Tag Archives: Wisconsin

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The Struggle in Wisconsin …


The struggle in Wisconsin is still ongoing, but MoveOn members like you have already played a pivotal role in fighting back against Governor Scott Walker‘s radical attack on workers’ rights.

Walker expected his budget bill to sail through, but instead, it’s sparked a national backlash and energized millions of people. And that’s thanks, in part, to you.

Since the fight began:

Thousands of Wisconsin MoveOn members attended the massive demonstrations in Madison, made calls to their state legislators, and sent almost 10,000 messages to Governor Walker, which protesters plastered all over the walls outside Walker’s office when he refused to accept them. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206612&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=1

 MoveOn members contributed more than $100,000 to the Wisconsin 14, the brave Democratic state senators who left the state to prevent Republicans from jamming through Walker’s proposal—providing them a huge boost to fight back against Republican attacks.  http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206615&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=2

 MoveOn members sent more than 260,000 statements of support to the Wisconsin 14. We delivered the statements—all 5,700 pages of them—to State Senator Chris Larson. He was thrilled to share them with his colleagues and posted on Facebook: “Thank you for standing with us! (And yes, people actually do get paper copies of those forms you fill out online. Thank you MoveOn.org).”

 MoveOn members nationwide contributed more than $445,000 to support the efforts to recall the Republican state senators who refuse to negotiate. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206613&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=4  The folks running the recall report they’re off to an amazing start, beating their signature goal in the first weekend by 35%, and they’re hugely grateful for the early fundraising.

 MoveOn members held solidarity rallies in every state capital—our biggest in years, and on just four days’ notice—to say that we are all Wisconsin and we won’t stand by while Republicans try to kill the American Dream. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206323&id=26435-17809870-dEjiEix&t=5

It’s an amazing and inspiring list. And this fight is far from over. Even if Governor Walker manages to push through his disastrous proposal, the recall efforts targeting Republicans are already off to an amazing start and several of those who support Walker could be thrown out of office as soon as June.

With similar fights happening across the country and in Washington, we’ve got a long way to go before we put the American Dream back in reach for all Americans. But Wisconsin has sparked a national uprising and given us the strength to fight back.

For the moment though, we just wanted to take the time to say thanks, for all you do.

–Daniel, Joan, Kat, Lenore, and the rest of the team

P.S. With Republicans in Washington pushing devastating federal budget cuts—to education, student loans, NPR, environmental protection, family planning, health and nutrition programs for pregnant women and small children, and more—we’re looking to highlight the stories of those who’d be affected by the cuts. If any of the Republican budget cuts would affect you or your family.

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Wisconsin GOP out of control!

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Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate voted yesterday to issue arrest warrants for the Senate Democrats who have left the state heroically to halt Gov. Walker’s unwarranted attack on workers. Eight of those Republican Senators are eligible for recall for their overreach. They are:

– Robert Cowles

– Alberta Darling

– Sheila Harsdorf

– Luther Olsen

– Randy Hopper

– Glenn Grothman

– Mary Lazich

– Dan Kapanke

In a move that many are contending is in direct violation of the state constitution and a departure from normal Senate rules, Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate yesterday approved an order for the state’s police to detain the Senate Democrats, who have left the state to block Gov. Scott Walker‘s attack on the middle class and workers’ rights, and bring them to the Senate chambers. Gov. Walker also threatened that he would start sending layoff notices today to state workers.

Now they’re running roughshod over state law and the rules of their own chamber … and Gov. Walker has gone from simply acting like a dictator to acting like a hostage taker, with state jobs as his hostages. Unwilling to even consider compromise on his proposal to gut workers’ fundamental rights, he is now threatening to start eliminating those state jobs if he doesn’t get his way.

Perhaps the most outrageous part is that the layoffs are completely unnecessary to address the state’s budget problems … the same way his plan to destroy collective bargaining for public employees and make the middle class bear the entire economic sacrifice in fixing the state’s budget is completely unnecessary.

If you’re like me, you are wishing more than anything right now that Gov. Walker was eligible for recall this year — especially since polling shows he would lose in an election between him and his 2010 gubernatorial opponent. Unfortunately, he can’t be recalled until 2012, but eight of the Republican Senators backing his extreme power grab are eligible to be recalled now, including:

Randy Hopper, who won his last election by just 184 votes …

Alberta Darling, who won her race by just over 1,000 …

And Glenn Grothman, who on MSNBC‘s The Last Word, called protesters at the Wisconsin state capitol “slobs,” and insisted that they were just a bunch of “college students having a fun party.”

Here’s what you can do today:

1. If you have not already done so, sign our petition indicating your support for the recall effort now underway in Wisconsin. If you have signed, make sure to spread the word! Share on Facebook and ask others to visit http://www.pfaw.org/Recall.

2. If you live in or near Wisconsin, you can start volunteering to help gather recall petition signatures. We have 60 days to get enough signatures to hold recall elections and our friends at the SEIU will be sending out a sizable wave of canvassers this weekend to get us off to a good start. Sign up here: http://action.seiu.org/page/s/wisconsinrecall

3. If you know ANYONE in Wisconsin, please call or email them as soon as you can and urge them to support the recall effort.

4. Make a contribution to PFAW‘s work on the recall campaign.

Thanks for your activism and your support!

— Ben Betz, Online Communications Manager

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Recall elections in Wisconsin …

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Republican politicians in Wisconsin have gone mad with power.

Yesterday, the state Senate president issued arrest warrants for the brave Democratic state senators who left Wisconsin to stop the attacks on workers.1 And Republicans have locked down the Capitol building, even denying access to firefighters responding to an emergency call.2

We need to put a stop to this madness, and the only way is to flip control of the state Senate with a recall election.

Grassroots progressives, students, workers, and unions in Wisconsin are coming together with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin to do just that.3 But they’re going to need a lot of help. MoveOn members in Wisconsin are already volunteering to canvass voters. The rest of us need to raise $150,000 to get the recall campaign off to a great start.

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206484&id=26392-9640874-AYkUgbx&t=3

A number of Republican senators are particularly vulnerable, getting less than 51% of the vote in their last election.4 We can win this, but with billionaires like the Koch brothers supporting Walker’s plan,5 progressives in Wisconsin are going to need the support of all of us.

Over the past 36 hours, over 245,000 MoveOn members signed an emergency statement of support for the “Wisconsin 14,” the brave Democratic senators who left the state to block a vote on Walker’s plan. They’re continuing to hold firm and stay out of Wisconsin.

But the fastest way they can come home to their families—with workers’ rights intact—is if some Republican senators see the light and decide to oppose the governor. Organizing a strong recall effort is the best way to help make that happen.

$150,000 will send a clear message to Scott Walker and his allies in the Senate that there will be dire consequences if they keep pushing their radical agenda. Click here to contribute via ActBlue:

http://www.moveon.org/r?r=206484&id=26392-9640874-AYkUgbx&t=4

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Kat, Julia, Marika, and the rest of the team

Sources:

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RECALL Wisconsin’​s GOP Senators!


It’s time to show right-wing lawmakers that they cannot use budget gaps, created by their own massive giveaways to their corporate sponsors, as an excuse to attack Americans‘ fundamental rights.

The budget plan proposed by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and advanced by his Republican allies in the legislature which would rip away the collective bargaining rights of public workers is a shocking example of extreme overreach … it’s time to hold these people accountable!

In Wisconsin, voters can recall their state elected officials after they have been in office for a year. That means that Gov. Walker cannot be recalled until 2012, but eight of the GOP Senators who have pushed for passage of Walker’s plan are eligible for recall NOW — and the state Democrats have taken steps to begin the recall process.

First things first: Let us know you’re on board and sign our petition supporting the recall effort. http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=GbPmpmXeNOxyIYbTQmjhcQ..

This is not just about Wisconsin — it’s about right-wing power grabs and assaults Americans’ rights everywhere. If we can successfully recall these lawmakers in  Wisconsin, it will help set us up for similar recall efforts where they are possible in other states and, more importantly, it will make governors and legislators think twice about pushing such measures to begin with.

Show lawmakers in Wisconsin and all states that this type of overreach will not be taken sitting down.

Join this effort now.

— Ben Betz, Online Communications Manager http://site.pfaw.org/site/R?i=O4zSzS3uSvIPX3v3DdxGXg..

P.S. This is going to be BIG and PFAW hopes to be a real force in this effort. That means we’ll need as many of our members and activists, from around the country, engaged in it.

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Congress: -the Republican led House -the Senate …both meet @10amET


The Senate convenes at 10:00amET Thursday 3, 2011

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to a period of morning business until 11:00am with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each. The Republicans will control the first half and the Majority will control the final half.

At 11:00am, the Senate will resume consideration of S.23, the America Invents Act.

The following amendments are pending to S.23:

– Leahy amendment #114 (Title amendment)

– Bennet amendment #116 (small business fast track)

The Senate has reached an agreement to vote at 12:30pm in relation to the Feinstein amendment #133, as modified (strikes first to file provisions in the bill). The time until 12:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the proponents and opponents with no amendments in order to the Feinstein amendment prior to the vote.

There will be a period of morning business from 2-4pm. The Majority will control the first hour and the Republicans will control the next hour.

This evening, Senator Reid filed cloture on S.23, the America Invents Act. By consent, the cloture vote will occur after the 2 judge votes on Monday, March 7 (the 2 judge votes will begin at 5:30pm).

As a result of cloture being filed, the filing deadline for first degree amendments is 1pm tomorrow, Friday, March 4. If your senator has a germane amendment and would like to preserve the ability to offer, please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to refile.

Votes:

31: Grassley motion to table the Feinstein amendment #133: , as modified; Tabled: 87-13

There will be no further roll call votes today.

Unanimous Consent:

Agreed to the Stabenow amendment #126 (Detroit satellite office) by voice vote

Agreed to Bingaman amendment #142 (PTO length of time between reviews).

Passed HR662, Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011.

Adopted S.Res89, a resolution relating to the death of Frank W. Buckles, the longest surviving United States veteran of the First World War.

Adopted S.Res.90, a resolution supporting the goal of “International Women’s Day” and recognizing this year’s centennial anniversary of National Women’s Day.

S.Res.91, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Week.

Adopted S.Res.92, a resolution to authorize the payment of legal expenses of Senate employees out of the contingent fund of the Senate.

Confirmed the following nominations:

#35 Daniel L. Shields III, of Pennsylvania, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Brunei Darussalam.

#36 Pamela L. Spratlen, of California, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Kyrgyz Republic.

#37 Sue Kathrine Brown, of Texas, a Career Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Montenegro.

#38 David Lee Carden, of New York, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with the rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

#39 Eric G. Postel, of Wisconsin, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, vice Jacqueline Ellen Schafer, resigned.

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CURRENT HOUSE FLOOR PROCEEDINGS

LEGISLATIVE DAY OF MARCH 3, 2011

112TH CONGRESS – FIRST SESSION

2:47 P.M. –

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES – The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

2:41 P.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded further with one minute speeches.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Friday, March 4, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 for Morning-Hour Debate. Agreed to without objection.

Mr. Cantor asked unanimous consent That, when the House adjourns on Thursday, March 3, 2011, it adjourn to meet at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 4, 2011. Agreed to without objection.

H.R. 4:

to repeal the expansion of information reporting requirements for payments of $600 or more to corporations, and for other purposes

2:11 P.M. –

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by recorded vote: 314 – 112 (Roll no. 162).

1:46 P.M. –

Point of order raised by Mr. Weiner on the voice vote of the measure. Mr Weiner stated that the bill purportedly included a Federal income tax increase making the clause 5b of Rule XXI requirement for a three-fifths majority for passage of the measure applicable. Point of order overruled by the Chair.

1:43 P.M. –

On motion to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 243 – 181 (Roll no. 161).

1:19 P.M. –

Mr. Camp moved to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair

Mr. Levin appealed the ruling of the chair. The question was then put on sustaining the ruling of the chair.

1:18 P.M. –

Point of order sustained against the motion to recommit with instructions.

1:06 P.M. –

Mr. Camp raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. Mr Camp states that the motion violates clause 10 of Rule XXI by proposing an increase in mandatory spending over a relevant period of time. Sustained by the Chair.

1:00 P.M. –

The instructions contained in the McNernney motion seek to require the Committee on Ways and Means to report the bill back to the House forthwith with an amendment which inserts sections entitled “NONREFUNDABLE PERSONAL CREDIT FOR TAXPAYERS SUBJECT TO A TAX INCREASE UNDER THE SMALL BUSINESS PAPERWORK MANDATE ELIMINATION ACT OF 2011”, “INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO DOMESTIC PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES”, and “MAJOR INTEGRATED OIL COMPANIES INELIGIBLE FOR LAST-IN, FIRST-OUT MEHTOD OF INVENTORY”.

Mr. McNerney moved to recommit with instructions to Ways and Means.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

11:30 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House resumed debate on H.R. 4.

11:29 A.M. –

WORDS TAKEN DOWN – During the course of debate, exception was taken to certain words used in debate. Subsequently, unanimous consent was granted to withdraw the words and the House resumed debate on H.R. 4.

10:25 A.M. –

DEBATE – The House proceeded with two hours and thirty minutes of debate on H.R. 4.

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 4 with 2 hours and 30 minutes of general debate. Motion to recommit with or without instructions is allowed. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments. The resolution provides that an amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in H.R. 705 shall be considered as adopted. The resolution waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The waiver of all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended, is prophylactic in nature.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 129.

10:05 A.M. –

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES – The House proceeded with one minute speeches, which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 10 per side of the aisle.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair designated Mr. Wilson of SC to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:04 A.M. –

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

10:01 A.M. –

The Speaker designated the Honorable Ted Poe to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. –

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.