Wisconsin: Republican's bill can't stand scrutiny, so they're limiting debate

[Scuba]

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/287654121.html

MADISON, Wis. — Republicans who control the state Assembly are considering formal rules to limit debate, sparking cries from minority Democrats that the GOP wants to silence them.

The Assembly is expected to consider the rules during the session's first floor period Wednesday. The package calls for giving each party at least 30 minutes to debate final passage of any proposal unless leaders from both sides agree to something different. It also creates a new way for ending debate if time limits expire by allowing a representative to move for tabling all amendments at once and limiting debate on referring bills back to committee to 10 minutes.

Floor periods in the 99-member Assembly have dragged into the wee hours for years as the minority party tries to draw the proceedings out and exhaust majority members. Debate over the state budget, for example, often includes scores of amendments from the minority party, giving them a chance to talk for hours and stave off a vote as long as possible. In 2011, Democrats filibustered for more than 60 hours to delay a vote on Republican Gov. Scott Walker's proposal stripping public workers of their union rights.

Last session, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, agreed to set time limits for each bill before taking the floor. The deal called for setting aside at least a half-hour for debate on a bill's final passage. Debate on the 2013-15 budget was slated to last 12½ hours over two days in the Assembly, but Democrats surprisingly chose not to prolong the proceedings and let Republicans pass the spending plan after little more than an hour of debate.

[midnight]

1. I suppose they don't have to discuss anything at all considering AlEC has already purchased

the speaking points and laws.