Yes, really.
Yesterday, the Wisconsin GOP's Senate Majority Leader, Scott Fitzgerald, submitted a motion designed to make life even more difficult for the staff members of the absent Democratic Senators. Not only is he requiring that HE be the one signing off on all the staff time cards, rather than their own bosses, he has also now pulled their access to....wait for it, the photocopiers.
[MOTION] Until further notice from the Majority Leader, timesheets of any employee appointed by a Senator who is absent without leave for 2 or more session days shall be reviewed and certified by the Majority Leader rather than the employee's appointing authority.
Until further notice from the Majority Leader, all copy machine access codes shall be deactivatedfor any Senator who is absent without leave for 2 or more session days. If an office requires assistance in making copies to respond to an open records request, the office may request the assistance of the Sergeant at Arms, who shall ensure that the cost of the copies is charged against the Senator's office expense account. In addition, the Chief Clerk shall charge the office expense account of each such Senator for use of the office printers. The amount shall equal the "per click'; amount the Legislature is assessed under its printer maintenance contract.
Please review the motion and record your vote below by circling "aye" or "no", signing your name, and inserting the date. Thank you.
[Ifthis ballot is not returned to the Majority Leader's office by Monday, Febmary 28,2011 at 11:00 a.m., you will be designated as not voting.]
I love how he gave everyone in the Senate all the way until 11:00 that same morning to vote on this. Charming. I do hope that the constituents of the Democratic Senate members in WI inundate his office with calls, cough (608-266-5660) cough, to let him know how they feel about him interfering in their daily operations.
Stay tuned, as I expect him to next bar Dem Senate staff members from using the restrooms and their own computers.