Wisconsin Senate OKs arrest of absent Dems for contempt
The Wisconsin Senate has passed a resolution calling for police to take 14 Democrats into custody for contempt after they fled to Illinois to avoid voting on a union rights bill, the Associated Press reports.
The vote taken Thursday comes two weeks after the Democrats left, effectively delaying the vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal taking away most collective bargaining powers from public workers.
As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the resolution passed by the state Senate orders the Sergeant at Arms, if the Dems don't show up by 4 p.m., to "take any and all necessary steps, with or without force, and with or without the assistance of law enforcement officers, by warrant or other legal process, as he may deem necessary in order to bring that senator to the Senate chambers so that the Senate may convene with a quorum of no less than 20 senators."
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says today's action is legally different from an arrest, but "definitely a shift from asking them politely."
Fitzgerald called on any Wisconsin citizens who see the senators to contact police. He argued the resolution is about restoring order to the Senate and not the issues surrounding the union bill, which has led to three weeks of demonstrations by tens of thousands of protesters at the state Capitol. Once the senators do return, Fitzgerald said they could face reprimand, censure or even expulsion
The vote comes two weeks after the Democrats left the state to delay a vote on Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal taking away most collective bargaining rights from public workers.
Source
The vote taken Thursday comes two weeks after the Democrats left, effectively delaying the vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal taking away most collective bargaining powers from public workers.
As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the resolution passed by the state Senate orders the Sergeant at Arms, if the Dems don't show up by 4 p.m., to "take any and all necessary steps, with or without force, and with or without the assistance of law enforcement officers, by warrant or other legal process, as he may deem necessary in order to bring that senator to the Senate chambers so that the Senate may convene with a quorum of no less than 20 senators."
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says today's action is legally different from an arrest, but "definitely a shift from asking them politely."
Fitzgerald called on any Wisconsin citizens who see the senators to contact police. He argued the resolution is about restoring order to the Senate and not the issues surrounding the union bill, which has led to three weeks of demonstrations by tens of thousands of protesters at the state Capitol. Once the senators do return, Fitzgerald said they could face reprimand, censure or even expulsion
The vote comes two weeks after the Democrats left the state to delay a vote on Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal taking away most collective bargaining rights from public workers.
Source