Wisconsin Assembly approves anti-union bill
Reporting from Madison, Wis. — Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled Assembly early Friday approved a controversial bill to strip most government workers of their rights to collectively bargain, but the measure remains stalled because Democrats in the state Senate remain out of state to prevent a vote in that chamber.
The 51-17 vote came after 60 solid hours of debate; shortly after 1 a.m. Republicans abruptly cut off Democrats and quickly tallied enough votes for the measure to pass, then closed the roll. Twenty-eight Democrats, two Republicans and an independent were not able to cast their vote. Four Republicans opposed the measure.
Outraged Democrats chanted, “Shame! Shame!†as Republicans silently marched out of the chamber, protected by police.
“The governor and Assembly Republicans are so out of touch that they are willing to resort to these extreme ends to achieve their legislative goals,†Minority Leader Peter Barca said at a news conference.
Republicans said they ended the debate because they were tired of the Democrats’ filibuster. “We’d had it,†said John Jagler, a spokesman for Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. “We know we would pass this bill if the vote came on Day 1 or kingdom come.â€
Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, has proposed ending collective bargaining for most Wisconsin government workers to help close a $3.6-billion deficit. Unions have agreed to other concessions he’s demanded — such as deducting more from paychecks for healthcare and pension benefits — but contend that his insistence on eliminating collective bargaining amounts to union-busting.
Dan Hinkel of the Chicago Tribune contributed to this report.
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