WI Senate Republicans threaten missing Democrats with contempt

Madison (By Patrick Marley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) — Republicans in the state Senate ordered Democrats on Thursday to return to the chamber by 4 p.m. or be found in contempt of the Senate - a move that means Democrats could be taken into custody.

"We simply cannot have democracy be held hostage because the minority wants to prove a point," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau).

Senate Democrats have been out of the state since Feb. 17 to prevent passage of GOP Gov. Scott Walker's budget-repair bill. At least 20 senators must be present to pass the bill, but Republicans hold just 19 seats.

The Senate adopted the resolution to find Democrats in contempt on a 19-0 vote. It says they are violating a Senate rule that requires senators to receive a leave of absence before being absent for a day.

Fitzgerald said that Republicans were initially "nervous" about taking such a step but that Democrats have created a "constitutional crisis."

"This is not about a budget-repair bill or about politics," Fitzgerald said. "This is much bigger than that and the minority party has forced our hand . . .  They're insulting the very fabric of our representative democracy."

Related Material...

• (By Ed Morrissey, Hot Air) - WI Senate orders fleebaggers to return or face contempt charges