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From Abby Zimet of CommonDreams.org:

Protester Tom Spellman, “Scott Walker is going to go down in history as one of the greatest union organizers there ever was.”

In a bold, idiotic move, Governor Scott Walker and the Wisconsin Republican State Senators (minus one), have flaunted Wisconsin law and passed “non-economic portions” of the original budget bill that would have needed a quorum to pass. Acting with impunity like dictators before them, and billionaires at their back, just might have been Walker’s third Mubarak moment. The people of Wisconsin are now moving swiftly to both recall the Republican Senators who went along with a such a mess, and to re-occupy the Capitol building like it were there Liberation Square.

Watch this report from Democracy Now!, and live streaming of what’s happening at the Capitol building below the fold:

Watch live streaming video from theuptake at livestream.com

1 Comment

  1. eli_beckerman

    An official statement from state Senator Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, who gave the only “no” vote Wednesday when the Senate passed the collective bargaining portion of the budget repair bill:

    “As someone who as spent the better part of the last four weeks working toward and hoping for a compromise, this is a difficult night.

    “I’ve had the honor and privilege of representing folks in Southwest and South Central Wisconsin for 28 years, and where I come from ‘compromise’ isn’t a dirty word.

    “I’ve received tens of thousands of e-mails, thousands of phone calls and letters, and spent hours meeting with thousands of citizens in my district. I’ve heard personal and heartfelt stories of friends and neighbors, and they ask for just two things.

    “First, be inclusive by listening and working with your colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reach a compromise which addresses our fiscal crisis. Second, public employees are willing to make sacrifices on things like wages and benefits, but we need to preserve collective bargaining as a tool which has helped keep labor peace in this state for decades.

    “Ultimately, I voted my conscience which I feel reflects the core beliefs of the majority of voters who sent me here to represent them.

    “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the days ahead as we now need to join together to work through what promises to be a difficult budget.”

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