Keewatinrose, a contributor at my blog MN Progressive Project interviewed one of the Wisconsin Senators who fled his state. What follows is her post ...
"We escaped from Wisconsin and went to the Land of Lincoln to save the state we love" were the first impassioned words I heard from State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) on Tuesday morning.
Jauch and the other members of his caucus fled to Illinois last week in order to stop a vote on a budget-balancing bill proposed by Tea Party governor Scott Walker that contains a provision that restricts the collective bargaining rights of public employees. These Senate Democrats have come to be known as Wisconsin's Fighting 14.
The Senator, sounding very weary, quickly dispelled the notion expressed by right-wing republicans that this was all just theatrics:
"This is an historic time we didn't seek," he said. "This unprecedented attack on workers' rights required an unprecedented response."
"When Governor Walker tried to ram it (the budget balancing bill) down our throats in 4 days, we had only one choice left....the constitutional right to deprive the republicans of a quorum in order to shine a spotlight on the governor's plan and give the people a chance to voice an opinion on the matter."
While Governor Walker contends his intentions were made clear during the campaign, Jauch insists that Walker misrepresented his intentions and is now using the budget repair bill to limit workers' rights and destroy unions. He points to the fact that the unions did agree to the fiscal notes in the bill, making concessions in both pension and health care contributions and asked only that the provisions that denied their rights to collective bargaining be removed from the bill. Walker refused the offer and the Senate Majority Leader issued a statement that the bill is not negotiable, making it quite clear that union busting, not balancing the budget, is the real goal.
"Walker campaigned on the issues of increased contributions to pensions and healthcare but now it's very apparent he has a different agenda ... to attack workers' rights in Wisconsin and carry that agenda to 13 or 14 other states," Jauch said. "Walker was not given a mandate to split the state apart by eliminating workers rights. The people are not on his side."
Senator Jauch dismisses Governor Walker's charge that the Senate Democrats are not participating in democracy, correctly pointing out that in a democracy part of the democratic process is engaging the public. Since the Wisconsin Fighting 14 left the state, thousands of people have expressed their opinions on Walker's attempt to strip workers of their rights to collective bargaining. Jauch doesn't believe Walker anticipated the response, believing instead he would be successful in ramming the bill through in just four days. Jauch contends that they have strengthened democracy by giving the people an opportunity to weigh in on the issue. It is also clear from the outpouring of public sentiment in opposition to Walker's stubborn refusal to negotiate that the democrats are on the right side of the public and the republicans are not, he said.
The Republicans have accused the Senate Democrats of not doing their jobs. Jauch challenges that allegation:
"We are doing our jobs," he replied. "We are representing the people. It is the Senate Republicans, who are doing the Governor's bidding and not listening to the people, who are not doing their jobs."
As for the reports that at least two republicans are supporting them in opposing the bill, Sen. Jauch replied he is not aware of any but would welcome word from any of them that that is indeed true.
Democrats in the Indiana House of Representatives left their state early Tuesday in order to deprive the republicans of the necessary quorum to pass a bill that would also restrict workers' rights. While Jauch was aware of that action, he said they had not been in contact with any of them but was "heartened" by the news. He believes Wisconsin's Fighting 14 have empowered people and public officials around the country in what is now a national fight to protect the rights of working people.
Wisconsin does appear to be ground zero in the Tea Party's campaign to bust the unions. The labor movement is fortunate indeed to have courageous people like the Wisconsin Fighting 14 standing up for the rights of working people.
Let's hope more elected officials follow their example.