IT'S UP TO THE COURTS NOW!

The law passed the Assembly Thursday night and the Governor did sign it this morning. The Republicans got together Wednesday evening and pulled all finance relating items from the "Repair Bill". They called a joint committee meeting with unless than 2 hours’ notice, did not allow the bill to be read with the changes and the Republicans ignored Peter Barca (D) objections that they were not following the "Open Records Law". The Republicans started voting for approval of the changes and then walked away while Peter Barca was still objecting. The Republican Senators then walked to the Senate Chamber and passed the bill. They finally proved by their actions that collective bargaining rights were not a financial issue but a political goal. Lawyers for Dane County and City of Madison are now determining if Republicans are in violation of the "Open Records Law". The "Open Records Law" requires a 24 hour notice of a meeting or if there is an emergency a 2 hour notice is enough. The meeting was held before the required 2 hour's notice to the public. There may be other procedures or laws broken during this meeting but now it is up to the lawyers to file their briefs in court and the public to wait for the decision.

A call did go out on Wednesday evening that this meeting was taking place and the public converged on the Capital. Some people got into the Capital before the police locked the doors stating that the Capital was closed for the evening. The public stood before the locked doors demanding to be let in. Some of the protesters in the building opened windows allowing people into the building. The police then decide to open the door and retreated to the 3rd floor of the Capital. Approximately 7000 people swarm in the Capital and many climbed to the 2nd and 3rd floors causing fears that the bridges would collapse from the weight. The Press first reported that windows were broken that is not true there were no broken windows or other damage that night. This was about the people wanting to be heard by their government but they were just ignored instead. One of my coworkers was there and he told me there was a question asked to the group that night: HOW MANY OF YOU ARE UNION WORKERS? Very few raised their hands and when asked who were not a majority raised their hands stating they were not. Most people are in shock that the Republicans majority would ram this through and ignored THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.

Now that the legal status is in the hands of the courts, people are turning their energies toward the recall petitions for the 8 Republican Senators. Majority leader Senator Scott Fitzgerald stated that they will be changing the recall rules so it will be harder to remove elective officials from office.

"Yeah, I mean, I've always been a believer that recall probably would be more appropriate if a legislator was involved in some type of, you know, either criminal activity, or something that could be deemed, you know, unethical," said Fitzgerald. "Not related to simply taking a stance on a tough vote. And you know, I think there's other legislators that feel that way as well."

I guess he feels that ramming bills down people throats and ignoring the "Open Records Law" has nothing to do with ethics.

If the public wants a change they need to be aware that there is an election for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Position on April 5, 2011. We need to replace David T. Prosser, Jr. with JoAnne F. Kloppenburg. If you want a government run by the people and not special interests, we need a person who will follow our laws and precedents.

Note: Around 4 PM a judge ruled that she would not bar the law from being published. After it has been published the law takes affects in 10 days. She set a hearing next Wednesday to determine if this bill is lawful.

Wisconsin Politics

It has been another interesting week in Wisconsin. The first two weeks at work you could cut a knife through the tension and stress from what was happening at the Capital. The tension is less this week because you just cannot keep living on the edge. Anyone who can retire before the extended contract ends, March 13, is just leaving. Since January 1, 29-31 people out of about 300 will retire from my section. Some of these people were planning on retiring this year but not this early. They wanted to leave with someone trained to take over their duties and not leave things unfinished but now they must leave to protect themselves. Possibly losing some of their retirement benefits by staying is just not worth it. Others believe the Governor will wait until July 1 and are willing to take the chance if I was in their shoes I leave now.

The Governor was limiting access to the Capital and until Thursday night when a judge ruled the protesters must leave the Capital at night but access was not to be restricted during the day. During the period of limited access some of the protester sent word out that the Republicans were letting in supporters through several underground tunnels. This limited access also included pass and current legislators. The government started jamming access to a web site the university teaching assistants were using to organize the protests. The government claimed that they needed to be sure that they were not using illegal or inappropriate web sites. Someone did comment that if they tried to log on to a porn site at the Capital that they would have no problem getting into it.

The Republican Senators passed Wednesday that any Senator who is not attending the session for more than 2 days will be fined $100 a day starting today. Other rules they passed are making Democratic Senators to appear on the floor to pick up their paycheck. One senator got around that rule by signing over power of attorney over to an aide so he/she could pick up the check. The leader of the senate now is required to sign all the Democratic Senators' Aides timesheets. Rumor is they are also denying the aides’ access to the Capital too. All the Democratic Senators offices coping machine rights have been pulled.

Monday, I attended a town meeting in my home town with our Senator, he made a statement and several other people against the budget repair were allowed to make statements. Then the public was given a chance to say their piece. The major were against the bill. There was one person who said she was for it but talked about how the protesters barred the legislators from the bathrooms and how the Republicans were respectful to the people who testified. Funny the local reporters did not report it that way nor did I hear that from the people who were at the Capital. I would have thought she would have stated why this bill would be good for Wisconsin instead of complaining about bathrooms.

Our dear Governor Walker delivered his 2011-2013 budget address on Tuesday. He is stripping education and destroying Wisconsin children future. I guess if you destroy the educational system it will make it easier to control the population with your propaganda. OH did I really mean this, YES! Reducing the educational funding means Wisconsin children will have a hard time finding jobs that will pay a living wage.

The best thing that is happening is 8 Republican Senators are being recalled. Five Democratic Senators are also being recalled. I am counting the days until January when we can file recall papers against Governor Walker but he still can do a lot damage to the state before this.

A Wisconsin Update

As many of you may have read online, the WI State Assembly passed the budget repair bill last night. The Republicans did another dirty trick in passing the bill by announcing a quick oral veto so many of the Democratics did not get a chance to enter a veto. This is the kinds of dirty politics the Republican Party is willing to do. They started the new session by fast tracking all legislation in an attempt to hid their agenda. They are trying to give the Governor powers to sell state power plants without selling to the highest bidder and the ability to cut low-income people off health care at will. The governor was going to announce the new budget starting in July but has held off on it. He is waiting for the repair bill to pass because I believe if he announces new budget before this bill passes there might even be more objections to the repair bill causing him to withdrawn it.

The furlough notices should be sent out on Monday. If we want to keep our collective bargaining rights, we are going to have to accept the furloughs without complains. If I am one them, I will write the Democratic Senators and tell them if I am going to make this sacrifice, they better not come back until the Governor pulls the bill. I could lose the house and I have no children but the future of the state is important to me. I found out today that no amendments can be added to the budget repair bill because there was a third reading before the Senators walked out; it is down to just an up or down vote unless the bill is pulled.

My Senator sent an email to everyone in his district this week asking for a civil discussion. He went on to say he lived through the 60's and remembers the social fabric being torn apart. My answer to this, if you were worried about this why did you let yourself be carried along with a group of individuals who are gladly ripping it apart.

The news claimed my Senator try to amend it bill but this is what really happen

http://budget.wispolitics.com/2011/02/schultz-does-not-propose-amendment.html

A Wisconsin State Employee

Dear Senator,

Please thank your Democratic colleagues when they return to the Senate for doing what is right for the people of Wisconsin. You are going to vote YES for a bill that is using the excuse "TO BALANCE THE BUDGET" to destroy worker's rights. I have worked for the state for 16 years and refused to sign my union card as a protest against the fact most of the union dues did not stay in Wisconsin and support my small professional union. I signed the card after Governor Walker was elected to office because I heard and read what he did and how he treated Milwaukee County workers. I finally felt I needed protection from his policies and ideas. I expected to pay more for my retirement and health care whoever was elected governor but I did not expect to lose my right to bargain. The right to bargain for wages in this bill is a joke and it always has been since the State always told the unions we are allowing "Set Amount in the Budget" and that was our raise period. The only place the union could do any bargaining was in benefits like retirement, sick leave, health care, working conditions and vacations taking all that away means we have nothing to bargain for. What you are going to do is not what WISCONSIN IS!

The bill allowing the Governor final approval on administrated rules.

Why are you willing to vote away your rights as a legislator by giving any Governor the right for final approval on administrated rules? The State of Wisconsin government is ruled by a divided government: Courts, Governor and Legislature; I believe giving a governor the final approval on rules is giving away legislative power to the governor. You write the bills and pass them, the governor signs it, department writes rules to administrate the bill and you again pass or reject the rules. Giving the governor the final say would give him the power of a monarch or as some say dictator. I am not against this bill because of who is governor; no governor from whatever party should be able to reject or approve the rules only the legislature. You may think it is a great idea but some day another governor who is not from your party will be in charge. Think about this, the same thing happen with the line item veto and this change will cause the same result.

Thank you of you time.

My senator received this letter earlier today.