Rules? The GOP doesn't need to follow rules
as i commented in my previous post
An E-mail received from Rep. Jon RIchards (D- Milwaukee)
Dear Neighbor:
In the early hours of Friday morning, the people running the State Assembly violated the rules of the house and rammed through a vote approving Gov. Walker’s radical bill that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees, allow no-bid contracts for the sale of the state’s power plants, and open the door to pushing thousands of people off of BadgerCare.
The vote was handled so poorly that more than a dozen members, including two Republicans and the Independent who opposed the bill, failed to register their votes for the bill. Those who missed the vote were not just inexperienced members who might have been confused by the chaos. Among those who were denied a vote was last session’s presiding officer, a long-term member and one of the Assembly’s leading experts on the body’s rules. Friday’s move came exactly one week after Republicans violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law by casting votes before the time they set for the Assembly to convene. At least they had the good sense to expunge that vote.
The unlawful vote by the Assembly stood in stark contrast to the lawful behavior of the tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who have been demonstrating against the bill. I have probably talked to 100 different law enforcement officers during the protests and every single one of them told me there have been no problems. Given how many people have been crammed together for so long in such uncomfortable conditions with passions running so high, that is a remarkable accomplishment that speaks volumes about the strength of our civic fabric in Wisconsin.
But the demonstrators have gone way beyond simply not breaking the law. They have made it their responsibility to care for others by providing food and first aid stations, protecting one another and cleaning the stately halls of the Capitol. I ran into a mother who swept the marble floor while carrying her 7 month old daughter Lila. During debate in the Assembly, I was keenly aware that I was not just speaking for myself, but for all of you who oppose this bill, and for good people like Lila’s mom.
The debate surrounding the bill was cut off prematurely by Assembly’s presiding officer. The tradition of the State Assembly, like the US Senate, is to allow people to speak for as long as they feel is necessary. If members want to cut off debate, they need to follow a very specific procedure, under Assembly Rule 71, that requires a separate roll-call vote to silence members and bring the measure at hand to a vote.
The roll call needed to end debate never happened. Instead, the presiding officer just unilaterally said “debate is over we are opening the roll to vote.” As far as anyone can tell, that move has never been pulled before in the State Assembly since rule 71 has been in place. The presiding officer quickly closed the roll and chaos ensued. The shouting you saw on TV reflected the anger and frustration Democrats felt as Republicans left the Assembly Chambers after silencing the representatives of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who oppose the Budget Repair Bill.
As always, if I or my staff can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office toll free at (888) 534-0019 or via email at rep.richards@legis.wisconsin.gov.
Having served in the Assembly for more than a dozen years, I have seen hot debates before. But members could always agree that they need to follow the rules of the Assembly. It is tremendously concerning that at a time when tensions are running high and when the eyes of the nation are on our state government that this is the time when Assembly Republicans choose to play fast and loose with the rules. As we move forward on this bill, the Assembly needs get back on track. You deserve to have the confidence that your government is obeying the law even though you might disagree with what it is doing.
Sincerely,
Representative Jon Richards
19th Assembly District
An E-mail received from Rep. Jon RIchards (D- Milwaukee)
Dear Neighbor:
In the early hours of Friday morning, the people running the State Assembly violated the rules of the house and rammed through a vote approving Gov. Walker’s radical bill that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for public employees, allow no-bid contracts for the sale of the state’s power plants, and open the door to pushing thousands of people off of BadgerCare.
The vote was handled so poorly that more than a dozen members, including two Republicans and the Independent who opposed the bill, failed to register their votes for the bill. Those who missed the vote were not just inexperienced members who might have been confused by the chaos. Among those who were denied a vote was last session’s presiding officer, a long-term member and one of the Assembly’s leading experts on the body’s rules. Friday’s move came exactly one week after Republicans violated Wisconsin’s open meetings law by casting votes before the time they set for the Assembly to convene. At least they had the good sense to expunge that vote.
The unlawful vote by the Assembly stood in stark contrast to the lawful behavior of the tens of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who have been demonstrating against the bill. I have probably talked to 100 different law enforcement officers during the protests and every single one of them told me there have been no problems. Given how many people have been crammed together for so long in such uncomfortable conditions with passions running so high, that is a remarkable accomplishment that speaks volumes about the strength of our civic fabric in Wisconsin.
But the demonstrators have gone way beyond simply not breaking the law. They have made it their responsibility to care for others by providing food and first aid stations, protecting one another and cleaning the stately halls of the Capitol. I ran into a mother who swept the marble floor while carrying her 7 month old daughter Lila. During debate in the Assembly, I was keenly aware that I was not just speaking for myself, but for all of you who oppose this bill, and for good people like Lila’s mom.
The debate surrounding the bill was cut off prematurely by Assembly’s presiding officer. The tradition of the State Assembly, like the US Senate, is to allow people to speak for as long as they feel is necessary. If members want to cut off debate, they need to follow a very specific procedure, under Assembly Rule 71, that requires a separate roll-call vote to silence members and bring the measure at hand to a vote.
The roll call needed to end debate never happened. Instead, the presiding officer just unilaterally said “debate is over we are opening the roll to vote.” As far as anyone can tell, that move has never been pulled before in the State Assembly since rule 71 has been in place. The presiding officer quickly closed the roll and chaos ensued. The shouting you saw on TV reflected the anger and frustration Democrats felt as Republicans left the Assembly Chambers after silencing the representatives of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin citizens who oppose the Budget Repair Bill.
As always, if I or my staff can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office toll free at (888) 534-0019 or via email at rep.richards@legis.wisconsin.gov.
Having served in the Assembly for more than a dozen years, I have seen hot debates before. But members could always agree that they need to follow the rules of the Assembly. It is tremendously concerning that at a time when tensions are running high and when the eyes of the nation are on our state government that this is the time when Assembly Republicans choose to play fast and loose with the rules. As we move forward on this bill, the Assembly needs get back on track. You deserve to have the confidence that your government is obeying the law even though you might disagree with what it is doing.
Sincerely,
Representative Jon Richards
19th Assembly District