Senators Order Missing Dems Arrested; Judge opens Capitol to Normal Business

The Republicans in the Wisconsin State Senate acted Thursday to hold the 14 missing Democrats in contempt after having been AWOL from the Chamber for two weeks in their standoff with the GOP and Governor Scott Walker over his proposed Budget Repair Bill. All 19 Republicans passed the resolution soon after calling the Senate to order yesterday morning. The measure called for all of the missing Democrats to return to the Senate body no sooner than 4 PM in the afternoon on March 3 and if they failed to show up, each member would be declared guilty of contempt and disorderly behavior and the Senate Sargent At Arms would be given the legal authority to use any lawful means or measure necessary to bring them back to the Senate Chamber. The Democrats, not having appeared by that 4 PM deadline, may now be subject to the actions of that resolution. The passage came on the advice of Jim Troupis, attorney for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. Troupis, a Madison attorney, was involved in a related lawsuit Wednesday when an Oconto County Judge ruled that missing Wisconsin Senator James Holperin could not be compelled by the State to return to the Capitol. Troupis, however, advised Fitzgerald that such a measure could be passed by the Wisconsin Senate to order the missing Dems back to Madison.

"It's the same as an arrest. It is an arrest," Fitzgerald said about the Senate resolution. "They have pushed us to the edge of a constitutional crisis."

Though the Dem Senators are camped out in Illinois and the Senate ruling does not cross State lines, Fitzgerald has said that he is confident that all of the Senators have been moving back and forth between their homes and Illinois and that anybody who witnesses any of them in the State can report to law enforcement and have them apprehended. The order will be in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the Senators can be compelled to appear in the Capitol Chamber.

"It's a sad day in the Wisconsin state Senate," he elaborated at a press conference after approval. "This wasn't about the bill. This wasn't about politics. This is about protecting the institution."

It remains unclear as to whether there is a true constitutionality to the order. The Wisconsin State Constitution does mandate The Senate and Assembly "to compel the attendance of absent members in such manner and under such penalties as each house may provide."

However, the same Constitution also explicitly states that legislators can only be arrested for crimes of "treason, felony, or breach of the peace" and it may be impossible to reasonably state what crimes the Senators committed.

The order is not truly an arrest because the Senators are not suspected of committing any crimes, Troupis explained to theWisconsin State Journal. Instead, the resolution seeks to enforce a legislative process.

"The Legislature has its own powers - that's the principle here," Troupis said. "The constitution is quite explicit in providing our Legislature with independent authority."

Democrats believe the Republicans are overreaching.

"The Republicans have gone around the bend," said Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee. "They've just increased their bullying tactics and are producing an even greater divide in our state."

Meanwhile, A Madison Judge on Thursday ruled that there would be no more overnight stays for protestors in the Capitol; however, the Capitol would be reopened to the public for any and all business during normal hours. Department of Administration Executive Mike Huebsh originally began restricting access to the Capitol early in the week and union protestors responded by filing the suit. Judge John Albert ruled on Thursday afternoon that the Capitol would be immediately cleared at the close of business day at 6 PM and Huebsh would have until 8 AM Tuesday morning to comply with the order.

Former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager represented the union in the lawsuit and said that the result of the ruling indicates that the protestors won the battle.

Huebsh revised the rules for Capitol access this morning. The new rules as they currently stand are:

- Visitors to the Capitol must enter and exit at the North and South Hamilton doors. Employees who display their ID's may enter at the MLK entrance

- Members of the public can enter the Capitol for meetings, committee hearings, tours or other purposes.

- Members of the public participating in a rally or protest must remain in the ground floor rotunda area.

- Carry-ins including sleeping bags, mattresses, musical instruments or noisemakers, cooking appliances and other items prohibited by the administrative code will not be allowed in the building.

- Visitors are prohibited from affixing or removing signs taped inside the Capitol. Retrieval of signs and other materials left behind can be made next week after the building is professionally cleaned.

Lame ducks: Working past midnight (to finish screwing our state)

Amidst the blizzard (which started yesterday, as unfortunate-Governor Pat Quinn's Inaugural Ball was wrapping up!), and has continued, through now...
...the Illinois General Assembly is still in session.

Today (well, now yesterday!) is the last day of the lame-duck session.

While we failed (which I'm reminded of, about every day!) to win the Office of Governor, and also failed to win enough seats, to take control of the State Senate, nor the State House, we did make significant gains, in both of those Chambers.

During the fall veto session, the IL Dems passed some horrid legislation. They've had another lame-duck session, this week and last, in which they helped screw our state some more (like with that "Amazon.com tax" - for which they had some GOP assistance)... and are now staying up late, to push through the crown jewel of their wreckage - a massive INCOME TAX HIKE!

They are trying to get this rammed through, before the new Republicans are sworn in tomorrow (which would now be today!) at noon, on our capital-city (UIS) campus.

Earlier this evening, the tax-hike plan passed the Illinois House, by a vote of 60 to 57.

The debate, in the State Senate, is still underway.

Follow it (audio or video) live:
www.ilga.gov/senate/audvid.asp

And follow:
http://twitter.com/ILSenateGOP
http://twitter.com/SJRthedome

BIDDING A TURNCOAT GOOD-BYE

BY SCOTT SCHNEIDER

Recently, the Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans (WICR) found themselves stabbed in the back by one of their own, when outgoing chair Lora Rae Anderson slammed the Republican Party, claiming they were not inclusive enough of more liberal-minded young people, then promptly bolting for the Democratic Party only one month after she left her position as WICR leader. WICR political director Patrick Testin, as well as newly-elected WICR chair Charlotte Evans had a few words to say to Lora Rae and to all Republicans who may have found their faith in the College Republicans shattered due to Lora's actions. Here is Patrick's WICR official press release regarding the matter:

Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans: College Republicans bid Anderson farewell
5/26/2010

STEVENS POINT, WI: On Friday May 21st, former Wisconsin Federation of College Republicans Chairman Lora Rae Anderson left the Republican Party to join Mike Tate and his cohort of “liberal attack dogs” in the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Anderson recently landed a spot on MSNBC for a publicity stunt stating that she left the Republican Party because the party was ignoring the more “liberal-minded” young members.

While it is unfortunate that the former state chair Anderson has radically shifted her views, WICR is proud to stand for young conservatives. WICR chapters have seen their memberships increase. Over the past year, more and more people have rejected the liberal policies coming out of Madison and Washington D.C. and we expect to see more young people join WICR. Anderson herself stated in May 2009 as she addressed the Republican Party that “most College Republican chapters are bigger and more active than Democratic chapters . . . College Republicans are persistent, strong, committed, moral characters” and that “Republicans are some of the hardest workers I know, and Democrats are some of the most agitated people I know.”

Since that speech, however, she has slowly moved to the left and has embraced many liberal ideologies that have put her at odds with many in the party. Last week, Anderson issued a statement and had a press conference with the Democratic Party of Wisconsin where she declared, “The health care reform bill allows young adults like me to be carried on our parents health insurance until we’re 26…I’m not looking for a government handout. I just want to get my life started on the right foot.”

The majority of Americans, however, do not support the liberal health care mandate and are in line with Anderson’s statement on September 8, 2009 where she said, “thanks for not paying attention to those who don’t agree with you, Mr. President” when commenting on the fact that Republicans had real solutions to the healthcare crisis without getting Americans into a massive amount of debt. While the DPW and MSNBC have latched onto Anderson’s newly developed extreme views, the growing College Republican chapters do not want the government to leverage their futures and bury them under debt.

Much like Senator Specter, Anderson has shown she is far more concerned about her own self-interests and is willing to drastically change her principles for personal gain. We just hope that Anderson’s selfish media grab isn’t a condition for paid employment with Mike Tate and the DPW. Patrick Testin, political director of WICR, states that “we do find it interesting that in Mike Tate’s blitzkrieg to get Anderson in front of a camera, he and the rest of DPW have failed to do their homework on Anderson, who has a history of saying controversial things on social media sites.” On September 24, 2009, Lora Rae Anderson posted on Facebook that she “thinks: (3rd district Congressman) Ron Kind is a [censored].” On September 8, 2009 Anderson stated she believes Planned Parenthood are “disgusting racists”. Matt Rossetto, vice chair of WICR said, “Statements like these should suit Anderson well if she is to have a future in DPW under Mike Tate’s leadership, who has proven time and time again he is willing to use tasteless racial politics.”

WICR wishes Anderson the best of luck in her future. Meanwhile, WICR will continue to move forward in promoting conservative values and principles. Chairman Charlotte Evans stated, “While it is a pity that my predecessor left the party, it is evident that big government is not a solution to her problems. We are on the verge of a Republican revolution similar to 1994 that rejects the growth of the government and its out of control spending, which is why we are encouraging students to sign the national College Republican ‘Don’t Put It On Our Tab’ petition.” WICR will unite to recruit, train, mobilize, and engage college-aged students that support fiscal and individual responsibility to elect conservative Republicans in November when the great state of Wisconsin turns RED in 2010.

Contact: Patrick Testin
Email: wicrpolitico@gmail.com
Phone: 715-412-1922

News Release: Illinois College Republican Federation

The last entry here contained a press release from the Missouri College Republicans, for Independence Day 2009. Below is a release issued the following day, by Matt Zimmerman, Chairman of the Illinois College Republican Federation:


News Release
July 5, 2009
Contact:
Matt Zimmerman, Chair
Illinois College Republican Federation
217.493.5530
matt.zimmerman.icrf@gmail.com


The past week and a half has been an eventful one as concerns the direction of our nation. The Illinois College Republican Federation would like to take the time to address the future.



"Cap and Trade" legislation was narrowly passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on June 26. Under this bill, industries that produce the most carbon emissions will be heavily taxed for their emissions. Industries such as agriculture and heavy industry will be forced to either lay off numerous employees to pay the increased taxes or go out of business. In good economic times, this legislation would be disastrous. In today's economy, this legislation is borderline insanity. Some estimate that this legislation would increase the average family's energy bill by thousands of dollars a year and will drive up the price of all consumer goods.

While this bill is being sold by the Obama Administration that it will decrease our dependence on foreign energy sources, many argue otherwise. Domestic producers of oil and natural gas will more than likely be forced to close down increasing our dependence on foreign supplies of energy.

One would think that legislators should take time to think this legislation through. Instead, at the last minute, a 300 page amendment, was added to the bill at three in the morning the day before it was voted on. After its passage through the House, reports have surfaced that the bill was not at the Well of the House when it was debated and voted on. The legislators could not have read the bill or the amendment if they wanted to.

With Norm Coleman's concession, Harry Reid will have another crucial vote in passing radical legislation such as this through the U.S. Senate. Forget the questionable ballots discovered in the trunks of cars for weeks after the election -- The Democrats now have complete control of the Executive Branch and both chambers of Congress. One only needs to look at the current state of Illinois government to see what one party rule can do.

The Democratic Party controls every statewide office in Illinois along with near-supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. In under eight years, they have proved that they are incapable of running the state. They refuse to look at ways of reforming our pension systems, education, and social service programs, and instead blame Republicans for refusing to vote for a tax increase.

If the recent history of Illinois is a guide, the future of our country is unappealing at best.

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--- The Illinois College Republicans are working with candidates at all levels of government across the State of Illinois. We will fill a crucial piece of the puzzle in taking back Illinois and our Country.