Wisconsin Senate Republicans pass controversial union reforms without Democrats present
March 9, 2011
MADISON, Wisconsin: On March 9, the Wisconsin State Senate approved Act 10, which included changes to the collective bargaining rights of public-sector workers. Republicans passed the bill by a vote of 18-1, with Sen. Dale Schultz (R) voting against it. Democrats, who had absented themselves in order to prevent the Senate from meeting its 20-member quorum, were not present to vote on the legislation.[1]
Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D) responded to the action, saying, "In 30 minutes, 18 state senators undid 50 years of civil rights in Wisconsin. Their disrespect for the people of Wisconsin and their rights is an outrage that will never be forgotten."[2] Senator Jim Holperin (D) said that Democrats no longer had reason to stay away from Madison and would return after the Assembly acted on the bill.
Gov. Scott Walker (R) said, "The Senate Democrats have had three weeks to debate this bill and were offered repeated opportunities to come home, which they refused. In order to move the state forward, I applaud the Legislature's action today to stand up to the status quo and take a step in the right direction to balance the budget and reform government."[3]
See also
- Wisconsin State Senate
- Union protests in Madison, Wisconsin over Gov. Scott Walker's Budget Repair Bill
- 14 Democratic senators flee Wisconsin, union protests escalate
- Wisconsin Senate Republicans find missing Democrats in contempt, threaten arrest
Footnotes
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- ↑ Wisconsin State Journal, "Front pages from historic Scott Walker protests," February 11, 2016
- ↑ Reuters, "Wisconsin Senate passes union curbs as protesters rally," March 9, 2011
- ↑ Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, "Senate advances collective bargaining changes; Democrats to return after Assembly vote," March 9, 2011
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