Crackerjack reporting

Crackerjack reporting from the ground here in Madison, WI. Tomorrow we’ll be at the Capitol protesting again, in what we hope to be the biggest rally against Walker yet. Our legislature continues to be in a stalemate as our 14 brave state Senators stay out of state to deny the Senate the quorum it needs to pass Governor Walker’s “Budget Repair Bill.”

What our democratic Senators have done is heroic. By preventing a quorum, they have slowed down this bill, giving us all time to read and review it. We would not have otherwise been able to know what was in this bill that Walker and his legislative counterparts (two brothers, republican Jeff Fitzgerald who heads up the state Assembly and republican Scott Fitzgerald who heads up the state Senate- you can’t make this stuff up) tried to ram down our throats in three days.

We hope they stay out as long as it takes for Walker to agree to changes in this horrific bill. If even ONE state Senator steps into the Capitol, the state Senate is poised to breathlessly call a session and pass the bill. Despite what Fox news is reporting (that our Senators are derelict in their duties and should come back and “debate the bill like grown-ups”) there will be no debate. We all know that. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has made that clear. They will not compromise on this bill. Once granted a quorum (through force if necessary), the Senate intends to pass this bill and get it to Walker’s desk for a signature, which will have deleterious effects on Wisconsin’s middle class for decades to come.

While we try our best to prevent that from happening by writing to our legislators, protesting at the Capitol and writing to Governor Walker, here’s what has been going on in Mad-town this week:

Democratic Assembly reps were forced to move their offices outside this week in order to meet with their constituents, because Capitol security, ordered by Walker’s administration, barred entry into the Capitol. To do this, they had to move furniture through their office windows.

Once outside, administration officials ordered them to move their furniture back inside because it “might be scratched” if it is outside:

After being forced to move outside to meet with constituents because constituents were not allowed into the building, legislators were prevented from coming back inside. Democratic Assemblyman Nick Milroy of South Range in northwestern Wisconsin was trying to retrieve some clothes from his office in the Capitol Thursday night when he was TACKLED by law enforcement:

See the video here: http://www.wisn.com/video/27074185/detail.html

You really can’t make this stuff up.

Governor Walker threatened to lay off 1500 state employees if his bill was not signed by last Friday. Then by Tuesday. Now by April 1. Next I expect to hear him shout from the rotunda of the Capitol, "I’ll start firing errybody up IN here if ya’ll don’t do what I say!" He is really rattling his saber to get the Senate Democrats back to the Capitol by any means.

To date, he and his cronies have:

Stopped allowing democratic state Senators to get paid through direct deposit, instead requiring them to pick up their paychecks at the Capitol building, where, oh by the way, the Senate will quickly go into session and pass the bill before any knows what is going on, once they have a quorum.

Revoked parking permits, copy and print codes for democratic Senators and their staff.

Threatened to reassign democratic Senators’ staff members to republican Senators, as long as Senate democrats are out of town. Which prompted this reply from a Senate Democrat Chris Larson, “I would be very interested in letting Sen. Fitzgerald know about a new technology called the cellular telephone," Larson replied. "I thought he was aware of it. What it does, is it gives a Senator the ability to keep in touch with his staff when he is not in that building. "

Authorized the legislature to fine Senate Democrats $100 for every day they are absent from the Senate.

Authorized law enforcement (the Wisconsin State Highway Patrol is headed by none other than Stephen Fitzgerald, Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald’s dad. Truly, you cannot make this stuff up) to arrest and detain Senate democrats, any time day or night and forcibly bring them to the Capitol for a vote.

Desperate much, Governor Walker? Your desperation at passing your Budget Repair Bill by any means necessary reveals a lot about your nature, your flagging power and base of support, your poor leadership skills, and your utter lack of sensibility and respect for the democratic process.

Take a step back, Governor, and listen to your constituents.

We don’t want this bill, we don’t want your tools, we don’t want your style of leadership.

Despite what you say now, you did NOT campaign on this and independent research of your campaign materials proves it. The state did not know what it was in for when you were elected by a 52 % to 47 % victory. Your election was not a mandate, and if the election were held today, you would lose:

“A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Wisconsin Voters finds that
just 34% Strongly Approve of the job he is doing, while 48% Strongly Disapprove.
Overall, including those who somewhat approve or disapprove, the new Republican
governor earns positive reviews from 43% and negative reviews from 57% of voters
statewide.”

While support for or against you falls predictably along party lines, you should know that 56% of voters not affiliated with either of the major parties disapprove of the job you are doing. Those, sir, are what we call the independents. The swing voters. The folks that put you in the Governor's mansion.

And the folks that will take you out.

You are cutting medical care for low income families, ending birth control access for thousands of women, cutting funding for schools and libraries, cutting access to medicine for low income senior citizens, firing the people who teach, serve and protect your citizens, and curbing our rights to stand up and speak out against these and other injustices.

Keep it up, Walker. You are alienating more of us everyday.