* 11:45 am - Give us your tired, your outnumbered huddled Democrats yearning to support unions…
House Democrats are leaving the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation, The Indianapolis Star has learned.
A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky. They need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana.
The House came into session this morning, with only two of the 40 Democrats present. Those two were needed to make a motion, and a seconding motion, for any procedural steps Democrats would want to take to ensure Republicans don’t do anything official without quorum. […]
Today’s fight was triggered by Republicans pushing a bill that would bar unions and companies from negotiating a contract that requires non-union members to kick-in fees for representation. It’s become the latest in what is becoming a national fight over Republican attempts to eliminate or limit collective bargaining.
Amazing.
…Adding… Y’know, if this keeps up, we may have to build a fence.
- Leroy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 11:48 am:
Not really. We propose budgets that increase wages and jobs for state employee unions here, at the expense of other programs and services.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 11:51 am:
Chicago — the Casablanca of the Midwest.
Is the Goat the new Rick’s Cafe American for the refugees?
- John Bambenek - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 11:56 am:
This is far too much fun for a partisan like me.
- Living in Oklahoma - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 11:58 am:
Here is a link for all traveling Democrats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSIUrba-aoc
- Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:00 pm:
Hell, if I lived in Indiana, I’d flee to here at the first opportunity.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:00 pm:
Tomorrow’s QOTD: what are the best or most appropriate Illinois hideouts for runaway Democratic legislators?
- MikeMacD - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:03 pm:
“They need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana.”
Other than extradition, I’m not aware of any Governor having deportation authority. Is there some basis for the above reporting?
- Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:05 pm:
We’re a sanctuary state!
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:09 pm:
While I can argue with the term refugees, I won’t take Rich’s usage too seriously (no disrespect to Ricardo).
Pat Quinn can say he helped the tourism industry.
- amalia - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:12 pm:
so, who is establishing the underground railroad for the Democratic party? there are underground dining parties for all sorts of foodie things, time to host the fleeing Dems at union loving house parties! who among us does not want to buy and take in or try out a few new recipes. feed the refugees!
- one day at a time - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:12 pm:
Look for the Ohio Dems, to visit us soon too!
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:14 pm:
Since this tactic seems to be catching on I have to ask… could Illinois GOP legislators try fleeing to Indiana or Wisconsin or wherever to stop the borrowing bill or other measures THEY don’t like? If they did, would it have the desired effect (i.e. preventing the quorum needed to take a vote)?
I’m not saying they SHOULD do this — not at all — just wondering if they could.
- Barton Lorimor - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:18 pm:
Lol. Both states that ridiculed us for the tax hike. Cullerton must be three sheets to the wind right now.
- Bill Baar - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:19 pm:
If the Wisconsin and Indiana Reps aren’t filing travel vouchers with their States, and I’d doubt that, it would be interesting to see who is footing the bills for subsistance and lodging. I doubt it’s coming out of their own pockets. Anyone know?
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:19 pm:
How many months will it take before out of state legislators are forced to pay Illinois income tax?
On a serious note, legislators should only be paid if they attend the session of the legislature in which a quorum call has been made. These absentee legislators should at a minimum not receive pay, nor should they be allowed to charge any expenses incurred whilst pulling this stunt.
- Irish - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:20 pm:
We export our Governors to their states and import their legislators to ours. Seems fair. Balance of trade.
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:21 pm:
ALso Rich, what aspect is amazing? (Not picking a fight with you, as that is one you can’t win). Just axkin.
- Sherry Wright-Falbo - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:22 pm:
Quinn should perhaps be looking over his shoulder.
Voters did vote yes for recall. He might be sympathetic to the other dems, but he is like Nero fiddling while Rome is burning.
- Techboy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:22 pm:
What do the Koch Brothers own in Indiana?
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:23 pm:
===what aspect is amazing? ===
The fact that we now have Democratic refugees from two bordering states. You don’t find that amazing?
Also, if I want to, I can easily win an argument here. I just delete you. lol
- Irish - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:23 pm:
Cincinnatus @ 12:19 pm: Maybe they could start on that right after they get our legislators to do the same when they never leave the State.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:26 pm:
(This is snark, I can just see someone thinking that it’s not!)
If this keeps up, elections should be outlawed.
If a candidate, or political party, does not like the outcome, then the minority party, or the losing candidate, has the option to flee, so government can stall, causing more disaster.
The governing bodies, democracy, and government as a whole, is obsolete like the elections.
“We didn’t win, so we will just make sure NO ONE gets anything done! WEEEEEEE!”
- Cook County Commoner - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:26 pm:
“Collective bargaining” when referring to government employees is an oxymoron like Military intelligence. How can there be “bargaining” when all the parties negotiating are the “collective” made up of the government employee union-political class complex, each working for the perpetuation of the other.
- RFR - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:28 pm:
This is getting out of hand. How many democratic legislators does it take before we can declare them an invasive species like Asian Carp?
- Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:31 pm:
Rich, over the weekend you posted that due to the political upheaval in WI Quinn was not paying up after the Bears lost to Green Bay. We just saw the musical Guys and Dolls so I am up on these things. What PQ is doing is called welching a bet. It is considered very bad form and a serious character fault in some circles.
- Draznnl - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:32 pm:
Bill Baar, about $100,000 had been raised for a Wis. Senate Dem. support fund as of yesterday. That should keep the 14 comfy for a little while. I wonder if the Indianans are going to ask them for a loan.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
Responsa, it’s called “Welshing,” and polite types don’t use that any more.
Also, he only postponed the payoff. No cancellation.
- Ken in Aurora - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:39 pm:
“‘We didn’t win, so we will just make sure NO ONE gets anything done! WEEEEEEE!’”
A tacky trend, to be sure.
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:39 pm:
Not to get off topic here, but what makes the Koch brothers any different from George Soros or other well-heeled donors to liberal causes?
- Way Way Down Here - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:44 pm:
===Also, he only postponed the payoff.===
LoL Will he need to borrow to pay it off?
- Gregor - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:48 pm:
The run-aways are just fighting the “Tyranny of the Majority”. The repubs say they are avoiding a democratic process, but some folks define “democracy” as two wolves and a sheep voting on what’s for dinner. We have protections for the minority in a democratic republic.
What Walker is trying to do is over the top, and this is the only way to fight it.
I understand that about eight of his repub reps are eligible for recall, and another three seats could be flipped. Walker himself has to be in office at least a year for recall to start on him, so that’s unlikely to happen, and without looking at it, I’ll bet it is at least as hard to implement as Illinois’ recall. But those house memebrs are going to be feeling the heat for Walker’s plan for a long time, and you have to weigh the “benefits” of this tactic of theirs against the rallying effect it is going to have on the state dems and union members.
This is going to escalate into an all-out no-holds-barred fight for 2012, and if you thought the LAST Presidential campaign was ugly, well…
I think the Koch Brothers have poked a sharp stick into a sleeping Tiger, take the WWII analogy for what it’s worth.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:48 pm:
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:39 pm:
“Not to get off topic here, but what makes the Koch brothers any different from George Soros or other well-heeled donors to liberal causes?”
Simple, SS. The Kochs support conservative causes. That makes them evil incarnate.
- Newsclown - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:50 pm:
Quinn’s postponement of the bet pay-off was his only move: with this one act he shows the Illinois unions he’s still for Labor, without making any new concessions. Had he gone to Wisconsin though, AFSME and SEIU would have gone rabid here.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:51 pm:
Gregor - They lost, they need to get over it …
- OneMan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:53 pm:
Too bad we don’t have a Naval guard, might be able solve the additional gaming issue with one raid into East Chicago….
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:55 pm:
So the democratic process is thwarted by a bunch of cowards who can’t face the reality, as it has been stated several times on this very blog, “Hey, your guy/party lost. Deal with it”.
What a bunch of poltroons. Lilly livered, yellow bellied skulkers. Hey, I got a million of ‘em.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 12:58 pm:
I just responded to what SEIU, ASCME, et al., said when Obama won, and wanted “their agenda passed” … Amazing what things look like when your are on the other side of the fence!
- BigDoggie - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:03 pm:
Is it just me or should/will all of this nonsense result in a wave of new rules for state legislators?? Shirking your duties and hiding after being elected to public office just really doesn’t strike me as the American Way. I also assume these guys will be offering to forego their paychecks during their little vacation jaunt??
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:05 pm:
===Shirking your duties and hiding after being elected to public office just really doesn’t strike me as the American Way===
Then Abe Lincoln was a commie.
Look, this move is enshrined in law. There’s a reason for quorum calls.
- Obamarama - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:06 pm:
===I also assume these guys will be offering to forego their paychecks during their little vacation jaunt??===
Man, I never knew there were so many Wisconsin and Indiana voters and taxpayers here. What do you care? They’re here in Illinois spending money.
- Responsa - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:07 pm:
==polite types don’t use that any more==
LOL Rich. Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend sensitive eyes here. Still, I doubt colorful Damon Runyon-isms will ever go out of style.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:09 pm:
The Kochs aren’t evil because they support conservatives. They’re evil because of WHY they support conservatives.
They’re evil because they support conservatives who will give them special deals and serve them in their union-busting agenda to destroy the middle class in this country.
Walker has a provision in his budget bill to let him sell state-owned assets (Wisconsin has FIFTEEN state-owned power plants) via no-bid contracts. It just so happens that Koch is in the power plant business.
Unions oppose the bill so how does Koch respond?
-They immediately establish the “I stand with walker” website
-Koch front Americans for Prosperity pays out-of-staters like Joe the Plumber and Breitbart to rally bused-in Tea Partiers and provides GOP legislators leather-bound talking points
-Koch’s MacIver Institute comes to the protesters to find whatever it can to make them look bad (in this case the thing with doctors notes)
Meanwhile, the Koch brothers themselves laid off 25 percent of their Green Bay workers at the same time they made $11 BILLION in 2009.
Cincinnatus, do you really want you Republican party and conservative causes taken over by the family that founded the John Birch Society?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:10 pm:
Responsa -
Maybe the cry to the Unions in Wisconsin should be …
“Sit down, sit down, sit down, … Sit down you’re rocking the boat!”
- Secret Square - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:11 pm:
I wonder what these runaway legislators would say if they knew that in their chosen “sanctuary” state, human service providers, hospitals, nursing homes, child care, etc. were being sacrificed so that unions don’t have to take a cut.
I can’t help but suspect that before long, Illinois will be seeing just the same kind of political strife that is tearing our neighbors apart — only this time it will Dems against other Dems.
- Statewide - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:12 pm:
Good to know Illinois has a growing reputation for being a welcoming, tolerant, great place to visit. Out-of-staters, please note our renewed and improved convention-hosting terms, as well. If you have 25,000 friends, bring them along. We can handle a hungry, thirsty crowd. Visiting Democrats, please check the UNITE HERE website to identify the union-friendly hotels before you commit a major PR blunder during your days of political protest. Enjoy some prime cut meats, quality drinks, go to a game, catch a show. It’s always a great day to visit Chicago!
- grand old partisan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:15 pm:
=== “The run-aways are just fighting the “Tyranny of the Majority”
When you say it that way, it sounds so noble, doesn’t it? Personally, I’m trying to figure out what the difference is between the WI Dems and a 3 year old rolling around and crying on the floor at the mall refusing to go anywhere until they get a cookie from Mrs. Fields. This isn’t about fighting “tyranny.” It’s a high-stakes hissy-fit.
Democracy does not mean that nothing gets done unless we all agree on it. And while we do have “protections for the minority,” having veto authority over legislation is not one of them.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:24 pm:
You know if only the Republicans weren’t blocking high speed rail, the Democrats could get to the Illinois border faster.
- Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:25 pm:
I said it last week. I’ll say it again this week.
We have too many Democrats in this State. Throw the carpetbaggers from Wisconsin and now Indiana back!
- BigDoggie - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:29 pm:
“Look, this move is enshrined in law. There’s a reason for quorum calls.”
Rich, I don’t pretend to be an expert in the origins and reasonings of quorum calls, but I can’t imaging they were created to allow legislators to flee the state when they are in the minority in order to prevent government from continuing to function. Exactly what do you mean by your comment?
- grand old partisan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:37 pm:
I have to second BigDoggie’s comment. This move is not enshrined in law. There’s a reason that they fled the state and came to Illinois – because they know Quinn won’t grant permission for the WI state police “escort” them back to the Capitol.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:38 pm:
===xactly what do you mean by your comment? ==
To protect the rights of the minority party.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:38 pm:
And, GOP, it is most certainly enshrined in law, otherwise, the Hoosiers could continue bidniss without the Dems.
- Peter Snarker - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:43 pm:
The irony here is they are fleeing to a state that is looking at some (no, not all) of the same types of “anti-union” “anti-public employee” reforms that their homestate GOPs are pushing through.
Only, in Illinois, the D’s themselves are “floating” the ideas.
So is the take-away from this that whatever party is in charge has to make the tough anti-union decisions at this point in our history and it just happens to be the D’s here?
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:50 pm:
@ Peter Snarker @1:43 PM,
=Only, in Illinois, the D’s themselves are “floating” the ideas=
So, if it is the dems in Illinois who are floating such sacreligous ideas who walks out - the Green Party?
- grand old partisan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:54 pm:
Rich, I’m not arguing that the need for a quorum to conduct business is enshrined in law. I’m arguing that being absent during session solely for the purpose of preventing a quorum is of questionable legality. The fact that the Dems feel the need to hide behind state law is evidence of that.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:55 pm:
A quorum call normally allows the legislative body to summon the presence of its members and compel it if prior authority is granted.
I do not know the specifics of the WI constitution, but the behavior of the legislators indicates that they can be compelled to attend the session. They have escaped the jurisdiction of the state police.
The quorum call has never been intended to allow for legislators to flee their responsibilities, nor to protect the minorty.
- grand old partisan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:57 pm:
pardon me, that was supposed to be “hide behind state LINES,” not law.
- Park - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 1:58 pm:
I’m not a huge fan of the Kochs, but they earned their money the old fashioned way….building industry, taking risks, employing thousands, adding value to the economny.
Soros is just a financial speculator. What the heck did he ever build or produce?
Re: Indiana…should have a poll on who’s next. I see one vote for Ohio already.
- Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:05 pm:
I know that Madigan and Cross are talking pension reform. I think they should craft that and get it out there for a vote as soon as possible, so we can move on in Illinois with pension- and other public worker benefit/salary reform and get this behind us as soon as possible.
- Obamarama - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:06 pm:
===I see one vote for Ohio already.===
SB 5 in Ohio has already been introduced. It would effectively end all collective bargaining rights for public employees–including public safety (fire, police, etc.) folks I think.
- Bob - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:12 pm:
Here’s the problem. Union members are forced to pay dues. The dues make the Unions rich. The Unions buy certain politicians with with union dues contributions. So as long as the member’s are forced into paying dues, everything is OK. But the Unions may not get their money the Politicians don;t get their money, now there is a problem. So the Politicians getting the Union money leave the states to stop the vote until they can negotiate or figure away to keep the money rolling. Its not about the financial problems in the states or about the employees its all about getting the FORCED UNION DUES (MONEY). The Unions would agree to anything as long as they keep the money rolling
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:19 pm:
Yeah, Bob, I wonder how many union members in state employment would fork over their monthly dues if it became voluntary?
We have to pay for our own water for the water cooler in our office. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get folks to pay out for that water? Ever try to check to make sure that only people who pay use the water? You KNOW I won’t be part of that!
- Obamarama - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:22 pm:
===The dues make the Unions rich.===
Yeah the unions are just rolling in it. Have you been in a union hall lately? They are cutting staff positions like crazy all the way up to the business managers. Notice you didn’t see an AFSCME tv commercial hitting Rahm–you think it was because they had so much money they were too busy counting it to produce an ad and buy airtime?
- piling on - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:23 pm:
Peter Snarker, I didn’t realize Tom Cross had officially switched parties. His bill filing to change existing employees’ pension benefits is what got this started this session.
Madigan and Quinn quickly offered comments that could be viewed as support and its off and running.
Or is it?
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:25 pm:
The fact is that an overwhelming number of private sector employees negotiate their own labor agreements without the benefit of union assistance. Private sector employees are able to get health care benefits, sick time, vacation time and entry into a private retirement program, normally a fixed contribution 401k program, by leveraging the value they have to the company. This process takes place in a market environment that determines costs of the employees services, which allows the employer and employee to arrive at a common agreement.
Current federal civil rights laws, EPA and OSHA mandates, wage and hour laws as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rules still remain in effect and protect employees in the workplace. Granted that many of these provisions were hard-earned as a result of unionization, one can now ask what value added or injustice the unions are now addressing.
The legislation proposed in WI and OH does not remove any of the above mentioned rights from current state employees. Neither do these laws reduce the number of state workers. What is happening is that the governors and state legislatures are being handcuffed by the absentee legislators to the point where union workers will be laid off. This will be the only position left for those governors and legislators.
I argue that any right thinking public service employee reconsider the position of their unions in this matter. Would you rather have a collective bargaining, or a job?
- Pat Robertson - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:41 pm:
==If the Wisconsin and Indiana Reps aren’t filing travel vouchers with their States, and I’d doubt that, it would be interesting to see who is footing the bills for subsistance and lodging. I doubt it’s coming out of their own pockets. Anyone know? ==
I have it on good authority (read: it sounds good to me) that they are masquerading as members of the Illinois general assembly, and expect to get away without paying because (1) nobody in this country knows who their legislators are at any level and (2) no one will expect to be paid for at least 6 months, by which time they will be long gone.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:46 pm:
“I’m not a huge fan of the Kochs, but they earned their money the old fashioned way….building industry, taking risks, employing thousands, adding value to the economny.”
Then how exactly did the Koch Brothers increase their wealth by $11 billion in 2009 at the same time they laid of 25 percent of their Green Bay, Wisconsin workers?
Cincinnatus, all the things you mention as good things to protect employees in the workplace are being opposed by the Republicans that currently control Washington.
The House GOP voted to strip EPA of a third of its funding, at least half a dozen GOP Senate candidates ran on repealing the minimum wage, a Missouri state legislator introduced legislation last week to end child labor laws protecting kids under 14.
Democrats are recognizing what is going on here and the slipperly slope that this country and our states are on as the John Birch wing of the Republican Party takes control.
BTW, the WI legislation in question does make other changes besides just union-busting. It will allow Scott Walker to do his best Rod Blagojevich impression and sell any state asset he wants in a no-bid contract if he deems it in the “public interest.”
Thank goodness labor unions exist in Wisconsin to raise a ruckus about this bill so everyone can get a better look at it.
- hisgirlfriday - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 2:48 pm:
And I will just add… that said, that doesn’t mean I have forgiven SEIU for abetting Blagojevich in his corruption as much as they did. I’m glad AFSCME tried at least somewhat to stand against him.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:00 pm:
hisgirlfriday,
There is no such thing as the John Birch wing of the Republican party, any more than there is a Ku Klux Klan wing of the Democratic Party. Both extremist groups were ousted in the 50’s and 60’s, and rightfully so.
It is a far cry from unclean drinking water to anthropomorphic global warming and the associated over reach by the EPA. The same concepts hold true for many of the agencies of the Federal Government that are regulating without the benefit of enabling legislation. The Republicans are absolutely right to trim these unelected bureaucrats from instituting job-killing regulations unwanted by the voters and their elected officials.
- piling on - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:08 pm:
Yeah hisgirlfriday,
I like tumors, especially if it means jobs.
It’s time we trust big business. It would never cheat, harm, poison, addict, destroy, or take advantage of us for profit.
If big business says its OK, who am I to disagree. If they say its safe, then by golly it must be.
I like it better when government and big business work together with things like eminent domain to show business really is about helping people and, you know, sometimes you gotta break some eggs to make billion-dollar omelets.
- Jack Straw from Wichita - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:12 pm:
Illinois is the new Ellis Island. Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free…
- dupage dan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:16 pm:
It makes you wonder how all those folk in private industry got any benefits at all, what with so few being in a union. Maybe all those account execs in any major corporation or the folks down and receiving and shipping are all getting paid the minimum wage. This class warfare stuff is easy to stir up when you only mention the uber-rich and the poor state employees. But there is a whole world of folk out there who work for companies who enjoy decent income and benefits. All without an active union representing them. We all know that some of those benefits are there because of the unions but that doesn’t mean unions are still needed to protect a worker, or workers in every aspect of their continued employment.
- Fed up - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:21 pm:
Last I looked Goldman sachs isn’t union and they seem to be doing alright. I think their employees are pretty happy with thier compensation package.
- piling on - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:26 pm:
Fed up,
If you wanna offer state employees a Goldman Sachs comp package, AFSCME will be a thing of the past.
Nice choice in your examples.
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:29 pm:
Illinois - where out of state legislators outnumber the in state legislators.
- wndycty - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
It looks like Daniels caved. Does he look strong by being a leader or does he look weak? I think he outclassed Walker:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20110222/NEWS/110222004/Indiana-Democrats-trigger-Statehouse-showdown-over-anti-union-legislation
3:40 PM — Governo…r says time to dump labor bill
Gov. Mitch Daniels signaled this afternoon that Republicans should to drop the right-to-work bill that has brought the Indiana House to a standstill for two days and imperiled other measures.
Daniels told reporters this afternoon that he expects House Democrats will return to work if the bill dies. It would be unfortunate if other bills are caught up in the turmoil, he said.
He will not send out state police to corral the Democrats, the Republican governor said
- Peter Snarker - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:30 pm:
Is it too late for any of these out-of-state legislators to petition the IL Supreme Court for residency and get on the Chicago mayoral ballot today????
- Bill F. - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:31 pm:
The John Birch Society was an affiliate of the 2011 CPAC, the preeminent conservative political conference (as were “Americans for Prosperity” - the Koch Brothers’ political front group).
So tell us again how they were ousted 50 years ago?
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:38 pm:
A fence? Never! If they’ve got $$ to spend, I say let them in, regardless of their party of origin.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:40 pm:
Do you really want to dissect the current coalitions within either party, Bill? For every Bircher, there is a Socialist or Communist, no?
- Obamarama - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:49 pm:
===Do you really want to dissect the current coalitions within either party, Bill?===
Nah, I think he just wanted to call you out for making ridiculous claims.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:58 pm:
===Gregor - They lost, they need to get over it.===
Where were you when Health Care Reform was being debated?
- Peter Snarker - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 3:59 pm:
This whole thing - and I understand it has been used in the past - is like the filibuster. Or like taking your ball and going home when you dont like the way the game is going. Or it is like something, anyway.
I would imagine they will tighten the rules on this should it continue to spread, no?
- MikeMacD - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
“…anthropomorphic global warming…”
Anthropomorphic? It’s no wonder right wingers are unclear on the subject.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:04 pm:
===Gregor - They lost, they need to get over it.===
===Where were you when Health Care Reform was being debated?===
Didn’t the Obama White House say that to John McCain when they had their meeting about the Health Care?….
The Repubs won up in Wisconsin, they have the votes, eventually, it will come up to a vote and pass, so get over it.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:10 pm:
===The Republicans are absolutely right to trim these unelected bureaucrats from instituting job-killing regulations unwanted by the voters and their elected officials.===
Oh please. Now you sound like Sarah Palin.
- Wensicia - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:14 pm:
Stop illegal immigration NOW! Report any suspicious looking Democrat and demand to see their driver’s license!
BTW — Are the governors of Wisconsin or Indiana offering any rewards for the return of these outlaws? Great opportunity for bounty hunters.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:16 pm:
===Gregor - They lost, they need to get over it.===
===Where were you when Health Care Reform was being debated?===
Didn’t the Obama White House say that to John McCain when they had their meeting about the Health Care?….
The Repubs won up in Wisconsin, they have the votes, eventually, it will come up to a vote and pass, so get over it.
So it’s taken the Republicans this long to “get it?”
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:17 pm:
I think there WAS a vote on Health Care, so …. your point is what, exactly?
- Jaded - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:22 pm:
So I assume everyone here supporting the Wisconsin and Indiana Democrats would also support changes in Illinois Law to institute higher quorums (three-fifths or two-thirds) necessary to conduct business in the Illinois General Assembly. If that was the case, the income tax increase would not have passed in the lame duck session had the Repubs decided to head to Wisconsin for a few snow filled fun days back in early January.
Also I know nothing about the re-districting process in Indiana or Wisconsin, but if it were just like in Illinois, could Democrats just leave the state until June 1 to prevent Republicans from drawing the redistricting maps. Seems like a situation ripe for abuse, but hey its the law, so why not? If Quinn and Cullerton think it is such a great idea, then lets change the Illinois law before they draw the maps, just for a goof, to see what might happen to tourism in Wisconsin in May. All in the name of good government and the protection of minority party rights, of course.
- Cincinnatus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:24 pm:
MikeMacD,
Why would anyone address global warming if it isn’t man-made? Do you propose that we can affect the natural climate of the Earth. What next, repeal the law of gravity?
Deep South,
ObamaCare passed with the slimmest Congressional majority, with popularity among the American people underwater then (and even more so now). Arguably, Republicans assumed control of the House, and made significant gains in the Senate to hold true to their promise of repeal (which has passed the House). Republicans worked hard to stop ObamaCare, and worked even harder during the 2010 election. They did not cut and run like WI Democrats.
Wisconsin voters turned their Senate, General Assembly and Governorship red to do exactly what they are now trying to accomplish.
There is a big difference here. I hope WI voters remember the behavior of these Senate Democrats next election cycle.
RE: the Sara Palin crack. All I can say is that sometimes a blind squirrel gets a nut. It is not the job of regulators to legislate.
- Deep South - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:27 pm:
I think there WAS a vote on Health Care, so …. your point is what, exactly?
And the Republicans are trying to kill/defund it…right?
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:29 pm:
===I think there WAS a vote on Health Care, so …. your point is what, exactly?
And the Republicans are trying to kill/defund it…right?===
The president said he won the election, so my agenda goes, he got his vote, and the bill got signed …
The midterm went, “not so good” for the president, so the agenda shifted.
So … again … your point is WHAT, exactly?
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:32 pm:
===And the Republicans are trying to kill/defund it…right?===
To bring this full circle, if the National GOP repeals the healthcare law, the costs to WI, IN, and Illinois governments for employee/retiree healthcare will continue to skyrocket, leading to more deficits.
Hey, here’s a solution: let’s create a bunch of robots to staff our state agencies! It would be like the West Wing meets the Jetsons.
See, there really are simple solutions to these problems.
- cermak_rd - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:43 pm:
Jaded,
That’s what Federalism buys you, a bunch of states all of whom have different rules and laws and none of which has extradition treaties with their neighbors for errant legislators.
- Jaded - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:52 pm:
Dang, I knew there was a reason I never liked Hamilton, Madison, and sometimes Jay (as one of my old poli sci professors used to refer to the authors of the Federalists Papers).
- MikeMacD - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:54 pm:
Cincinnatus,
I urge you to make use of a dictionary.
- Bluejay - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 4:56 pm:
Since Illinois is now surrounded by states with Republican governors, perhaps our state can take advantage and build a resort mid-state catering to refugee Democratic legislators on the run (lam). Just think - greatest hits of the 60s playing all the time! Guaranteed Fox News free zone! NY times delivery every morning. Resort serviced with care by the SEIU!
- Anonymous - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 5:12 pm:
Bluejay, good luck getting that build in mostly GOP-friendly central illinois. Maybe Decatur, but who wants to vacation there?
- amalia - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 5:13 pm:
need some smart union person to post an easy list of the things we can boycott that are made by the Koch family. know that much of what they do is make, say, a substance used in a fabric, but want to boycott more than Brawny paper towels.
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 5:25 pm:
Maybe the Koch brothers make robots and this is all a clever marketing plan to replace unionized state employees with Kochrobots.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 6:04 pm:
–Since this tactic seems to be catching on I have to ask… could Illinois GOP legislators try fleeing to Indiana or Wisconsin–
Of course. Travel light — no pencils, papers or ideas.
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 6:25 pm:
–Simple, SS. The Kochs support conservative causes. That makes them evil incarnate.–
And DD, as you kill your state-employee workday commenting from your union-protected cubicle, others risk getting fired by standing in the streets for a larger cause.
What’s the word we’re looking for here? Many options.
On Wisconsin.
On Wisconsin.
It ain’t honestbenefits and while away your day on the taxpayer dime with obtuse commentary
- Wumpus - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 7:19 pm:
What a lesson they are teaching us…don’t like something, run away
- wordslinger - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 7:40 pm:
Walker is a Cheesehead. He knew what he was doing, but perhaps didn’t realize the extent of the reaction.
Still, he got to sit down in front of a portrait of Reagan and be interviewed by Will the Shill (he makes a lot of money on speeches; Big Oil is swell).
Reagan didn’t claim to fire PATCO to balance the budget. They got tough, he got tougher.
Walker Cheesehead Ranger came out gunning for a fight. The unions agreed to give back the money from the start, he wanted to bust them.
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 8:16 pm:
This is a bad tactic.
A minority party that does not represent their voters during a legislative session is not handling their political moves correctly. It may have been far better to have sat out one day to make the point, then vote en bloc against the bill and lose. By taking this route this long, and copying this route by minority parties in other states, the novelty and newsworthiness lessens. This just looks sloppy.
Another problem that is occuring over the past week has been the highlighting and outing of the dealmaking relationships between the protestors and the minority party. What began as a virginal gubernatorial action has shifted towards the players in opposition. One can only play the victim for so long before the media finds newer more interesting victims in this issue, lessening the victimhood of the gubernatorial opposition.
By abandoning their posts in the legislature, the minority party raises the stakes on an issue they have already lost on. The situation as it now stands will be much costlier when it all goes down for the minority party. The minority party could have let this bill roll off their backs and then snuff it out behind the scenes at a later date when they would regain the majority.
This issue is branding the minority party in a very permanent way. If they continue to lose, they will be a branded loser, instead of a viable temporarily minority party which lost on an important issue, which will be fought over again at a later date.
It is better to be a minority party of “NO!”, than a party that abandoned it’s governing responsibilities.
It seems that we are already seeing a shift against the minority party further. The President’s political circle is backing away from it’s earlier affirmation of involvement. They have seen real polls, not sponsored by the AFL-CIO indicating that the states have risen too high to continue this Game of Bluff.
Finally, this governor is new. It is always good to do any ugly political moves during a honeymoon period. Walker will be in for a full term. By 2014, this issue will most likely be surpassed by others. Already we see this issue losing steam.
As for the Indiana situation, the minority party’s move appears very orchestrated and very minor. The legislation being considered there is anti-climatic compared to Wisconsin. Seeing this same political tactic lessens the impact that the minority party in Wisconsin may have had.
I would have never recommended this political move for my party in Wisconsin. If over-ruled, I would have never recommended that it goes for more than one single day. You have to control the issue. Vacancy doesn’t afford you that control once a news cycle has been completed. The Party should have never let itself fall for this stunt.
I have been reading all the favorable comments for the Democrats in Wisconsin, and I understand the heartfelt reasons for the favorable comments. However, we must be more realistic now that this situation has reached this point. As a pro-union public employee I care about this too. I see however that this political stunt has not been a good move for us.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 8:48 pm:
VMan, apparently Mitch Daniels disagrees with you.
- mushroom in the dark - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 9:16 pm:
Wisconsin’s union busting bill is also about selling state owned power plants without going through a bidding process
http://rortybomb.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/the-less-discussed-part-of-walkers-wisconsin-plan-no-bid-energy-assets-firesales/
The balooning deficits that are going to occur are because of medicare and medicaid. The new healthcare law if enacted will help reduce those costs by requiring people to pay for their healthcare insurance. see below
http://www.angrybearblog.com/2011/02/budget-deficit-debate-avoiding-real.html
Fannie Mae was set up in the depression to make buying a home affordable by buying/guaranteeing loans made to individuals for 30 years with smaller downpayments, loans subject to interest rate losses and back in the 1930s before penicillin, life expectancies in the 40s. Now there is proposal to get rid of fannnie mae. And replace it with what? +90 percent of mortgages now are backed by fannie mae. Getting rid of fannie mae will lower home prices.
I thought citizens were encouraged to save and invest for their future and children’s future. This is what pensions do. Sure fix the pension excesses where they exist, but eliminating them or healthcare coverage for working middle class people does not seem to make any sense.
Unless you want the middle class to be a high school educated worker with no health care, no savings, and no pension.
Yet proposals are to repeal healthcare, fannie mae and pensions.
Many are in a state of disconnection with reality, only connecting to ideology.
- OurMagician - Tuesday, Feb 22, 11 @ 11:37 pm:
They’re in Champaign at an “undisclosed” location…
- Bond_player - Wednesday, Feb 23, 11 @ 8:57 am:
This brings a qustion to me. Could the Republicans did the same thing when the tax increase was passed? If so, then in essence, they voted for passage to by not leaving the state
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Feb 23, 11 @ 9:29 am:
No. We have different quorum rules.