Well, at least we know what this was all about now.
In a possibly illegal vote that gives new meaning to the term “ramming through legislation,” a legislative conference committee and later the state Senate voted Wednesday night to essentially put an end to collective bargaining and, eventually, public unions.
Check out the Journal Sentinel story here.
Here is what South Milwaukee State Sen. Chris Larson had to say about the situation:
“This is a travesty is what it is,”Larson said about the vote. “I can’t sit by and let them kill the middle class.”
That’s what Republicans seem bent on doing. And they’ll pay for it at the ballot box — sooner (through recall elections) or later (2012 or 2014). That much I do know. This is not the will of the people.
I’ll post more on this soon, as this “travesty” — as Sen. Larson aptly put it — continues to unfold and the action shifts to the Assembly.
For now, I end with a message to South Milwaukee Rep. Mark Honadel: Here is your chance to do what’s right for middle-class workers, for teachers, snowplow drivers, clerical workers, custodians and public health nurses. For garbage collectors, administrative assistants, police officers, firefighters and prison guards. For your neighbors. For the people you sit next to at church, the people you see at the food store and the farmers’ market. For us.
Do what’s right.
South Milwaukee Blog 
Runaway – how appropriate! It wouldn’t have ever had to come to this if the cowardly Democrats would have just done their job. What’s illegal is them leaving the state. Larsen saying it’s a travesty – that’s priceless – coming from a newly elected senator that couldn’t even muster the courage to take a vote. Senator Honadel and 17 other Republican senators DID what was right in fighting for the over-burdened taxpayers. Finally, how about a break for the overwhelming non-public sector workers that have been paying for those Cadillac compensation packages? THAT’S US!
If the “cowardly Democrats would have just done their job,” as you put it, this would have simply passed in record speed through the legislature three weeks ago, rather than tonight, with barely a debate, just as Republican lawmakers wanted (and ultimately got). At least the delay created by the Democrats leaving the state opened peoples’ eyes to real motivations here … and clearly showed who stands with the middle class, and who doesn’t.
Larsen, “travesty”? HA!
Erik,
You seem to forget that the Republican majority, legally elected by the citizens of this state, gave way more debate and public input to this budget bill than Doyle and the Democrat majority did in 2009 when they rammed their budget bill through in 24 hours with virtually no debate or public input whatsoever. Who really is disenfranchised are the constituents of the fleebagger 14 that aren’t even in the state – illegally, by the way – to represent them. WE are the middle class too! If I was some so-called “rich fat cat” that liberals always want to demonize I wouldn’t be living in South Milwaukee or Milwaukee County for that matter. This 50 year failed experiment in collective bargaining for public sector employees is finally going to end and ALL OF US will be better off when the state gets back to fiscal sanity.
Thank you, Alderman Brooks. I will be contacting Assemblyman Honadel to urge him to vote against this bill. Although after just seeing him interviewed on TV for his reaction to Sen. Fitzgerald’s action today, he seems to be as delusional about the devastating impact Gov. Walker’s policies will have on Wisconsin and its economy as he and his partisan brethren and sistern are.
See comment above. I applaud ANY legislator who has the courage to stand up to union thugs and their Democrat puppets that have held our state hostage for the last three weeks.
While I wish the Republicans would have said about a week ago that this option is being explored and may be set in motion if the Dems don’t come back, I still applaud them for doing it the way they did. 14 MINORITY legislatures shouldn’t have the power to stop the state. Politicians aren’t SUPPOSED TO BE elected to protect unions, they are elected to protect the tax payers.
“This is a travesty is what it is,”Larson said about the vote. “I can’t sit by and let them kill the middle class.”
SO SENATOR LARSON…..WHERE WERE YOU???? IN ILLINOIS. MAYBE YOU SHOULD STAY IN ILLINOIS!!!!!
The passing of this bill IS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS!!! I applaud Assemblyman Honadel and the others for finally passing this. It appears that very few know that Wisconsin WAS one of only 26 States that has collective bargaining. Stop the WHINING and get on with life. This is a great time for Wisconsin that someone who is NOT A PUPPET to WEAC and the other unions voted for the right thing! I work in the private sector and I know that when I retire, my company will not pay 100% of my medical insurance for seven (or is it eight) years as does the School District of South Milwaukee, or does my company pay me $10 – $12K per year not to take medical insurance.