Wisconsin fines runaway Democrats $100/day over union plan

[guruoo]

Wisconsin fines runaway Democrats over union plan


Wed Mar 2, 2011 5:11pm EST

* Senate Republicans impose $100 daily fines on Democrats

* Wisconsin governor says will compromise on budget

By David Bailey

MADISON, Wis., March 2 (Reuters) - Wisconsin state Senate Republicans voted on Wednesday to impose fines of $100 a day on Democrats who have fled the state to block Republican Governor Scott Walker's plan to curb the power of public sector unions.

Republicans hope the fines will help pressure the 14 runaway Democrats into ending a standoff over Walker's proposal, which has sparked the biggest Wisconsin protests since the Vietnam War and a national debate about union power.

....

Walker told a news conference on Wednesday he would be willing to compromise with Democrats on his budget, and pointed to education reforms and the spinoff of the University of Wisconsin in Madison as two possible areas of compromise.

But he made no mention of compromise on his proposal to limit the powers of public sector unions, which he says is necessary to close the state budget deficit.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/02/usa-wisconsin-idUSN0226321920110302

[AsahinaKimi]

1. Oh because you voted on it ..it can be enacted..

Well maybe they should vote for you all to wear PINK UNDERWEAR on your outer wear, for each day you are a complete jerks. Give them the finger, Democrats, and tell them to shove it where the sun doesn't shine.

[Drale]

2. Sounds like something that will be overturned by the court

I am pretty sure they can not set a tax and thats what this is for a small group of people like that. Plus they have to know they are about to be kicked out of office, and when that happens all those fines will probably be dropped anyway.

[fittosurvive]

5. Actually, states are free to enact a wide range of legislation.

[Goblinmonger]

7. How is this not an ex post facto law?

Plus they are giving WAY too much power to the majority leader.

[joshcryer]

12. ex post facto! Absolutely! They cannot do this.

Any first year lawyer would make this open and shut.

[NOLALady]

3. Time to pass the collection plate,

I guess.

[markpkessinger]

11. I would gladly donate to that cause n/t

[bluestateguy]

4. I believe they tried this with the Texas runaway Democrats in 2003

and I think the fines were never collected.

[backscatter712]

6. Can they do this?

The WI Senate doesn't have a quorum (hence the point of the Dems absconding to prevent Walker's union-busting bill from passing), so I thought they wouldn't be able to pass a bill to fine those same Dems.

[Goblinmonger]

8. They don't have a quorum for business that involves spending money

They have enough to conduct business that doesn't spend money.

[joshcryer]

13. Yeah, but like you said, it's clearly, irrefutably, ex post facto. It'd be shot down by any sane...

...court.

[PeaceNikki]

14. It passed committee - has to go to Senate and THERE'S NO FUCKING QUORUM.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. Digging that hole nice and deep

Remember, 3 feet for a latrine, 6 feet for a grave, 10 feet for a bomb shelter.

--d!

[markpkessinger]

10. It it should turn out that they have to pay these fines...

... then perhaps we could organize a drive, both here and on other progressive websites, to collect money to pay their fines for them?

[joshcryer]

15. No, that would be interfering in their acts, at the bare minimum conflict of interest.

They can afford it if for some magical reason the courts don't shoot it down as a law passed "after the fact."

[markpkessinger]

17. How is it any different from sending them pizza?

And who would have a conflict of interest? As private individuals, we are not expected to be disinterested, but that doesn't prevent us from providing help. There is no legal constraint against helping another person with his or her legal expenses or fines. If people chose to help pay their fines as a show of solidarity, how is that interfering in anybody's "acts"? I think you're a bit confused on this.

[PeaceNikki]

18. It can't pass Senate w/o quorum. It only passed committee today.

Silly Republicans.

[damntexdem]

16. $1400 a day can easily be collected in donations.

It's just another Walker fail.