Feb. 22, 2011 |(333) Comments
Madison -- Senate Republicans voted Tuesday to make Democrats hiding out in Illinois come back to Wisconsin to pick up their paychecks.
The Senate Committee on Organization voted on a 3-2 party line vote, with Republicans voting in favor and Democrats against, to change Senate rules so that senators who miss two consecutive floor days can no longer have their paychecks dropped automatically into their bank accounts. The vote was taken by paper ballot, which allowed Democrats to cast their votes from out-of-state.
Democrats who have already missed two consecutive floor sessions will now have to come to get their paychecks directly from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) on the floor of the Senate.
"The majority leader shall provide the checks only to the absent Senator and only on the floor of the Senate during a session day," the new rule reads.
Democrats have been holed up in Illinois to block a Senate vote on Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill.
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Last week, Wisconsin Democrats fled the state to avoid the passage of a bill (their attendance is required for the vote). They still haven't returned.
The Dems came up with a crafty move by leaving the state. This move by the Republicans just shows that the Dems aren't the only ones thinking outside the box to get their way. Republicans can dish it right back.
We'll see how long the Dems can go before they run out of money. I'm guessing we won't have to wait too long.