Bill goes through Wisconsin Assembly reducing collective bargaining

The bill that would controversially deny the right of collective bargaining to Wisconsin state staff has been passed by the Wisconsin Assembly. The Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin state legislature. The Wisconsin U.S. Senate still has to sign off on the bill before it goes to the governor for approval. Post resource – Wisconsin Assembly passes bill curtailing collective bargaining by MoneyBlogNewz.

Too few members of the Wisconsin State U.S. Senate means the bill can't pass

Collective bargaining rights will be taken away from the state unionized employees with the Wisconsin Assembly SB11 bill that has approved. There isn’t enough Wisconsin Senate present to vote on the bill though. MSNBC states that this will mean the bill can be stuck not going anywhere. There has to be 20 individuals minimum to vote on the bill while right now only 19 members are present. The capital was left by 14 Democrats that did not want to vote on the bill. These are the ones missing for the Wisconsin U.S. Senate. No voting on any legislation can occur until the Senators return.

Assembly Democrats cry foul

The questionable bill was approved in a manner that Wisconsin Democrats view as dishonest. Wisconsin Assembly Republicans voted for a roll call vote after killing the debate after there were 60 hours of debate with Democrats filibustering with additional amendments for the bill. Before Democrats even realized what had occurred, the bill approved 51 to 17 with 28 not even having a chance to vote, Bloomberg states. Tries to reach out to the absent U.S. Senate Democrats by sending Wisconsin state troopers to their homes have been for naught, as they remain in exile in Urbana, Ill. for the moment.

There was not going to be a bargain with the governor there

There was a phone call done recently as a prank to Scott Walker where the caller pretended to be campaign donor Koch. In the call, Walker said he wouldn't work with any unions when attempting to determine how to balance the Wisconsin state budget. Unions agreed to absorb more costs for pension and health care plans which the bill demands. Walker does not want unions to have collective bargaining privileges though, which the unions want. There are a couple of specific unions that can keep collective bargaining privileges. This involves unions for firefighters and police in Wisconsin.

Articles cited

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41774667/ns/politics-more_politics

Bloomberg

bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-25/wisconsin-assembly-passes-bill-curbing-unions-collective-bargaining-power.html