Senate Democrats remain in hiding outside of state, which is preventing a vote on the Governor’s budget repair bill. However, Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says there is other business to take care of. He’s calling Republicans back to the floor on Tuesday.
The Senate held an organizational committee meeting Monday morning, where Democratic Senators Mark Miller (D-Monona) and Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) called in to participate. Both lawmakers restated their intent to remain out of the state until Republicans and the Governor are willing to negotiate on provisions of the bill that will restrict collective bargaining rights for public employees.
During a tense exchange with the absent Senators, Fitzgerald maintained that there will be no negotiations on the bill. He says the Governor is asking lawmakers to do their jobs and join Republicans on the floor to debate the bill.
AUDIO: Senate organization meeting (3:17)
The Senate is expected to act Tuesday on a resolution commending the Green Bay Packers, investment credits for dairy and livestock, and confirmation of Department of Children Families Secretary Eloise Anderson.
Fitzgerald says there will be no attempt to take up the collective bargaining provisions from the budget repair bill on their own. However, he says the Senate could take up Voter ID legislation this week.
The Assembly also plans to reconvene on Tuesday. Republicans have the budget repair bill scheduled for a vote, although the debate on the measure could take several hours. Democrats are believed to have over a hundred amendments to offer to the bill and could use other tactics to stall passage.