There are still massive protests underway in Madison to protest the Governor Scott Walker's draconian plans to slash the budget and bust unions by stripping collective bargaining rights from workers. A vote was expected on the GOP plan today, but Senate Democrats have changed the game:
As government workers flooded the state Capitol to protest, Wisconsin legislators were tripped up in attempts to vote Thursday on a game-changing law that would force public employees to pay more for pension and health benefits while limiting their union's power to negotiate.CNN just interviewed the Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller from an "undisclosed location." He blasted the GOP Governor, Scott Walker, for not doing his job and asked for a responsible dialogue. Not sure Walker is capable of anything responsible.
Police officers were searching for Democratic state lawmakers who had not shown up for a vote on the sweeping legislation. The state Senate Democrats did not show up when they were ordered to attend a midday vote on the legislation. Though Republicans hold a 19-14 majority, they need at least one Democrat present to vote.
CNN reiterated radio reports that indicated Democratic state legislators had boarded a bus and left town. Mike Browne, communications director for Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, told the network he had not been in contact with any Democratic legislators on Thursday. Browne said he was at the state Capitol and that he had seen no Democrats show up.
