WI Assembly to vote on budget-repair bill today
posted at 10:55 am on February 24, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
The ground under the feet of the Fleebaggers just shifted uncomfortably. Their colleagues in the Wisconsin Assembly, who stayed to debate the budget repair bill with Republicans, have cut a deal to end debate today on the proposal that will set up a vote around noon:
Democrats in the Assembly early Thursday announced an agreement that could finally bring an end to the nearly two solid days of debate on amendments to Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill.
Shortly after 6 a.m., Assembly leaders announced a deal had been reached in which Democrats who have strenuously objected to Walker’s plan to sharply curb public worker bargaining rights would limit remaining debate to 38 amendments. They further agreed to restrict debate on each amendment to no more than 10 minutes.
That could bring the budget bill that includes the worker rights provisions up for a final vote in as little as six hours, though further distractions are always possible.
The bill will then move to the Senate, which still has no quorum as the Fleebagger Democrats in that chamber remain outside of the state. That hasn’t stopped them from complaining that Governor Scott Walker won’t take their calls, which as Jim Geraghty writes today, provides “1.2 gigawatts of irony.”
If they want to debate the bill and negotiate, they have the forum in which to do it — the Senate seats to which they were elected. The GOP scheduled 17 hours of debate for the bill, which needs to be passed by Friday to allow Wisconsin to restructure its debt with the best conditions possible. They don’t need to call Walker to have that debate or negotiate, which their non-Fleebagger Democratic colleagues proved this morning.
Now that the bill will advance to the Senate after an Assembly vote, the Fleebaggers have even less justification for their petulant absenteeism. The Senate should give the courtesy of a hearing to a bill passed by its sister chamber. They have no more excuses.
Update: Had the wrong link in the first paragraph; it’s now fixed. Thanks to Guy Benson for the heads-up.
Blowback
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You won’t defend your own statement with evidence?
darwin on February 24, 2011 at 12:08 PM
Lots of people read here. Letting them see how the ‘tards distort the truth is a good thing. Sunlight, etc.
a capella on February 24, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Liberals don’t have to learn since they never actually use facts. They can just keep making up shit as they always do. And when confronted with the BS, they scream about burden of proof and fallacies.
You have an easier time having an intelligent conversation with a golden retriever than with a liberal.
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:09 PM
In other words, he has not evidence to support his claim that Wisconsin public school students have the 3rd highest SAT scores in the country – notwithstanding the fact that if they did have such high scores, it would be a completely irrelevant point, having nothing to do with public employee unions and/or budgets or economics.
That’s like the unions that have advertisements that basically take credit for the quality of goods manufactured by this or that company. As if the union had anythnig to do with that – indeed, the product quality is good despite the union, which exits to increase benefits and decrease responsibility and accountability. a union has no legal or moral or practical care for the quality of the work. A union exisists solely to protect members jobs – regardless of quality of work – and increase benefits – regardless of productivity. So claims of “value” added because of a union are illogical at best.
Moreover, for the last 20 years we’ve been told by leftists like Bifidis that the SAT doesn’t mean anything b/c it is culturally insesensitive to minorities and therefore does not accurately measure anything. Why the sudden change?
Monkeytoe on February 24, 2011 at 12:09 PM
Did I say you were disrupting it? Keep digging.
Vince on February 24, 2011 at 12:10 PM
My first thought too. Totally misses the beat without the “one point twentyone”
TexasDan on February 24, 2011 at 12:11 PM
To follow up on my previous point, what exactly is the claim that the union is responsibile for (assuming it is true) Wisconsin students having high SAT scores?
The unions don’t hire, evaluate or train the teachers. The unions don’t maintain discipline in the schools. the unions don’t decide what the cirriculum should be. The unions don’t maintain the buildings and grounds.
so, how exactly does the union have anything to do with the SAT scores? Because teh union represents the teachers? That’s like saying that a company’s lawyer is responsible for the quality of the Company’s product. After all, the lawyer represents the company in proceedings and negotiations, just like the union does for teachers. So, the lawyer is therefore responsible for all of the company’s success? ridiculous.
Monkeytoe on February 24, 2011 at 12:15 PM
All “ism’s” mean dishonesty. Conservatism, Fordism, Marxism, terrorism — all suffused with lies.
Ye Powers And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss,
CHAOS and ANCIENT NIGHT, I come no Spie,
With purpose to explore or to disturb
The secrets of your Realm, but by constraint
Wandring this darksome desart, as my way
Lies through your spacious Empire up to light …
bifidis on February 24, 2011 at 12:15 PM
Hahaha, no sooner do I read this, than I read this about ACT scores. Coincidence? I think not:
http://www.bigjournalism.com/pjsalvatore/2011/02/23/false-narratives-astroturfed-union-talking-points-on-collective-bargaining-and-act-scores
Too funny. Loser lefties spamming talking points. Absolutely no individual thought whatsoever.
Renwaa on February 24, 2011 at 12:16 PM
bifidis on February 24, 2011 at 12:04 PM
Burden of proof fallacy? WTF is the Burden of proof fallacy?
And then the “special pleading” fallacy.
Bifidis must have learned a new word today, else it’s confusing that with the word Phallus.
Colbyjack on February 24, 2011 at 12:17 PM
The 14 are not blackmailers, they’re Fleedom Fighters.
Forgive if a repeat … I’m busy working for my living.
pambi on February 24, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Perhaps. But even if so, leftism is much more suffused with lies than most. Certainly much more than conservatism.
Monkeytoe on February 24, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Wow. This new troll is something special.
The others are usually semi-coherent in their New Left flavored ramblings, but this one is special.
I’ll do my best to treasure it while it lasts.
darclon on February 24, 2011 at 12:18 PM
You forgot Oppressivism.
Colbyjack on February 24, 2011 at 12:19 PM
2009 MEDIAN SAT SCORES BY TYPE OF HIGH SCHOOL
Scores are for Critical Reading, Mathematics, Writing
Public: 496 510 487
Religious 533 533 530
Independent 550 578 555
You were saying troll….
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:20 PM
It was the same with stock markets. All through Bush years we were told DOW Jones doesn’t mean anything because it only affects the rich. Then as soon as Obama comes in, all of a sudden a rising stock market is proof positive the economy is booming once again.
That’s how libtards work.
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:22 PM
The thing about unions that people like Bifidis never admit to, is that the Union has a legal responsibility to put the wants, needs, and desires of its members ahead of everyone else.
In other words, if the union were to decide to pursue what it thought was in the best interests of students, it would be violating its legal obligation to represent the interests of teachers adn could be sued by any members.
Therefore, each and every time there is any conflict between what is better for students and what is better for teachers, the union must take the teachers side.
Thus, to claim that the union is ever looking out for the best interest of students is not just factually wrong, but legally very unlikely. Sure, in the few instances where students and teachers have common interests, teh union will be “fighting” for student interests – but only to the point that such issue is important for the teachers. So, if the issue is teacher salary versus improving student outcomes, the union will always (and must always) be for teachers salaries above student outcomes.
There are arguments that can be made (I don’t find them persuasive) as to why teachers (or anyone else) needs unions. Arguing that unions somehow improves the quality of the product is simply ridiculous though. That is not a valid argument.
Monkeytoe on February 24, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Clown.
rrpjr on February 24, 2011 at 12:23 PM
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH.
(Just in case it hasn’t been thrown out there yet.)
j_galt on February 24, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Yo troll,
Is that enough of a burden of proof? Actual facts about the SATs from the people that administer the SATs shwoing that public school test takers are abysmal compared to private/religious school takers?
Or is that still not enough proof for your highness?
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:24 PM
And, that doesn’t mean that a union will always reduce the quality of a product, but a union can almost never improve the quality of a product.
There are a few areas where it could be argued unions improve quality – typically the building trades where you hire directly from the union hall and the union is responsible for actually trainnig and certifying the workers, but in most situations, the union has nothing to do with product quality.
Monkeytoe on February 24, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Is that enough of a burden of proof? Actual facts about the SATs from the people that administer the SATs showing that public school test takers are abysmal compared to private/religious school takers?
Or is that still not enough proof for your highness?
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Now that it’s been proven to be a Lying Leftist, it will scurry off to infest another thread.
Colbyjack on February 24, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Don’t show up and represent the people who elected you, I’m sure the 12,000 soon to be unemployed public employees will shower you with their undying love and devotion. And the millions who be getting less and paying more for the next few decades will no doubt worship the Fleebaggers as true patriots. *barf*
Yup, that is some quality leadership. When things get tough, the squirming little maggots run away.
G-man on February 24, 2011 at 12:27 PM
Leftists are still stuck in 1987 where they think they can just throw out a lie and nobody will be able to dispute it.
Fact: 30 seconds using google can disprove 99.98% of what a leftist says.
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:33 PM
Public unions demanding more and more from taxpayers: Good!
Private companies making a profit: Evil
darwin on February 24, 2011 at 12:33 PM
They considered using the honest approach, but “support us because we’re money-grubbing sh!ts” didn’t focus group as well as “support us because we’re for the children”.
SKYFOX on February 24, 2011 at 12:35 PM
Yeah, that’s usually your MO…
lovingmyUSA on February 24, 2011 at 12:38 PM
Hey Fleebaggers:
“We won…”
Khun Joe on February 24, 2011 at 12:39 PM
Nope, that’s YOUR modus operandi…
lovingmyUSA on February 24, 2011 at 12:42 PM
Another thing…
Wisconsin population: 5,654,774
Number of unionized school teachers: not sure, but maybe a 100,000 or so… Give or take, I do not know what the exact number is…
My point is: when does the MINORITY get to DEMAND from the MAJORITY who pay their salary and benefits EXACTLY WHAT the MAJORITY (taxpayers) will do?
Time to turn the car around… If you don’t like it, move…
‘Nuff said…
Khun Joe on February 24, 2011 at 12:45 PM
I’ve asked you before with no response, I’ll ask again:
Are you from Wisconsin, just curious?
P. Monk on February 24, 2011 at 12:48 PM
@angryed,
Are you trying to tell me that 0.02% of what a liberal says is true?
Cite your source, that number sounds high to me…
Sqrl on February 24, 2011 at 12:48 PM
Interesting that bifidis chose to hang his hat on the stat that, once explained, completely undermines his point. It took all of 30 seconds to determine that WI has one of the lowest SAT participation rates in the country, an indicator that the self-selecting sample has already been whittled down so that only the very best students are even attempting the test. That is the more compelling take away from that stat – that most WI high school students avoid taking the SAT because they don’t believe they will be able to achieve a competitive score.
Ironwood297 on February 24, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Public Sector Unions in Wisconsin just didn’t buy enough politicians this last election cycle. Like inviting 10 people to dinner…and only having 8 pork chops! Oops!
Justrand on February 24, 2011 at 12:50 PM
Why not make use of the Slaughter rule, and simply deem it passed in the Senate?
Dems rallied in support of that effort not long ago, albeit in a different place.
BobMbx on February 24, 2011 at 12:56 PM
You’re right, I erred. Should have been 99.998%.
The .002% truth is when they say their name.
angryed on February 24, 2011 at 12:57 PM
A high SAT score in WI means you’re management material, and you will be ostracizedby friends, family, and co-workers for the rest of your life there.
IQ scores play no part in WI. (they don’t know what an IQ is).
BobMbx on February 24, 2011 at 12:58 PM
when does the firin’ start?
james23 on February 24, 2011 at 1:04 PM
Yes, and that’s because we’re not raping taxpayers more completely for over-generous benefits and are not assaulting more conservative women.
Good Lt on February 24, 2011 at 1:08 PM
bifdis: Answer Please
Unions have in fact been instrumental in major social advances: abolition of child labor, the 40 hour work week, proper pay, paid holidays, etc. etc. Every single such advance having been won by unions in the private sector.
All of these necessary and worthy advances had been made long before ‘public sector unions’ even came into existence. The only reason Public Sector unions have ever gone on strike (illegally, btw) is for more money and greater benefits FOR THE MEMBERSHIP – and ALWAYS at the taxpayer’s expense
alwyr on February 24, 2011 at 1:19 PM
Fleedom Flighters™
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Freedom Flighers™
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Freedom Flighters™
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 1:22 PM
Now that was funny!!!!!!
Winebabe on February 24, 2011 at 11:07 AM
You know, I missed an opportunity to use my new favorite word:
FLEEDOM
MeatHeadinCA on February 24, 2011 at 11:08 AM
Good one. LOL!
Winebabe on February 24, 2011 at 1:22 PM
No, they don’t take it because they take the ACT instead. The ACT is accepted pretty much universally in colleges in the Midwest. There’s no need to take the SAT unless a student is considering a school that does not accept the ACT, generally someplace on either coast.
Mr. D on February 24, 2011 at 1:24 PM
Hotter summers = Global Warming
Colder winters = Global Warming
Colder summers = Global Warming
Hotter winters = Global Warming
JLo’s Butt = Global Warming (I agree here)
BobMbx on February 24, 2011 at 1:25 PM
My ‘favorite’ ones
Socialism
Communism
Marxism
Maoism
Terrorism
Utopian liberalism
Progressivism
Except that you and yours are as far from true liberalism/progressivism as is zenith from nadir.
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 1:27 PM
Oh Lookie, the Dems are thinking of me (I have NOOO idea how I got on their spam list but it gives me a good chuckle, now and then).
“This Saturday we’re drawing a line in the sand. The entire progressive movement is putting everything we have into one massive display of progressive solidarity nationwide.
We won’t let Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker – or any other billionaire-bought TeaParty Governor – break the unions. Unions created America’s middle class and if they disappear we’ll all end up as corporate slaves.
“The entire progressive movement – Netroots, unions, environmentalists, and community groups – will hold solidarity rallies in major cities, including every state capital, this Saturday around noon.
“We’ll demand an end to the attacks on workers’ rights and public services across the country. We’ll demand investment to create jobs. And we’ll demand that the rich and powerful pay their fair share of taxes.
“Will you join us Saturday at noon? Sign up to join your local rally here.
“Here in New York City, our new Job Party has already held two solidarity rallies, proudly wearing Wisconsin Cheeseheads and winning smiles and cheers from fellow New Yorkers.
“Last Friday, 100 of us held a spirited rally in front of CNN, NBC, and FOX. On Tuesday we grew to 500 at FOX during Glenn Beck’s show, and prominent New York unions and politicians joined us.
“While Glenn Beck raged helplessly inside his studio, Ed Schultz happily crossed the street to interview us. We also appeared on Jon Stewart and Bill O’Reilly. Watch our videos.
And with unions, students, and progressives in the Midwest leading the way, we’re turning the tide. When an Indiana official urged use of “live ammunition” against unions, he was immediately fired. Then Indiana Republicans dropped their anti-union “right-to-work” bill like a hot potato. Republican Governors in Michigan, New Jersey, and Florida are running as fast as they can from union-busting.
“But a few hard-line Republicans are holding out, especially Wisconsin’s Scott Walker and Ohio’s John Kasich. And several Republican presidential candidates are supporting them, promising to bust unions nationwide if they win in 2012.
“So we need to hit the streets to send a message that’s loud and crystal-clear: the American people support our unions, and we want jobs!
“Sign up to join your local rally here.
“Thanks for all you do!
Bob, Charles, Corinne, Diane, Harry, Jonathan, and Justin and the rest of the team
P.S. if you’d like to help us build the Job Party, please visit our new web site:
http://JobParty.us
or “like” us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/JobParty
or follow us on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/jobparty
p.p.s. Please share your thoughts in our new blog:
http://www.democrats.com/on-saturday-lets-change-america“
Daisy_WI on February 24, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Lucky you.
I like this part: “Unions created America’s middle class and if they disappear we’ll all end up as corporate slaves”.
If that’s the case then why is union membership so small?
darwin on February 24, 2011 at 2:17 PM
It’s sad that even the ‘prety’ idiot reporters and anchorpeople at Fox don’t challenge this meme.
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 2:41 PM
Rats, floating in the socialist latrine. Moulitsas represents them very well. Suffocate in your slush.
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 2:42 PM
It’s the truth. You and yours would take us back to the Gilded Age, slums and poverty for thee but not for me.
Grow Fins on February 24, 2011 at 3:39 PM
Public sector employees were never living in the slums and being taken advantage of.
At one point private unions had a place. They helped put in legislation that protected workers.
Unions are no longer needed.
ButterflyDragon on February 24, 2011 at 3:43 PM
You reemphasized, what the rest of us have known for a long time, that your brain cells comprehend like the ones of gnats.
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 3:54 PM
The centuries when private unions had a good purpose are in the past.
Delusions are indignant.
Public unions have NO place, ever, nor should public employees ever strike. They eat the hands that feed them and their families (for lifestile superior to the feeders’).
Serving the public is completely optional.
Schadenfreude on February 24, 2011 at 3:58 PM
You have no idea what truth is. If you did you wouldn’t be a leftist.
darwin on February 24, 2011 at 4:06 PM
Senate roll call ongoing at 3:10 central.
http://wiseye.org/
DWB on February 24, 2011 at 4:11 PM
How can you expect much teaching from people who’s union supports killing off their future clients? (abortion)
Don L on February 24, 2011 at 4:11 PM
If people actually believe removing public-sector union bargaining privileges will return public-sector workplaces into something out of Upton Sinclair, then I think this fear only reaffirms the conservative belief that smaller government = better government.
We do have things called “labor laws” that prohibit private sector companies from running places a la The Jungle, ya know.
By the way, don’t refer to it as collective bargaining “rights”…these are not on par with the right to free speech/religious expression or the right to bear arms (rights, I might point out, the left is always selective in applying).
englishqueen01 on February 24, 2011 at 4:18 PM
And I guarantee that few of these supposedly beleaguered public employees will actually quit their jobs when Walker’s bill passes.
This is, of course, provided that the 14 WI Senate Democrats return and do their job before tomorrow. Otherwise thousands will be forced to be laid off. And the fault won’t be Walker’s.
englishqueen01 on February 24, 2011 at 4:24 PM
One of the nutty protesters in Madison told an interviewer that if the teachers there lose the right to bargain collectively for anything but salary, that it will mean ‘our children will lose their weekends’.
This is how desperate these loons are to cling to the past.
slickwillie2001 on February 24, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Thanks for the link, (faved) but I’m too late to watch.
Anyone know if anything of note took place ?
pambi on February 24, 2011 at 5:07 PM
Sounds like a thinly veiled threat to me. When there were contract disputes when I was a student (both in elementary and again in high school) the teachers took it out on us.
In elementary school, one gave us so much homework my mom was on the phone with other mothers – one of whom was hysterical – because the 4 grade kids had HOURS of homework.
In high school, the general attitude was “F*** you. We’re not staying to help you with that paper or for extra curriculars. You little peons are on your own.”
Real professionalism, huh?
englishqueen01 on February 24, 2011 at 6:11 PM
People have gone lazy and let the unions grow rotten, completely forgetting WHY they formed in the first place. And good luck getting them to crack a history book to see why. Now when the only people left are the good ol’ boys and various cranks who crawled out from under a rock, unions make an easy target.
Frankly I don’t know what to do except let history repeat itself. It appears their forefathers endured hired thugs, near-starvation, and all manner of petty tyranny for nothing.
Dark-Star on February 24, 2011 at 9:06 PM
AAH Dim-Star, Dim-Star. You finally wrote something that is true.
Everyone take note – Dim-Star has finally come up with the truth!
Old Country Boy on February 24, 2011 at 9:57 PM
FTFY. I swear, with someone like you truth has to practically be wearing a nametag.
Dark-Star on February 26, 2011 at 7:40 PM
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