Wisconsin Democrats May Return Soon

[kpete]

Source: Wall Street Journal

Wisconsin Democrats May Return Soon

By KRIS MAHER and AMY MERRICK

The leader of the 14 Wisconsin Senate Democrats who left the state last month to block legislation that would curb public-employee union rights said the senators plan to return "in the relatively near future," because negotiations with the governor have failed.

Democratic Sen. Mark Miller said the Democrats intend to let the full Senate vote and potentially pass Gov. Scott Walker's "budget-repair" bill, which would also limit public unions' collective bargaining rights. The Democrats believe that the measure lacks voter support based on recent polls and that passage could hurt Republicans politically, Mr. Miller said.

He said the Democrats, who fled to Illinois on Feb. 17, also want to fight Mr. Walker's recently announced two-year budget plan, which cuts spending by $4.2 billion, or 6.7%, including $1.25 billion less in state aid to schools and local governments.

"We are now looking at returning to the state capitol and requiring the senators to take a vote and have them declare who they're with -- the workers or the governor," Mr. Miller said Sunday. He said he thinks recent polls have been "disastrous" for Mr. Walker and give Democrats more leverage to seek budget changes.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704041504576185010446940614.html?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsTop

[savalez]

1. I think they should wait for the Pubs to be recalled.

[David__77]

2. Too soon.

Much too soon... what else to say?

[slay]

6. If they return now it will have been for nothing

other than to score political points - the outcome will be the same for the WORKERS, but Dems see a political advantage in returning now cause it will make the republicans "look bad"? wtf. that is a HORRIBLE plan. Did that not listen to Michael Moore at all - they need to DIG IN not Give In. Sigh.. :(

[joeglow3]

27. I assume that may be tough for them

These typically are not rich politicians like you see in DC. Most of our representatives have "regular" jobs in addition to their state position. The longer they stay there, the longer their families go without a paycheck. I think the Thugs know this and will simply bleed them out.

[slay]

28. I highly doubt this is the case

Their "friends" in the DNC and rich Dem donors will look after them. I don't think the money thing will be a problem in the slightest. You're right when you say these aren't like rich beltway Dems, but if need be they can do like Wisconsin state Sen. Jon Erpenbach(D) just did and got his paycheck!


AWOL Wisconsin Dem Beats The System, Gets His Paycheck Mailed To Him
Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2011, 3:17PM

"Wisconsin state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, one of the 14 Democrats who have fled the state in order to block budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals, has just beaten the Republicans in one of their key efforts to force Dems back to the state - by collecting his legislative pay.

Senate Republicans last week passed a rule suspending the direct-deposit of absent legislators' pay, requiring them to show up in person at the Capitol -- in effect, to provide a quorum -- in order to receive a check.

However, as WisPolitics reports, Erpenbach found a workaround: He granted power-of-attorney to two members of his staff, thus authorizing them to conduct many important personal decisions and financial actions on his behalf -- such as picking up his paycheck."

more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/awol-wisconsin-dem-beats-the-system-gets-his-paycheck-mailed-to-him.php

[Me.]

3. The Article Linked Says That Claim By The WSJ Is Completely False

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x574850

[wellstone dem]

4. But see (I think that's what B.S. stands for)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x574850

[Tx4obama]

5. Dem Chris Larson on his FB page says the WSJ article is FALSE

WI Dem senator disputes on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/VoteChrisLarson/posts/204685202875073

Chris Larson: "Sen. Miller's comments are taken out of context in the Wall Street Journal article just released. Dems will return when collective bargaining is off the table. That could be soon based on the growing public opposition to the bill and the recall efforts against Republicans. Unfortunately, the WSJ fished for the quote they wanted, skipping this key step in logic: we won't come back until worker's rights are preserved."

[neverforget]

7. They go back without a deal with at least 3 or 4 Senate Republicans

to kill it, then the workers lose.

[MadisonMike]

8. He was misquoted

http://www.dane101.com/current/2011/03/06/sen_larson_dems_will_return_when_collective_bargaining_is_off_the_table

The headline on a Wall Street Journal article posted this evening is likely confusing to many as it screams "Democrats to End Union Standoff." Sen. Chris Larson takes specific issue with this part of the article: "Sen. Mark Miller said he and his fellow Democrats intend to let the full Senate vote on Gov. Scott Walker's 'budget-repair' bill, which would also limit public unions' collective bargaining rights."

According to Larson, speaking via his Facebook wall, this is a misrepresentation of Miller's quote, "Sen. Miller's comments are taken out of context in the Wall Street Journal article just released. Dems will return when collective bargaining is off the table. That could be soon based on the growing public opposition to the bill and the recall efforts against Republicans. Unfortunately, the WSJ fished for the quote they wanted, skipping this key step in logic: we won't come back until worker's rights are preserved.

[EC]

9. Propaganda to get the people

protesting to give up and stop showing up...they think it will depress people to read their heros are giving up. Modern communications will not let that work...

[pansypoo53219]

10. do i smell kock?

and bull?

[AndyTiedye]

11. They Put Up a Good Fight, But…

…they can't stay in Illinois forever.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

12. I hope this is a propaganda piece

[eowyn_of_rohan]

25. WSJ is a right wing paper

I hope it's propaganda, too. If not, this would be disastrous... Sen. Erpenbach and others have been adamant about staying their course.

[Myrina]

26. ... it appears to be

n/t

[reformist2]

13. obvious propaganda designed to demoralize.

Nice try, WSJ.

[HereSince1628]

24. That was my initial reaction, too.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one.

It's getting paranoid up here in chedderland.

[high density]

14. WSJ wants us to think Democrats will return and give up unions to score political points?

What fucked-up logic do they have going on over there? The maximum "points" are being earned with their current plan of stopping the nonsense. I think we clearly already know who the Republicans are with, and it's not the workers.

[quakerboy]

16. Well, its what they would do

if they were republicans. Since when have they ever cared about their signature issues except as necessary as a platform to agitate for increased power? It would make a certain amount of sense that people who can think no other way would assume that others function in the same way.

[socialist_n_TN]

19. The PTBs have tried occasionally to turn this into........

a Rep/Dem "politics as usual" thing. I think this is just another attempt at that. At least I hope so.

[reformist2]

15. so where's the propaganda piece saying Walker is in tears, thinking about resigning?

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. WSJ is lying....Koch made them do it

[deacon]

18. Murdock & Koch at work. n/t

[Frisbee]

20. Take anything from a Murdoch rag with a grain of salt. eom

[Supply Side Jesus]

21. Misinformation to demoralize us

piss off WSJ

[idontownanoutfit]

22. From the AFP rally today.

Miller's comments taken out of context. I've got an inside source. They ain't moving. We snuck into the AFP rally today in Madison, Wisconsin. Check out the video!


http://www.youtube.com/user/YouTellEmSteveDave

[HDPaulG]

23. Jon Erpenbach Senator Dem, 27th District

Here's the deal... The fact is Mark Millers comments were taken out of context. He was saying we will be coming home at some point. When that is is unclear and not completely up to the 14 of us. Again... we are committed to remaining in Illinois for the foreseeable future. We will continue to reach out in order to try and find compromise.