It’s over.
The Wisconsin Senate passed their union bill tonight 18-1.
The Senate democrats were still hiding in Illinois when the bill was passed.
The outraged leftists are pounding on the chamber door – they’re honking their horns outside the capitol building.
Pack up your sleeping bags, kids. The party’s over.
The AP reported:
Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate voted Wednesday night to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers after discovering a way to bypass the chamber’s missing Democrats.
All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker’s so-called “budget repair bill” – a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.
The Senate requires a quorum to take up any measures that spend money. But Republicans on Wednesday split from the legislation the proposal to curtail union rights, which spends no money, and a special conference committee of state lawmakers approved the bill a short time later.
UPDATE: Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker praised Republicans tonight.
Chron.com reported:
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker praised Republicans in the state Senate who have voted to strip nearly all collective bargaining rights from public workers.
Republicans cast the quick vote Wednesday after discovering a way to bypass the chamber’s missing Democrats.
All 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois nearly three weeks ago, preventing the chamber from having enough members present to consider Gov. Scott Walker’s so-called “budget repair bill” — a proposal introduced to plug a $137 million budget shortfall.
Walker says the Democrats were offered repeated opportunities to come home, which they refused.
Walker said: “In order to move the state forward, I applaud the Legislature’s action today to stand up to the status quo and take a step in the right direction to balance the budget and reform government.”
Yee-hah.
MORE: Michael Moore: “This Is War.”