the Dem senators were with him. But he said he believed all 14 were already out of state by early this afternoon.
“We were left with no choice,” Erpenbach said.
Asked how long they were prepared to remain outside Wisconsin, the Middleton Dem demurred.
“The question is when are the Republicans going to sit down seriously with the other side on this issue and try to work something out,” Erpenbach said. “When are we going to be reasonable about this and slow things down?”
“We have time.”
Erpenbach said Republicans should look at how the proposed changes are tearing the state apart and realize a different path is needed.
“This isn’t anything that we do lightly at all. This isn’t a prank. This isn’t a joke. This is Democrats standing together saying slow down.”
Lol!
congressworksforus (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 3:43PM EDT (link)“This isn’t anything that we do lightly at all. This isn’t a prank. This isn’t a joke. This is Democrats standing together saying slow down.”
And it will work just as well as when the Tea Partiers told Pelosi and co to slow down over healthcare reform.
Karma’s a bitch!
Remember, if the left wins, abortion will not only be legal, it will be mandatory.
Are you telling me that grown adults fled
runner12 (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 5:28PM EDT (link)the state because they did not like the bill? What an immature temper tantrum! They are making themselves look absolutely ridiculous.
I sure hope your speculation turns out to be accurate Mr. Lane (I would bet that it is). It would be hilarious to read the headline “Wisconsin Bill Passes State Senate While Democrats Are In An Undisclosed Hidey-Hole.” I would love to see them try to spin themselves out of that one.
Re: "Scared Little Bunnies"
libertyatstake Thursday, February 17th at 7:16PM EDT (link)Cook! Where’s My Hossenfeffer?!
d(^_^)b
http://libertyatstake.blogspot.com/
“Because the Only Good Progressive is a Failed Progressive”
Tea Party Folk Run the WI Dems out of Town
modestee Thursday, February 17th at 8:12PM EDT (link)It looks to me as if the ‘common’ folk are taking a hand in things…. even a state away…… I found this on HillBuzz.
http://gatewaypundit.rightnetwork.com/2011/02/breaking-wisconsin-dems-hiding-at-best-western-clocktower-in-rockford-il/
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment. Prejudice is the reason of fools. – Voltaire.
anyone know of a list of the runaways?
Next93 (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 9:43PM EDT (link)I need to know if my rep has placed the interests of the unions ahead of those of his constituents. I’d be grateful. If someone could point me to a list of these… clowns (whew! -almost ran afoul of the profanity restrictions there!)
Obama was The One in 2008.
He’ll be a BIGGER one in 2012.
Pretty easy...
icesweeper Friday, February 18th at 12:07AM EDT (link)If he/she is a Republican they were in Madison
If Democrat, not.
I believe this was Senators only. It already passed the House.
Dems needed for budgetary matters
redtillimdead (Diary) Thursday, February 17th at 9:44PM EDT (link)Moe, 20 votes are required for budgetary matters (There are 19 Reps) but for regular business, we do not need Dems. So, really, while they are out, we should pass Right to Work legislation, a photo ID voter bill, and all kinds of things we can do while they’re not there. Too bad WI doesn’t have redistricting data yet. We could protect Ribble, Duffy, Ryan, and take out Kind and make a solid legislative map while they’re out.
Nancy Pelosi can kiss my asstroturf.
redtillimdead: I like the way you think!
roscopico (Diary) Friday, February 18th at 12:46AM EDT (link)I’m all for it, but despite however eager we may be there are still some weak-kneed R’s who think pandering in heavily unionized districts.
*cough* *Luther Olsen* *cough*
Maybe the R’s should pass a stand-alone union destroyer first thing in the morning, then when there’s nothing for the commies to whine about invite them back to the chamber.
“Here kitty-kitty! We’ll let you offer amendments! We’re willing to deal!”
Then as soon as the doors can be barred pass the original. That way if the commies ever gain a bit of political power again, they’ll have not one but two laws to repeal in order to resurrect their precious parasitic unions.
Im Himmel gibt’s kein Bier…
I love it...
icesweeper Friday, February 18th at 12:14AM EDT (link)Two months ago, I would have brushed this off. Yes, it’s technically feasible, but Republicans always have to play nice, and they will never use it. Now, I’m not so sure. I think responsible politicians are starting to realize people are very concerned about the future and want adult leadership. It’s happening in DC and in statehouses. They are seeing people like Christie, Ryan and Daniels get applauded for trying to lead. So I am somewhat hopeful that tomorrow morning the leaders still doing their job will do their job. If they do, I hope several decent cops are stationed along I-90 to catch any speeders
Wisconsin Has Become the Game
flannery Friday, February 18th at 10:25AM EDT (link)If the Democrats, with their Union thug cohorts, get the Republicans to blink in Wisconsin we are lost. Their extra legal tactics work and they will be in control, even when they lose the elections. Alinski will be their new Archangel Michael leading them in slaying the Republican devils.
Redistricting Means All the Senate is Up in 2012
flannery Friday, February 18th at 10:28AM EDT (link)I think that redistricting means that all of the Wisconsin Senate will be up for election in 2012.