kettleblack, thanks for the youtube link, it was very funny, as well as being the truth!

They must be not making enough money or maybe they maxed out their credit card like the state has.
Does anyone have enough money to pay their taxes?
I don't.
David Koch needs to buy some hotels?

Protesters sleeping in the capitol?
Isn't that loitering?
Are there homeless sleeping there too?
Where do they shower? Or not?
Roommate kick them out?
Just asking.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/...

Green Bay Slackers....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L69GGfLpe...

my10niki- You claim the Democratic Senators actions don't take courage and they are afraid to say no to the unions By the same token I can claim the Republican Senators have no courage for refusing to stand up to Walker, some of them made that very clear when they said the budget repair bill wasn't their idea, in essence trying to shield themselves from blame. You accuse the Senators of hiding "on our dime" If it is "our dime" it's my dime too, and I approve of the way it's being spent. It takes courage to stand up to bullies, whether it's on the school yard or the state capital. Bravo Senators!

tz7v9s- The Senators can't come back if the senate is actually in session. State law says the state patrol can only pick them up (they are not arrested) if the senate is actually in session. It's been reported that Senator Cullen spent the weekend at home.

I think the democratic senators should read a "Profile in Courage". What they are doing doesn't take courage. They are afraid to say no to the unions so they hide and let others fight for them. Gov. Walker and the other senators are courageous to stay and fight with thousands of union bully's there. The democratics are giving money to Illinois and having a good time on our dime. Recall time.

Couldn't the Dem's come back to Madison and just not go into the chamber for the vote? Sure, they could be arrested, but they'd still be out and there would still not be a quorum for the vote.

There are important, complicated issues to resolve. Any change will be painful to someone, but that just makes it even more important for everyone to make themselves available to fashion the best agreement they can.

By the way, I'm somewhat surprised that Mr Walker and the state congressmen have not talked about the pay and benefit cuts that they too will be taking to help the budget deficit, at least symbolically.
Could it be that the are not contributing to the "repair" bill along with the unionized state employee's?

I did vote for Walker, I'm sorry, it won't happen again.

At the end of the day, we need a governor, not a dictator, and certainly not a "Koch" whore to lead the state.

I have been up to and inside the Capitol last week and today. It didn't stink inside as Dan Conry says. Perhaps he shouldn't go right from work to the Capitol.

phantom63, you've obviously been listening to FAUX NEWS too much lately. Walker's staff admitted it was Walker and the Gazette has now run the story -- almost identical in content to the StarTribune article you lambasted.

http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/lates...

copperguy, "Then, by your line of reasoning, Governor Walker should reimburse the state, the City of Madison, the County of Dane, and all of the other governmental units for the costs associated with the protests in Madison and around the state?"

First, the protests would have been over quickly if the fugitives had stayed, debated the bill, and let it come to a vote after any reasonable amendments (not irrelevant stall-tactics amendments) were proposed, as legislators are supposed to.

Second, why don't you have one of your 14 delinquents return to the Senate and try to introduce a bill to make Governor Walker responsible for the costs? ☺

I do not get SSI nor state funded health care I basically have been without medical insurance for the last 2 years now. Medicaid would cover my bills only if I reached a $6,500 per 6 month deductable. Starting next month my monthly check goes down from $1200 a month to $1095 a month to pay for medicare premiums. Trust me when I say that I would rather be working. Like I said before I hope that you work hard for the tax payers and not a slacker like some gov't workers are and if you are a hard worker I thank you for it. Yes I know what Walker is proposing will effect us all, but things can not go on the way they have been.

This is not what Walker campaigned on. Walker voters, you have every right to be shocked at the stuff he's trying to pull.
-
http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/stat...

Are you serious? Walker's staff admitted it was Walker!

Let illinois keep them - don't they have squatter's rights there by now.

Or, when and if they do return, lock them out of the Senate meetings.

I work for the court systems, I am a college gradutate and do not dig holes for a living. Walker is going to be cutting SSI as well so what will you do when you dont receive your benefits or cannot get healthcare???? Do you think this isnt going to affect you too?

For those siting the star tribune so called phone call. Phone records were checked and it was found to be from NY to NY and two actors. Gov Walker was not called. Cudos to the gazette for not running with fraudulant info.

copperguy: no where did I attack countywrkr before he called me ignorant, I could of said that with him being a county worker that he is one of them who just sits in the truck with 3 other county employees whole 2 others dig a hole for a sign post, but no I didn't go that route, as far as I know he works hard for the tax payers and if he is one of those hard working gov't workers I thank him for that.

But you have the right to condemn others about whom you know nothing? I think someone struck a nerve.

ctywrkr: Yes I do collect disabilty and NOT for a fake reason! I was hit by a drunk driver 12 years ago and almost lost a leg. I spent over 40 hours on a operating table to save the leg, I also was able to work for another 10 years because I had a boss that made special arraigments for me and this was a NON-UNION SHOP! My former boss sold their family run business to another company that was a union shop and all the new boss and union cared about was their bottom line, so needless to say I lost my job and was not able to get another job that I was physically able to do, so I ended up fighting for 2 years to get my disablity which by the letter of the law I was entitled to right after the accident but i didn't want to because I thought I was able to preform my job!

So now who's the ignorant one????????? You have no idea who I am or what I have gone through in my life so you have no right to say the things that you have said about me until you have walked in my shoes!

Johnny: Your probably one of the poor souls that sits at home and plays his computer all day while collecting SSI for some FAKE disability. Maybe Walker should take a peek into that! If your so upset about all the benefits the union supposedly gets, why don't you join? Maybe your just not smart enough to get in...is this why your upset :)

cntywrkr: Your name calling just goes to prove to me that Walker is doing what needs to be done and has the balls to do it, and I and several other people that I know stand behind what I posted earlier.

copperguy: wow that is some twisted thinking on your part. Walker is doing exactly what needs to be done to turn this state around and I'm glad he has the balls to do it and not go with business as usual which got this state to the point where it is. As far as someone reimbursing the state for all of the overtime it should be the unions, it would be the one good thing that they would have done in the last 20 some years.

Is there any truth to the idea that Walker might want to change the state's motto from "Forward" to "Things Go Better with Koch"? (for those of you old enough to remember)

johnny, your ignorant. The only way the Democrats can stop this vote is by being away, which is what they are doing to help serve the rest of us. I cannot believe that WI elected this jag and even some Republicans are starting to say enough is enough and Walker needs to negotiate. If this was someone in your personal life, such as a spouse would you stand for their way or no way? Absolutely not so why should we have to stand for a cry baby, wanna be dictating Governor that wants to act this way?

johnny: Then, by your line of reasoning, Governor Walker should reimburse the state, the City of Madison, the County of Dane, and all of the other governmental units for the costs associated with the protests in Madison and around the state? The law enforcement overtime costs alone have to be substantial. And, since Governor Walker proposed the legislation that has caused the uproar, he should personally have to cover the costs of the protests.

Sounds good to me. Let us know how that idea goes over.

The State Senators you spoke of are engaging in business while they are away. They are meeting regularly, and communicating with their constituents. Last I knew, legislative pay was not held or withheld based on HOW they conduct their business but, rather, that they do conduct business. I've never heard of a lesgislator being docked for missed votes or for not being at a specific place at a specific time.

What are you doing, Gazette, mulling how to best spin the Daily Beast phone call?

Everyone of the 14 democrats need to be recalled, not to mention they need to be docked of their pay for everyday that they are not in Madison doing the job they were elected to do! They also should be made to reimburse that state for sending the police to find their sorry butts. They are committing fraud plain and simple by getting paid and hiding like the little spoiled crybabies that they are acting like!

Where's the Gazette with the following story?

"Wis. governor discusses strategy with prank caller posing as conservative billionaire donor"

http://www.startribune.com/politics/1167...

"The governor believes the caller is conservative businessman David Koch. He talks about plans for layoff notices and what can be done to punish lawmakers who've left the state."

"Brothers David and Charles Koch have given millions to support Americans For Prosperity, which has launched a $320,000 ad campaign supporting Walker."

Localgirl: I have read the bills thank you very much. I work for the County. I am very up to speed on this. The governor doesn't follow any of the other laws or rules so why would this be any different? And if they do, they already make six digits a year so they have no problem paying their insurance or retirement. We DONT make that much. I left a better paying job (non-union) to work here because I could not afford the $500 month premiums and took a pay cut to come here now what?!?! The whole state is in trouble yet unions are the only ones responsible?

thekai: Good thought!

As for the Democratic Senators, here are some moving words from a song called "Anthem," sung by Josh Groban:

"No men, no madness, tho their sad power may prevail, can possess, conquer my country's heart. They rise to fail." The song ends with, "Let mens' petty nations tear themselves apart. My land's only borders lie around my heart!"

Those Senators are out-of-state because they love Wisconsin and the people of Wisconsin. The Republicans MAY have the "sad power to prevail," but their actions will ultimately fail. They MAY not fail to pass the bill, but they WILL fail with the voters. What the Republicans have succeeded in doing is to tear our state apart. That is what is truly sad about this whole ordeal. That, plus the fact that it is wholely unnecessary.

Countywrker94 if you had been listening and reading the reports of the bill instead of reading conjecture and only hearing what those against the bill have to say, you might have caught that the governor, all the state senators, assembly members, and capitol employees, are subject to this bill as well and will be paying the same percentages as being requested of everyone else. So in answer to your question is he giving up his benefits .... YESSSSSSSSSSSS

Maybe the stench of brimstone is just to much for them to bear.

copperguy,
Why not just put collective bargaining on the ballot at that point?

countywrker94: Here's another thought...since Governor Walker is demanding that public employees lose the right to collective bargaining, how about if he also includes a provision to forego a one-year wait before citizens can recall him from office? After all, the ability to recall the governor is included in the Wisconsin Constitution and the one-year wait is imposed by STATUTE. Therefore, that statute could be changed just as easily as the collective bargaining statutes.

Before the Dem bashing continues... I copied this over from another post I made. Sorry to make a boring old copy, but I think it will get more attention here.

I present to you something a REAL republican would say about Democrats preventing Quorum...

"Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels said the absence of Democrats on Tuesday was a legitimate move and that he would not use state troopers to compel their attendance."

Indiana Democrats have left the state to prevent a similar bill from passing. My source? I'm shocked you don't already know. It's FOX NEWS.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/02/......

GOOD-KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK DEMS! One question...Scott Walker is a state employee..is he giving up his benefits and rights? NOOOOOO. Maybe he should offer to give up half his salary and we would be in a little better shape. Hes such a loser and I can't believe hes our Governor. It makes me sick to my stomach. The whole country is suffering yet Walker thinks he has the solution? Maybe we should stop building ice skating rinks, etc. until we can afford to help our citizens or how about stop sending billons of dollars a year to Egypt? Just a common sense thought, which he obviously is lacking.