Collective bargaining bill passed by Wisconsin Assembly

The Wisconsin Assembly has approved the questionable bill decreasing collective bargaining rights of state workers who are union members. The bill nevertheless has to go to the Wisconsin state U.S. Senate, as the Assembly is only the lower house. Before the bill can go to Gov. Scott Walker, it has to pass the Wisconsin U.S. Senate.

Members of Wisconsin State U.S. Senate not enough for bill to pass

Collective bargaining privileges are going to be taken away from the state unionized staff with the Wisconsin Assembly SB11 bill that has passed. There isn’t enough Wisconsin U.S. Senate present to vote on the bill though. MSNBC states that this will mean the bill can be stuck not going anywhere. You will find only 19 Senate members present to vote on the bill right now. In order to vote, there has to be 20 Senate there at the very least. The Wisconsin U.S. Senate is missing 14 Democrats who have decided to flee the capital in protest of the bill. Until the Senators come back, there can't be voting on any legislation.

Bill passing was an issue for Democrats

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 hrs of debate with Democrats filibustering with additional amendments for the bill. Bloomberg explains that 28 people did not even get a chance to vote in how easily it occurred. Democrats didn't even realize what was taking place. Since the U.S. Senate Democrats are in Urbana, Ill., right now, the Wisconsin state troopers sent to their homes to get them for the vote did not work.

No cooperation from the governor

Gov. Scott Walker, recently the subject of a prank call in which he made controversial statements to a man he thought was campaign donor Koch, has declined to work with unions at all in resolving the Wisconsin state spending budget woes. In the bill, it is required that union workers absorb more of the health care plans and pension costs. This was something unions agreed to do. Walker doesn't want unions to have collective bargaining rights though, which the unions want. Police and firefighter unions could be the only ones in Wisconsin that keep the collective bargaining privileges.

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