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Senate Democrats in Wisconsin failed to show up Thursday for a vote on a "union-busting" bill that has prompted police officers to launch a dragnet for the missing lawmakers.

Fourteen Senate Democrats have left the state to prevent the vote, according to AP sources in Wisconsin, attempting to force further negotiation on the bill. Expected to pass the Republican-controlled Senate, at least one Democratic representative must be present in order to be brought to a vote.

"It's kind of unbelievable that they're elected to do a job and they wouldn't show up to do it," said Republican Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald.

Wisconsin's measure would end collective bargaining for state, county and local workers, except for police, firefighters and the state patrol.   Unions still could represent workers, but could not seek pay increases above those pegged to the Consumer Price Index unless approved by a public referendum. Unions also could not force employees to pay dues and would have to hold annual votes to stay organized.

The Democratic Party’s Organizing for America, the leftover campaign apparatus from the Obama campaign, has entered the fray, filling buses and running phone banks for unions in Wisconsin. President Obama offered his opinion, declaring Walker’s measures an “assault on unions” despite admitting he hadn’t looked into the details.

Speaking on Morning Joe Thursday morning, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) compared the current situation in Wisconsin to the recent unrest in Egypt that toppled the 30-year authoritarian rule of Hosni Mubarak, saying it's "like Cairo has moved to Madison these days."

"He is basically saying, state workers, which have extremely generous benefit packages relative to their private sector counterparts, they contribute next to nothing to their pensions, very, very little in their health care packages," Ryan responded "He's asking that they contribute about 12% for their health care premiums, which is about half of the private sector average, and about 5.6% to their pensions. It's not asking a lot, it's still about half of what private sector pensions do and health care packages do."


this isn't just about the collective bargaining. the biggest threat to the unions (which have grown more powerful than the barons they were formed to combat) is that this bill would allow union members to get out of the unions. currently, it's like a gang. you can't get out even if you want to. no matter what, you're still stuck paying dues. also, it's the annual voting on remaining organized that's a major threat.

and this isn't like it would eliminate their ability to get raises, increases would just be linked to the state of the economy, or through public referendum. aka, it puts the power back into the hands of the people who the teachers work for.

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My mom lives next door to me and she is a retired schoolteacher.  She and I butted heads over this topic this morning for about 2 hours. Lol!

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Originally Posted by Dennis Young:
My mom lives next door to me and she is a retired schoolteacher.  She and I butted heads over this topic this morning for about 2 hours. Lol!

i don't have a problem with teachers, just teachers unions.

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I do believe that teacher's unions had their time and their place....but it's past that now.  I'm part of the union...cause I work part-time for a school district...the ONLY benefit I see is that our union works out a good contract for us...which is only done every 3 years.  Most times...it's no more than a 3 percent raise yearly..and perhaps one other benefit that may be added.  The teachers, on the other hand always seem to come out smelling like roses....they know how to "hold out" until they get what they want....and they say they NEED.  After seeing the film Waiting for Superman....I'm realizing that our educational system has a VERY LONG WAY to go....to catch up with the rest of the world!!!

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it seems like the unions help keep a lot of the money spent on education from actually making it to the classroom.

anyone see how all these doctors were in the crowd writing "sick" notes to the protesters? shameful.