WI Republicans and Voter ID Bill

FORWARD!

If Democrats prefer to be in Illinois rather than in Madison doing their jobs, that's their prerogative.

In the meantime, I certainly expect the Wisconsin State Senate Republicans to be at work. That's exactly what they intend to do.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

As the budget standoff drags on, Republicans and Democrats are holding possible bargaining chips in their efforts to end the stalemate that has held up action on Gov. Scott Walker's bill to fix the state budget and take away most of public workers' union rights.

And one of those chips may be a bill to require voters to show ID at the polls - a change Republicans have long wanted and Democrats fear will disenfranchise voters.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) on Monday said Republicans who control the Legislature may bring that bill to the floor if Democrats continue to boycott Senate sessions for much longer. Democrats went to Illinois Thursday to prevent passage of the bill on union rights.

On Tuesday, the Senate will vote on measures to honor the Green Bay Packers and extend a dairy and livestock tax credit. Fitzgerald said the ID bill could come another day if Democrats don't return. Without Democrats present, the Republicans have enough members to be able to hold votes on non-financial bills but not on a fiscal bill like a budget.

Democrats in the Senate also have their own leverage. If those lawmakers stay out of Wisconsin until Friday, they could undermine a key provision of Walker's budget repair plan.

Without this refinancing element, the state would have to take other steps such as cuts to health care programs to keep its budget balanced this year. Walker and other leading Republicans are holding firm despite the deadline.

"Regardless of Friday's deadline, Governor Walker is going to balance the state budget," Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said in a statement. "If Senate Democrats remain out of state-. . . it will force more aggressive and painful spending cuts in the very near future."

Let's remember the one and only reason there's a "stalemate" is because the Senate Democrats have fled the state.

If those cowards continue to attempt to overturn the results of the 2010 elections, Republicans will go forward without them. They should go forward without them.

Fourteen Dems don't have the power to thwart the will of the people.

If they fail to fulfill their responsibilities as elected officials, there will be consequences. They can be held accountable for any fallout from their obstruction in terms of the budget or anything else.

The Dems are choosing not to be heard. They are choosing not to respect the people of Wisconsin.

Note to union members, Democrats, and Obama: Scott Walker has a spine.

He's not Hitler. He's also not Neville Chamberlain.