Wednesday, March 9, 2011

7,000 Demonstrators Retake Madison Capitol Building After Senate Passed Bill Stripping Most Bargaining Rights

House to vote on measure ending most bargaining rights on Thursday.

By H. Nelson Goodson
March 9, 2011

Madison - On Wednesday, the Wisconsin Senate Republicans separated the provison eliminating most collective bargaining rights for state workers from the budget repair bill and passed it as a separate bill. 18 Republicans voted for it and 1 Republican voted against the bill.
The Republicans were escorted out by State and Capitol Police to a bus, which was surrounded by protesters who chanted "shame on you." No one was reported arrested.
Governor Scott Walker (R) congratulated the Senate Republicans for passing the bill ending collective bargaining for state workers. The Republicans maintained that collective bargaining was a fiscal issue, but by separating it and passing it indicates it was union busting, according to Democrats.
14 Senate Democrats were missing and remained in Illinois to slow down the passage of the bill that would end most bargaining rights for state workers.
Walker's budget repair bill had been stalled for 21 days. Republicans needed 20 Senators to have quorum in the Senate session to pass any fiscal bill. They don't need 20 Senators to pass nonfiscal bills.
The latest move by the Senate Republicans will take away 50 years of Civil Rights from Wisconsin public state workers.
Thousands of demonstrators began to gather outside the Capitol after the measure passed and most went inside the Capitol building and will remain inside until Thursday, when the measure is taken up by the House. The House is expected to also pass the measure, since the Republicans have the majority of the votes.
Demonstrators at the Capitol carried signs calling for a statewide strike by state and public workers.

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