I'd like the thank the Wisconsin State Senate Democrats....

In other words, you applaud the democrats who abandoned their state and their jobs just because the couldn't win a vote. "The Unions are getting reinforcements from other states but those don't play a role in the Wisconsin government." That's what unions do. They bring in hired goons from out of state to bully people and make it appear that there are more CONSTITUENTS present than there really are. A mob of 200,000 union people is likely to be made up of only 10% of actual voters in that state.

As usual, you have your facts confused. Only the Union employees are protesting this bill. There are also counter-protests happening. You know those who are completely behind the Governor's actions. The Unions are getting reinforcements from other states but those don't play a role in the Wisconsin government. They are there just to make noise. The Democrats who refused to seat a quorum have shown a massive amount of cowardly behavior and are acting like little children throwing a fit because things aren't going their way.

No Sierras ... you are "usually" wrong!! Firefighters, police officers and correctional officers as well as hundreds of students are among the protesters!! Even though the republican governor excluded firefighters and police from losing their collective bargaining powers, THEY still march with their brothers and sisters of the different unions. Sadly, whatever limited information you have sierras is just that "limited" !! I applaud the democrats who refuse to SILENCE the people!!

The thing is, they even know how illegal it is to do this. They didn't just refuse to come into work. They had to leave the state completely so they couldn't be ordered to return to work. COWARDS!

Yeah, I read that, if found, the police could physically drag them to work. Personally I wonder how many people actually support their actions and how this will effect them in their reelection campaigns.

I wonder if the state can extradite them back?

Can you imagine what would happned if all the members on one side in congress decided to hop a plane out of the country to stop a vote? This is getting beyond stupid. The patients are running the asylum now. And we wonder why our country is in the shape that it is. Look at the kind of people that are running it (goes for both sides)

Not sure that would be such a bad thing if it was Congress. Then at least we wouldn't be getting anymore stupid legislation.

The law in Wisconsin states that there needs to be at least one person from each major party in order to vote.

Too Funny...Their brains must be frozen too.

so does that mean if only two people show up (one from each side) they can vote to pass a bill? Scarey.

spalladino as our President has told us Elections have conquences. The people of Wisconsin had their voices heard in November. We had large increases in Educational Spending under Gov Doyle (D) and the Republicans did not walk out. Come on Democrats grow up and do your job or quit.

Yup! Once again, the most unfair thing you can do to Obama is to quote his own words. ;~D

Spalladino, what you are missing is, there are laws requiring Wisconsin State legislatures to be present during floor votes. The Fugitive 14 knew that if they just didn't show up, they could be brought in forcibly by the state police. Also, crossing a state line in the commission of a crime makes it a federal offense. They also used a telephone to communicate demands during the commission of a crime, which is a federal felony. ~~~~ As far as party dominance, we just ended 8 years of Democrat dominance of the state legislature and governor's office. Never once did the Republicans commit crimes to prevent a vote. The voters of Wisconsin chose to give the Republicans dominance by a large percentage. The Democrats also can't say they were taken by surprise by Gov. Walker's agenda, since he spelled it out pretty clearly during the campaign. Either way, their opposition to the bill does not excuse resorting to crimes to prevent a vote. When Conservatives acted like spoiled brats, I was willing to call them on it here at MyLot... Now it's the Wisconsin Senate Democrats that are doing it... but the Conservatives didn't break any laws doing it.

I really hope their constituents start recall votes for each and every one of them. There is no excuse for simply walking out on the people who elected you and pay your salary.

Ok I went and read up on this and I have more to say. (as you can imagine) The democratic members bordered a bus and LEFT the state to keep the vote from being able to be held. Wow. And the left has been saying the right have been obstructionist. This may even beat the "fruit cake" incident. I mean wow...I take it the bill passing was a forgone conclusion. So what is going to happen? Do they plan on staying out of state permenately? Because the first time one of them walks back in they will immediately call a vote on it. So are they going to basically hold the state hostage and NO legislation gets done unless they get their way? I say fire them. Charge them. They abandoned their jobs and their state. They are done. By the way...if republicans would have pulled this I would have been disguested too. I am sooo tired of the publicity stunts and temper tantrumes from politicans on both sides. I don't tolerate from my kids...I won't tolerate it in my elected officials.

Yes, I am a happy camper that the Fugitive 14 are showing themselves for the corrupt cowards they are.

I don't believe that it is a criminal offense so there won't be any charges. However, I heard that the doors will be locked and police will be blocking the exits to prevent the democrats from abandoning the job they were elected to do.

Have you heard if they are going to be charged? They should be.

There was also 2 republicans refusing to take part in this rush to destroy unions by couching that deep within a questionable short term budget fix bill.

Oh, there is upset! There will be a counter protest tomorrow in Madison!

Spalladino, it's a good thing to stand on principle but those same reps probably wouldn't object if something similar to this was done to non-union employees. But who knows? They didn't have to break the law, couldn't they have just voted "present"? The political power that unions have is frightening. Nobody should have that much influence over so many government officials and even our president. And all those pensions that are underwater would not be if the unions wouldn't spend all their money on influencing elections and such. Now, about the comment about bused in protesters, both parties do this so your disparaging tone (or am I imagining it?) is puzzling. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. I don't agree with busing in help--it's a sign of weakness and lack of confidence--but everyone does it.

Ted, are you referring to the Tea Party activists who were bussed in...many allegedly from out of state? Dragon, the reps who left town in order to stop the vote did so in support of the large number of the people they represent. It's been all over the news and the web that they violated the law and that law enforcement has made some efforts to locate them. That in itself should give some indication of the seriousness of the objections here. Each and every one of them put their freedom on the line and left their families in objection to this.