Senate orders arrest of missing Democrats

[Skip_In_Boulder]

The Wisconsin Senate passed a resolution Thursday ordering the arrest of the 14 Democratic senators who left the state two weeks ago to avoid a vote on Gov. Scott Walker's controversial budget repair bill.

It's unclear whether the move to force the senators back to the Capitol is constitutional. The state Constitution prohibits the arrest of legislators while in session unless they're suspected of committing felonies, treason or breach of the peace.

James Troupis, a private attorney hired by Fitzgerald, contended Thursday that the move is legal. He cited a portion of the state Constitution that provides that each house "may compel the attendance of absent members."

Republicans voted 19-0 to give the Democrats until 4 p.m. Thursday to appear before the Senate. The 14 Democrats are believed to be in Illinois. If the senators do not return by the deadline, the Senate agreed to find them "in contempt and disorderly behavior."

Declared Fitzgerald: "They have pushed us to the edge of a constitutional crisis."

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_8d9ad090-45bd-11e0-bf68-001cc4c03286.html

[aquart]

1. Uh, arrest them for what?

[RKP5637]

4. Not being republican enough - I think ... n/t

[PA Democrat]

7. Exactly. "Arrest" would indicate that they have

reason to believe you have committed a crime. Where in Wisconsin's criminal code is not showing up for work a crime?

[aquart]

16. Oh, that's probably in the budget bill, too.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

20. For Being Democrats

I think Mohmar Walker has decided to make that illegal in Wisconsin. :sarcasm:

[Hardrada]

2. I'm sure that will get them back!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. Wanna bet what they will use? BREACH OF PEACE.

Look outside the window... legal? No... but we are talking extreme republicans here. Oh and Fitzgerald, they did not push you to a crisis, you did that yourself.

[sabrina 1]

5. Did they ever arrest Karl Rove for not showing up after

receiving a Congressional subpoena? We have learned lately that he hid in Europe while that was going on. But surely he could still be arrested and now that the Republicans are in the majority in Congress and so concerned about this kind of thing, they will be voting to arrest him also?

[The Wielding Truth]

14. Of course, and a federal subpoena would, I think,carry more urgency for them.

Hypocrisy is their creed.

[Tatiana]

6. Who knew that we were housing an authoritarian regime right in the state of Wisconsin?

These Republicans look like fools, but I am still worried about the WI 14.

I thought Tommy Thompson was going to try to negotiate with Walker and his band of morons?

I hope the voters are paying attention to the thugs they have voted into office.

[RKP5637]

8. These Republicans look like fools and are clearly part of an authoritarian regime, but

sadly I bet a fair number of Americans think they are absolutely correct. That's what makes me so uncomfortable with the future of America, too many in this country like authoritarians. And then they vote in their own worst interest for the one that pushes their hot buttons. And often a brain is not engaged.

It's good this is playing out in WI. It's waking up Americans. Of course one of my remaining republican friends said the other day they are just a bunch of people rioting. Too much Fox News.

[Kber]

9. But...

"Fitzgerald acknowledged the senators could only be taken into custody if they return to Wisconsin."

So this is essentially an excercise in looking like an asshole.

[emulatorloo]

15. Pretty much.

[snacker]

10. One of them is six months pregnant...

State Senator Julie Lassa.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

11. Well I guess that means she can only hold out

for 3 more months.

[snacker]

12. From what I hear...

they have hospitals in Illinois too.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

13. I have heard that rumor as well

I was kind of thinking more in terms of that is an event that one does generally want to be close to home and family. But like you say, they have hospitals in IL as well and I hear they are staffed with doctors.

[Critters2]

19. I can definitely verify...hospitals and doctors in Illinois, and people born here

on a regular basis. I wasn't one of 'em, but my dad and his family going back 5 gens were. Definitely people. Definitely born in Illinois.

[Skip_In_Boulder]

22. Well that's very good to know

I always like being able to nail things down to absolutes. :hi:

[walldude]

17. And cops tell Walker to go shit in his hat.

No one is getting arrested.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x551482

[TorchTheWitch]

18. That's the cops union not the cops

The cops have been diligently following Walker's defiance of the Order to allow the public into the capitol building during working hours and keeping the people out.

The Wisconsin Professional Police Association is the police UNION in Wisconsin. It has nothing to do with any WI police department and can't issue orders on what the police can or can't do. Clearly, the police have already been engaging on the wrong side by keeping protestors out of the building.

[walldude]

21. Wow so where are you getting your info because

everything I have seen the cops are standing with the protesters. They have been refusing to remove people and the building is open again. And the Police Union is the Police. No cop is a non union member, and no cop will defy the union that is protecting them.

Oh and the deadline is already passed and no one has returned and no one is on their way to get them.

[SoCalDem]

23. They should surrender en masse at the jail and insist on being jailed

they would then be political prisoners:) They cannot "win", but this would certainly make a statement