*** UPDATE 6 *** Full audio of Quinn comments…

Click to download

*** UPDATE 5 *** From WBBM Radio…

[Quinn] says the Wisconsin Democrats are welcome to stay here until Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, in Quinn’s words, “comes to his senses.”

There were rumors a group of senators were holed up in McCormick Place, site of the Chicago Auto Show, holding strategy meetings. The have said they may stay away for weeks if necessary.

“We welcome them to the Chicago Auto Show,” said Quinn, who was touring the show on Friday.

“In Illinois, we always believed in working together as a team and not kicking somebody in the shins,” Quinn added. Public employees, like teachers, “deserve some respect.”

Governor Walker, Quinn says, need to take another look at the legislation.

*** UPDATE 4 *** One of the cheesehead Senators says the Democrats could stay here for weeks, if necessary…

A leading Wisconsin senator who fled to the Chicago area with fellow Democrats says all 14 will gather for a meeting somewhere in Illinois.

But state Sen. Jon Erpenbach won’t say where or exactly when the meeting will take place on Friday. He says it should be within driving distance of Chicago.

The Associated Press asked if it was proper for Wisconsin legislators to hold a secret meeting out of the state. He responded by likening the meeting to a closed caucus.

*** UPDATE 3 *** I’ve replaced the #Wisconsin hashtag with some major media Tweeters up there in Cheesehead Land. A bit easier on the senses, I think…

*** UPDATE 2 *** Silly cheesehead…

State Senator Chris Larson, one of the Democrats who is remaining in Illinois to stall the vote on Governor Scott Walker’s measure, tells me that another Dem Senator — who he declined to name — returned home late yesterday to try to get some sleep. That Senator’s staff reported to Larson that police visited his home, but that the Senator had managed to slip away before cops could apprehend him.

“Police were sent over to his house, but he was able to get out of there,” Larson told me.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Senate President Cullerton makes fun of the Cheesehead in Chief…

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton is again thanking Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for his contributions to Illinois’ economic rebound.

“I must say, I really did not expect Governor Walker to work this hard to make Illinois look so good. Once again, I’d like to thank Governor Walker for his ongoing efforts to market Illinois as a great place to live and work,” Cullerton said. “First he let everyone know how much lower our tax rates are than his, now he’s focusing on how much more stable Illinois is than the chaotic Wisconsin he’s created. I can’t wait to hear how he’ll help us next.”

The Illinois Senate President issued his comments upon learning that Wisconsin Senate Democrats had sought refuge in Illinois in an effort to get the Wisconsin governor to reconsider his heavy-handed ultimatums and efforts to strip public sector employees of workplace rights and protections.

Cullerton welcomed his Wisconsin colleagues to Illinois and hoped they’d enjoy their stay in stable, low-tax Illinois, where even with the recent tax increases the rates are lower than in Wisconsin. The Senate President also thanked Walker for the added and unexpected economic boost.

“He’s even helping our tourism. What can’t Governor Walker do for Illinois?” said Cullerton.

Cullerton’s office also says the Senate President has “contacted the office of the Democratic Senate Leader in Wisconsin to offer his support and assistance.”

[ *** End Of Updates *** ]

* The Rockford Register-Star caught up with some of those fleeing Wisconsin state Senators yesterday…

A contingent of Democratic Wisconsin state senators fled Madison today and convened at the Clock Tower Resort and Conference Center in Rockford to block movement on a controversial budget bill.

Republicans hold a 19-14 majority in the Wisconsin Senate, but they need at least one Democrat to be present before taking a vote on the bill.

“This is pretty significant legislation that would take away decades of collective bargaining rights,” Democratic state Sen. Jim Holperin, who represents the 12th District in northeast Wisconsin, said in Rockford today.

“The proposal was only given to us Tuesday,” he said. “We need more than three days, and the people of Wisconsin need more than three days, to understand what’s in the bill, to discuss what’s in the bill and to consider the ramifications of what’s in the bill before we vote on it.”

Holperin and nine of his Democratic colleagues arrived at the Clock Tower about 10:30 a.m. [yesterday]. They left the hotel by 4 p.m., and it was unclear when they would return to Wisconsin.

So, apparently, they split soon after their whereabouts were discovered.

* More…

A Rockford hotel and water park took on a circus-like atmosphere Thursday as a band of runaway Wisconsin legislators milled about the lobby and parking lot, a news chopper hovered overhead and a TV reporter chased after a leprechaun. […]

A hotel official said the politicians never checked in and left around midafternoon. […]

Once the lawmakers left, locals seemed unsure where they might have gone. Some believed they were still in Rockford, but a sampling of other nearby hotels and eateries came up empty.

Nothing at the Holiday Inn. No sign of the senators at the Hilton. Big Al’s Bar wasn’t a hideout either, and the locals there seemed politely disinterested.

At least one of those Senators is now in Chicago.

* RR-Star’s video…

* A Rockford tea party member was also at the hotel and attempted to confront a Democratic Senator…

* A couple of Quad Cities lawmakers weighed in…

Republican State Representative Rich Morthland said he can’t believe lawmakers would run away from the state, while Democratic State Senator Mike Jacobs holds the governor responsible for this mess by supporting an anti–union bill.

“Turning state legislature into a game of hide and seek is not an example of good government,” said Morthland, “I know it’s difficult, but you can’t fix a problem if you’re not in the room.”

“Maybe the governor of Wisconsin is looking at the wrong person to blame,” Jacobs said, “it seems to me he should have done the responsible thing and that would have been to either cut his government or increase his tax.”

* Sen. Dick Durbin also got into the act…

“Workers across the country should have the right to stand together for fair compensation and a safe workplace,” Durbin said. “Wisconsin’s teachers and state workers should not be badgered by a governor who refuses to sit down and work out a fair compromise.

“This time around, this Chicago Bears fan is rooting for Wisconsin and its workers,” Durbin continued.

* Related…

* Fun Things for Wisconsin Democrats to Do on Vacation in Rockford, IL

* GOP might not need Democrats to pass controversial legislation: The Wisconsin Constitution, however, only requires that three-fifths of each chamber to be in attendance for “any law which imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases, discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state.” So if Republicans included non-fiscal, but still controversial provisions, in a separate bill — including, potentially, the provisions regarding collective bargaining — legally they’d only need 17 senators for a vote to be held, Esenberg said. That means Republicans could vote without a single Democrat being present, he said.

* Wisconsin in near-chaos over anti-union bill

* Dems say they won’t return before Saturday

* Lost: The common good