Madison, WI – This evening, March 9, Republican senators here pressed forward with legislation that strips public employees of their collective bargaining rights. Protestors are converging on state capitol building, where there is a heavy police presence.

Republicans made use of a parliamentary maneuver that separated bargaining rights for public workers from the budget bill, thus eliminating the requirement for the presence of a quorum that is required for votes on legislation that involves spending money.

Mary Bell, President of the Wisconsin Education Association Council states, “Tonight, Senate and Assembly Republicans pushed forward an extreme power grab with an unconscionable maneuver that split collective bargaining off from the fiscal items in the budget repair bill, rigging an 18-to-1 vote in the Senate. The Assembly will vote tomorrow.”

According to reports the vote will take place at 11 a.m. on March 10.

The editors of Fight Back News Service urge all of our readers to join the protests in Madison.

#StateCapitol #MadisonWI #GovernorScottWalker #Wisconsin #publicSectorUnions