Wirch proposes restoring Collective Bargaining, Wanggaard says no, and Chris Larson Proposes Constitutional Amendment.

Democratic Sen. Wirch proposes restoring collective bargaining:

Senator Bob Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Safety, and Urban Affairs, today called on Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), the committee’s Chair, to schedule a public hearing on Senate Bill 233, which would restore collective bargaining rights for public workers. “Last night, we saw the people of Ohio stand up and resoundingly affirm their support for the right of workers in their state to have a say in their working conditions. We have a bill sitting in our committee right now that would return that right to workers here in Wisconsin, and it is time that we give the people of Wisconsin a chance to have their say ,” declared Wirch.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, in typical tea party jackass fashion, relishes the idea of one party rule, ignoring the protests completely. I resent that because I froze my ass off protesting with my kids. I guess Ohioan's, who followed in our footsteps, didn't send a message to Wanggaard last night. Check out this inaccurate and chest thumping authoritarian screed from Wanggaard:

Instead of a politically-motivated rehash of reforms that are working and saving taxpayer money, my focus continues to be improving Wisconsin’s economy. My constituents are tired of the political “gotcha” games and partisan fighting.

The Act 10 collective bargaining reforms took place amid historic debate in Wisconsin. While Senate Democrats abandoned Wisconsin for three weeks, the issue was aired and debated constantly, in public and in private, in the Capitol, in Racine, and across the state. We had a Supreme Court election that was called a “referendum” on the changes, and nine recall elections that were called “referendums.”

Arguing that people’s voices haven’t had a chance to be heard is ludicrous.

Those are fighting words. But there's more, this time from Sen. Chris Larson:

State Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee): “This year’s passage of a bill in Wisconsin that effectively eliminates collective bargaining for most public employees has put Wisconsinites through a traumatic period of our history … voters do not have the ability to directly repeal legislation.  However, voters in Wisconsin can have a direct say in passing an amendment to our constitution,” said Carpenter.  In order for this matter to go before the voters, however, SJR 34 would have to pass through two consecutive sessions of the legislature. Given the 61% of voters who voted to restore workers’ rights in Ohio, Senator Carpenter predicted that his amendment would easily pass  in Wisconsin.

However, so far the majority party in the legislature has not allowed the amendment to proceed.  “Let the people decide,” said Carpenter. Senator Carpenter noted that a state like Florida, which provides constitutional guarantees for collective bargaining, was largely able to avoid the conflict over workers rights experienced in Wisconsin and Ohio this year.