‘Democrats flee Wisconsin Capitol
MADISON, Wis. – A group of Democratic Wisconsin lawmakers blocked passage of a sweeping anti-union bill Thursday, refusing to show up for a vote and then abruptly leaving the state in an effort to force Republicans to the negotiating table. As ever-growing throngs of protesters filled the Capitol for a third day, the 14 Democrats disappeared around midday, just as the Senate was about to begin debating the measure, which would eliminate collective bargaining for most public employees…” source
This isn’t ” an effort to force Republicans to the negotiating table” at all. It’s an effort to bypass the elected state legislature by using union thuggery and muscle. The battle lines have seldom been so clearly drawn. If there’s ever going to be something like a taxpayer’s revolt, something like this will be the spark that lights the fuse. Just hope the Governor and fellow his Republicans have the cojones to stare down the unions and reject any attempts by Washington to interfere.
UPDATE:
“…With both states and the federal government literally bankrupt, the confrontation in Wisconsin and in Washington may develop into a firestorm that jumps the normal firebreaks of the system. The year 2011 has already thrown up many an unforeseen crisis in the Middle East. Whether it is also the year in which the taxpayer finally decides that enough is enough remains to be seen. Maybe it isn’t going to be a replay between Clinton and Gingrich, but an echo of an older drama. An era is ending, and maybe the final curtain is starting to go down in Wisconsin. ” Richard Fernandez
