Bill goes through Wisconsin Assembly cutting collective bargaining

The Wisconsin Assembly has approved the controversial bill decreasing collective bargaining privileges of state staff who are union members. The bill still has to go to the Wisconsin state Senate, as the Assembly is only the lower house. The bill still must pass the Wisconsin Senate. Source for this article – Wisconsin Assembly passes bill curtailing collective bargaining by MoneyBlogNewz.

Not enough members of the Wisconsin State Senate means the bill cannot pass

Collective bargaining privileges are likely to be taken from the state unionized workers with the Wisconsin Assembly SB11 bill that has passed. However, the bill isn’t likely to go anywhere, as there are not enough members of the Wisconsin Senate present in the state to pass the bill, according to MSNBC. The 19 Republican members of the U.S. Senate are present, however that’s one person shy of the 20-person quorum, the minimum number of individuals required to officially vote on the bill. You will find 14 Democrats that left the state in order to keep away from voting on the bill for the Wisconsin Senate. Until the Senators come back, there cannot be voting on any other legislation.

Bill passing was an issue for Democrats

The controversial bill was passed in a manner that Wisconsin Democrats view as dishonest. Democrats filibustered the bill while trying to add amendments to the bill to stall it. After 60 hours of this, Wisconsin Assembly Republicans coated to kill the debate and had a quick roll call vote happen. Bloomberg explains that 28 people didn't even get a chance to vote in how easily it happened. Democrats didn't even realize what was happening. The U.S. Senate Democrats had Wisconsin state troopers sent to their homes to get them for the vote. It didn't work though since they’re all in Urbana, Ill., currently avoiding the vote.

There wasn't 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 would not work with any unions when attempting to determine how to balance the Wisconsin state spending budget. In the bill, it’s required that union workers absorb more of the health care plans and pension costs. This was something unions agreed to do. Unions want to continue to keep their collective bargaining privileges though. This is something Walker refuses to let take place. Police and firefighter unions can 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