Dem Senators boycott vote, avoid quorum

[Broca]

At least numerous messages to this effect from people on site and tweeting on Twitter:

Dems are solid. Walked out. Indeed their absence means no quorum. No vote. No as-is "Budget Reform Bill"
http://twitter.com/#!/bluecheddar1

[Greybnk48]

1. Awesome! Brilliant!

I think this is the beginning of something big here.

[Broca]

2. Let's hope it is true and effective

I have never heard of this before in Wisconsin. Is there precedent or law, etc. relating to this? Or just Senate Rules?

[Broca]

6. Apparently similar thing happened in Texas 8 yrs back.

Nearly eight years ago, Republicans in the Texas legislature, at the behest of Tom DeLay, tried to force through a re-redistricting scheme. Texas Democrats didn't have the votes to stop, but they had a procedural card to play -- they could not show up, deny the GOP a quorum, and prevent the bill from passing. So Dems packed up and left the state for a while.*
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2011_02/028051.php

[FBaggins]

8. All true...

...but of course we lost that battle.

[Broca]

3. Newspapers now reporting the Dem tactic

WI State Journal and others updating as we speak.
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_01c093f0-3ac0-11e0-ba01-001cc4c002e0.html

[Goblinmonger]

5. Reports are that they immediately

headed for Illinois so the State Troopers couldn't come get them.

[FBaggins]

9. I don't think that it was "so the troopers couldn't get them"

It was so that the troopers (union members) wouldn't have to choose between supporting unions and keeping their oath.

Now that isn't an issue. The police can't go get them even if they wanted to.

[undeterred]

4. I love our Dems.

Yeah, we had a couple betray us recently, but we've got some truly great progressives in state government and this moment will bring it out.

:patriot:

[FeelingBlue]

7. I am proud

of our Democrats. Thank you for laying it all on the line for us and for your convictions. I hope you are somewhere comfortable!! We will keep the home fires burning.