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

Speaking about this turn of events from inside the Capitol, Armando Robles, a leader of the historic 2008 occupation of the Republic Windows and Doors plant in Chicago, told Fight Back!, “There are brave people inside the capitol just like Republic Windows and Doors. I’m happy.”

The attempt by Governor Walker to push legislation taking away the collective bargaining rights of public employees has sparked huge demonstrations in Wisconsin and solidarity actions around the county.

Fight Back News Service will be carrying updates on the fight at the Wisconsin State Capitol throughout the evening.

#StateCapitol #MadisonWI #StudentMovement #PeoplesStruggles #GovernorScottWalker #Wisconsin

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).

Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) stands in support of the protesters occupying the Capitol Building in Wisconsin today.

In its 12th day of a continued people's presence, there are thousands who have braved snow and exhaustion to attempt to force legislators to shut down Governor Walker's Budget Repair Bill.

SDS has been a part of every single day of these protests, which have brought hundreds of thousands to Wisconsin's Capitol in Madison. SDSers have come from around the country, as well as locally, with their own money to participate and support Wisconsin working families, from places like Waukesha and Milwaukee in Wisconsin, as well as North Carolina, Illinois, and Oklahoma. SDS has stormed dormitories asking for student support, led student and youth marches, handed out thousands of informational fliers, organized national call-in days to legislators, and built protests in solidarity around the country. SDSers organized a Walkout at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee of over 3,000 students, faculty and staff last Thursday, February 17th. Today, even with the threat of arrest, SDSers from Wisconsin will be in the Capitol Building with workers, students, and educators who will continue to assert their right to express themselves in our society.

Maintaining a people's presence in the Capitol is a must! President Obama lectures the world about democracy and yet citizens are threatened with being dragged out of their own Capitol Building for standing together and making a political statement. Its time for him and others to take a real stand in support of working people.

This issue is no longer simply a local one, tied up in petty legislative arguments in one state. It has become a precedent for attacks on working people across the entire country. Protests of thousands of people across the United States have shown that.

Please consider donating what you can to help these people who are exercising their basic rights in our society. Holding local actions, fund-raising, and calling in to Governor Walker and President Obama's offices are critical in keeping our voices heard.

Solidarity,

The National Working Committee of Students for a Democratic Society

Call Obama:

Phone Numbers

Comments: 202-456-1111

Switchboard: 202-456-1414

FAX: 202-456-2461

Governor Walker of Wisconsin:

Email: govgeneral@wisconsin.gov

Mail

Office of Governor Scott Walker

115 East Capitol

Madison WI 53702

Phone: (608) 266-1212

#StateCapitol #MadisonWI #Labor #StudentsForADemocraticSociety #SDS #PeoplesStruggles #GovernorScottWalker #Wisconsin