Photo: HNG
A call for a massive walk out and stop work by supporters, professionals, public and state workers spreads to paralyze Wisconsin on Monday.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 3, 2011
Milwaukee - On Thursday, hundreds of pro-union supporters, state, city and county workers protested in downtown Milwaukee against Governor Scott Walker's union busting bill. The protests drew thousands of honking horns from vehicles passing by on E. Wisconsin Ave. and N. Water St. in support of the protesters. All four corners were taken up by the peaceful protesters chanting "Kill the bill," "Stop union busting" and "Recall Walker."
Word spread among the protesters that a major move to stop the entire operations of state government and its services by state workers will take place on Monday. Those expected to participate are supporters, county, city and state workers from around Wisconsin.
On a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Walker said, he is frustrated in trying to get his budget repair bill passed due to a lack of quorum in the Senate. Some negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have been going on, but have not reached any agreements. Senate Republicans won't remove a section that eliminates collective bargaining for most state workers in the Walker's budget repair bill.
The Senate needs to pass his budget bill by Friday or layoff notices will be send out to unions representing about 1,500 state workers who will be out of a job by April 1st, according to Walker.
Democrats have indicated that they could even stay out up to two years from returning to Wisconsin, Walker said and didn't look to happy himself. If Democrats stay out for two years, Walker and the Republican controlled legislature won't be able to pass any fiscal bills. The Senate can pass any bill that does not contain any fiscal items.
State Senator Chris Larson (D) says, Walker is just trying to use the media to get attention and the governor hasn't really accepted the fact that unions and state workers have given into Walker's concessions, except giving up their bargaining rights.
Walker can end the stalemate by allowing state workers to keep their right to bargain collectively.
In the last 18 days, it has cost the state at least $5 million for police security overtime from various law enforcement departments, the state Department of Administration (DOA) reported. So far, Governor Walker has been in office for two months and is costing the state millions incurred during the protests and hasn't even created a job for Wisconsin. The state will also lose $165 million for missing a deadline to restructure and refinance the budget repair bill. Democrats argued, Walker will defer the debt into the future and will cost about $42 million in interests.
In Madison, the Senate Republicans passed a contempt resolution to allow police to arrest the 14 missing Democrats from session and to even use force in returning them to the capitol. On Wednesday, Republicans passed another resolution penalizing Democrats $100 per day that they miss a session and to reimburse WI State Police costs to search for them. They even stopped the direct bank deposit of paychecks to Democrats and now Senate Democrats have to be present at the session to get their checks. The Senate Democrat legislative staffs have been limited access to other parts of the capitol building and denied to use copiers. Republicans are trying to down size the democrats staff and office space as well, which would defranchise the tax paying voters in districts that elected democrats.
Pro-union protesters staying overnight inside the Capitol building since February 5th were ordered by Dane County Judge John C. Albert to leave the building by 6 p.m. Judge Albert ruled in the ongoing lawsuit that restricting access into the Capitol building was unconstitutional and ordered the DOA to allow more public access by Monday at 8 a.m. Protesters would be allowed into the Capitol building during committee hearings, legislative sessions and hours the Capitol is open.
Protesters would not be allowed to bring pillows, sleeping bags, air mattresses or stay overnight. Posters in the Capitol will be taken down. Mike Huebsch, Secretary of Administration claimed that the tape used damaged some of the marble estimating about $7 million in damage by the adhesive. A professional company will be hired to take the posters down and clean the adhesive residue from the marble walls and rotunda. The removal of the adhesive will probably cost more than $347,000, according to other estimates.
After the rulling, an estimated one hundred protesters went into the capitol building and police weren't able to stop them. Law enforcement officers were still trying to negotiate their exodus from the building at 7 p.m. after the deadline past.
Update: The protesters left the building peacefully just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, according to Capitol Police.
State Representative Nick Milroy (D) tried to go into the Capitol building with his ID and wouldn't leave while police was trying to remove protesters. Then, he was forced to the ground by several police officers. Milroy was later allowed to go in and no citation or charges were filed against Milroy. The Republican controlled legislature and the DOA had strict restrictions about getting access to the building.
On Friday, the strict restrictions were lifted and people were allowed in after being screened for weapons and no longer had to wait for hours to enter Capitol building.
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A call for a massive walk out and stop work by supporters, professionals, public and state workers spreads to paralyze Wisconsin on Monday.
By H. Nelson Goodson
March 3, 2011
Milwaukee - On Thursday, hundreds of pro-union supporters, state, city and county workers protested in downtown Milwaukee against Governor Scott Walker's union busting bill. The protests drew thousands of honking horns from vehicles passing by on E. Wisconsin Ave. and N. Water St. in support of the protesters. All four corners were taken up by the peaceful protesters chanting "Kill the bill," "Stop union busting" and "Recall Walker."
Word spread among the protesters that a major move to stop the entire operations of state government and its services by state workers will take place on Monday. Those expected to participate are supporters, county, city and state workers from around Wisconsin.
On a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Governor Walker said, he is frustrated in trying to get his budget repair bill passed due to a lack of quorum in the Senate. Some negotiations between Republicans and Democrats have been going on, but have not reached any agreements. Senate Republicans won't remove a section that eliminates collective bargaining for most state workers in the Walker's budget repair bill.
The Senate needs to pass his budget bill by Friday or layoff notices will be send out to unions representing about 1,500 state workers who will be out of a job by April 1st, according to Walker.
Democrats have indicated that they could even stay out up to two years from returning to Wisconsin, Walker said and didn't look to happy himself. If Democrats stay out for two years, Walker and the Republican controlled legislature won't be able to pass any fiscal bills. The Senate can pass any bill that does not contain any fiscal items.
State Senator Chris Larson (D) says, Walker is just trying to use the media to get attention and the governor hasn't really accepted the fact that unions and state workers have given into Walker's concessions, except giving up their bargaining rights.
Walker can end the stalemate by allowing state workers to keep their right to bargain collectively.
In the last 18 days, it has cost the state at least $5 million for police security overtime from various law enforcement departments, the state Department of Administration (DOA) reported. So far, Governor Walker has been in office for two months and is costing the state millions incurred during the protests and hasn't even created a job for Wisconsin. The state will also lose $165 million for missing a deadline to restructure and refinance the budget repair bill. Democrats argued, Walker will defer the debt into the future and will cost about $42 million in interests.
In Madison, the Senate Republicans passed a contempt resolution to allow police to arrest the 14 missing Democrats from session and to even use force in returning them to the capitol. On Wednesday, Republicans passed another resolution penalizing Democrats $100 per day that they miss a session and to reimburse WI State Police costs to search for them. They even stopped the direct bank deposit of paychecks to Democrats and now Senate Democrats have to be present at the session to get their checks. The Senate Democrat legislative staffs have been limited access to other parts of the capitol building and denied to use copiers. Republicans are trying to down size the democrats staff and office space as well, which would defranchise the tax paying voters in districts that elected democrats.
Pro-union protesters staying overnight inside the Capitol building since February 5th were ordered by Dane County Judge John C. Albert to leave the building by 6 p.m. Judge Albert ruled in the ongoing lawsuit that restricting access into the Capitol building was unconstitutional and ordered the DOA to allow more public access by Monday at 8 a.m. Protesters would be allowed into the Capitol building during committee hearings, legislative sessions and hours the Capitol is open.
Protesters would not be allowed to bring pillows, sleeping bags, air mattresses or stay overnight. Posters in the Capitol will be taken down. Mike Huebsch, Secretary of Administration claimed that the tape used damaged some of the marble estimating about $7 million in damage by the adhesive. A professional company will be hired to take the posters down and clean the adhesive residue from the marble walls and rotunda. The removal of the adhesive will probably cost more than $347,000, according to other estimates.
After the rulling, an estimated one hundred protesters went into the capitol building and police weren't able to stop them. Law enforcement officers were still trying to negotiate their exodus from the building at 7 p.m. after the deadline past.
Update: The protesters left the building peacefully just before 9 p.m. on Thursday, according to Capitol Police.
State Representative Nick Milroy (D) tried to go into the Capitol building with his ID and wouldn't leave while police was trying to remove protesters. Then, he was forced to the ground by several police officers. Milroy was later allowed to go in and no citation or charges were filed against Milroy. The Republican controlled legislature and the DOA had strict restrictions about getting access to the building.
On Friday, the strict restrictions were lifted and people were allowed in after being screened for weapons and no longer had to wait for hours to enter Capitol building.
Photos by HNG
Photos by HNG
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