More Dems running out of state to stop voting

Actually, this all started several years ago in TX when a group of state senators ran across the border to Oklahoma to try to prevent the state from doing some "redistricting". And, the latest from WI is that they will hold off on the fiscal bill until the Democrats (at least some of them) return because all fiscal bills in the state must have 20 votes for them to be adopted and there are only 19 Republican senators. However, WI is going to go ahead with all the other items that are "non-fiscal" and start pushing them through while the Democrats are "out of town" since they only need 17 yes votes and there are 19 Republican senators on hand. This means that other Republican agendas will be passed very quickly since there will be very little debate and the "out of towners" won't even be able to raise their voices in protest. Personally, I think the people who run away from things like this should have to forfeit their pay while "out- of town" and if they do this repeatedly or are "out of town" for more than 60 days they should lose their position completely and have a new election in their district to elect a replacement.

I don't see too much of this stuff on CNN or MSNBC. To my knowledge, big newspapers haven't spoken too much about it either. I have to wonder how many would be calling for firings and jail time were Republicans to flee the states which they're supposed to be representing. As much as Republicans have been called "RepubliCants," "the party of NO," "obstructionists," etc, I'm not aware of them every fleeing in order to prevent a vote from happening. They might be a little more than hyperbolic during a debate. They might twist some issues like regular schmuck politicians. They might try some unsavory tactics to get their way. But outright running away? Is this what American politics have resorted to - simply abandoning your post if you disagree with the other side? Just like you knew protests would catch on like wildfire after the union regulations caught on, you just knew this seemingly acceptable behavior by Democrats would also catch on. Other than the blogosphere, Fox News, a few other newspapers in the country, and talk radio, this is something that seems to be okay in America. You can just pack up and leave when you disagree with someone. "Extremely unprofessional" doesn't cover this. This is more proof that politicians are utterly worthless and wholly undeserving of their salaries and benefits. I've been disgusted with the BS tactics they've used for quite some time, on both sides, but nothing compares to this!

I have to be honest here and admit to having mixed feelings about this tactic of avoiding a vote. I definitely think their hearts are in the right place and I believe what they're really trying to do is buy some time in the hopes of keeping these bills from being "shoved down the throats of the people", to borrow an often-used phrase of the right during the health care reform debate. On the other hand, I totally understand how some would feel they're abandoning their duties as elected officials although I have a feeling many of the supporters of those who have left their states probably agree with what they're doing. Regarding Indiana, here's an interesting article; as it turns out the Republican Governor of that state, Mitch Daniels, wants the GOP legislature to abandon the right to work bill: http://www.indystar.com/article/20110222/NEWS/110222004/Daniels-Time-dump-right-work-bill?odyssey=mod|breaking|text|IndyStar.com Daniels said he won't send Indiana State Police out to bring the Democrats back to the state capital and that they have a right to voice their opinions. Annie

What a bunch of cowards. If the governors of those states could fire them and hold special elections to fill their posts they wouldn't be so quick to leave their seats when things aren't going their way. They're behaving like spoiled children, no, on second thought, spoiled children have an excuse, they don't.

I think you'll be seeing several states vote to ban such a practice and put policies into effect like saying that if senators flee the state for more than 2 days they are considered a no-vote or something. Personally, I'd like to see senators who do this lose their jobs outright. Outside of the government I can't think of a single employer who doesn't consider job abandonment cause for firing someone.

I just imagine how the media would respond to Republicans leaving the state. they would just get grilled!

They elected to perform certain duties. if they are incapable of performing their duties, then simply fire them! Will do you think will happen to you or I if we failed or avoided performing our duties for an employer?

let my people go! I would figure if they are out of state during session, they must need the time. Set them free from their position and replace them with somebody who has the time and desire to serve.

It's funny how Indiana Democrats (and probably Ohio dems will follow) are following a losing example from Wisconsin Democrats. The Wisconsin State Senate is still in session, debating and voting on bills. The Cowards who run only remove themselves from the process.

Yeah, I read the article. The sad thing is that the governor isn't even pushing the vote on the bill in Indiana. According to the article, they had at least two more days before any action was taken. The governor was actually all for waiting on it. It appears that the Indiana Democrats had no real purpose in running.

Most of the public are siding with the governors making the tough decisions, so this "run-away" tactic isn't going to serve these politicians well in the long run. I have heard rumors about recalls in Wisconsin, and from what I can tell, WI law would allow it for this type of behavior, this shirking of duty. In Wisconsin they'd just have to lure one legislator back, all they need is 20 present to vote on a fiscal bill and they've got 19 Republicans. The Republicans are now going to vote on everything that is not a fiscal issue, because they only need 17 members present for those votes. The Democrats are going to be completely left out of the entire agenda if they don't come back. And no one is going to listen to them cry foul. What about 2012? What happens if Democratic legislators all over the country start running away and hiding rather than showing up to vote on important matters? How will anyone run as a Democrat in 2012? Obama is making a mistake by not encouraging them to return. I think he's making a mistake in standing with the unions, they are such a tiny percentage of the workforce and the rest of hard-working Americans are getting sick of this entitlement mentality. There's work to do, and the people are not going to forget who decided not to show up for work.

In my opinion, this is anarchist activity. These people should be stripped of their titles and they should hold new elections. It sickens me, too, that Obama thinks this sort of thing is okay.

In my mind, it's AWOL (absent without leave) and they forfeit all pay and benefits, whatever they may be. And as noted above, if I were there, I'd be shoving my legislation through as fast as I possibly could, while there's no opposition. If nothing else, that might bring the unprofessional legislators back to the table. If they remain AWOL, I think I'd start recalls in the districts no longer being represented. Maybe that would bring the unprofessional legislators back to the table. Maybe these states (and I wish mine were included) need to have a state-wide referandum and let all the people vote on union or right-to-work status?