.png)
Wisconsin protests: Protesters fill the Rotunda at the State Capitol building on Feb. 16 in Madison, Wisconsin. Protesters were demonstrating against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers. (Mark Hirsch/Getty Images)
Growing swarms of protesters filled the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, Wis., on Thursday for a third day of protest against Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s bill to eliminate union rights for many public-sector employees.
Unable to tolerate Walker’s move to strip public unions’ collective bargaining rights in the first state that granted them more than half a century ago; tens of thousands of students, teachers, and prison guards beat drums, chanted, and sang the national anthem, according to The Associated Press.
In order to prevent legislators from reaching a quorum and passing the bill, Wisconsin Democrats refused to show up for a vote on Thursday, forcing the Republicans to negotiate.
The 14 Democrats fled the Statehouse about noon, right before the Senate was to begin debating the bill.
Wisconsin protests: Protesters filled the steps and grounds surrounding the State Capitol building on Feb. 16 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Mark Hirsch/Getty Images)
"The plan is to try and slow this down because it's an extreme piece of legislation that's tearing this state apart," Sen. Jon Erpenbach told AP in a telephone interview. He refused to reveal his whereabouts.
Another Democratic senator, Lena Taylor, tweeted that she is “doing the people’s business. Power to the people.”
The Republicans hold 19 seats in the 33-member Senate, yet they are still one vote short of the number needed to pass bills.
After the exodus, Walker is calling the Democrats to get back to work.
“Out of respect for the institution of the Legislature and the democratic process, I am calling on Senate Democrats to show up to work today, debate legislation, and cast their vote,” Walker said in a statement.
“Their actions by leaving the state and hiding from voting are disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of public employees who showed up to work today and the millions of taxpayers they represent.”
In addition to the stripping of the state workers’ union rights, Walker’s $3.6 billion budget deficit also requires them to pay more for their health care and pensions, which equates to a 7 percent pay cut.
