'This Is a Coup': Protests Engulf Wisconsin Capitol as Outgoing Scott Walker and GOP Move to Cripple Democratic Power
Wisconsin citizens voted for a referendum to increase the minimum wage, which passed--until the GOP legislation dismantled it. Walker and the GOP promised its citizens they would vote on a bill to protect "pre-existing conditions"--and they tabled it. But that is just the beginning.
As Wisconsin Republicans voted to plow ahead with a sweeping package of legislation that would allow outgoing Gov. Scott Walker to strip significant authority from Democratic governor-elect Tony Evers, outraged Wisconsinites flooded the state capitol Monday night to denounce the GOP's brazen attempt to subvert the will of the voters and "undo democracy itself."
"This isn't a bill. This is a coup," Randy Bryce—aka the "Iron Stache"—said before Wisconsin's Joint Committee on Finance, which deliberated and ultimately voted along party lines to advance the Republican plan, which seeks to transfer many of Evers' crucial executive powers to the GOP-dominated legislature. A final vote on the plan is expected as early as Tuesday.
Apparently lacking the courage to speak on behalf of their legislation—or fearing the immense grassroots backlash—the bill's Republican sponsors didn't bother to show up to the lame-duck hearing.
Unlike some of their representatives, thousands of Wisconsinites braved the freezing weather and turned out in force, crowding the inside of the capitol building with chants of "Respect our vote!" and rallying outside to denounce the Republicans' last-ditch power grab.
"They are terrified that democracy is returning to Wisconsin," The Nation's John Nichols, a Wisconsin native, declared in a speech from the steps of the capitol building. "They are terrified that 2018 is not the end of anything, but only the beginning."
"The only way they can pull this off is if nobody finds out about it," Ben Wikler, another Wisconsin native and MoveOn.org's Washington director, said at Monday night's demonstration. "I was texting right before the show with some national reporters. They can't believe people are coming out in this weather once they hear how cold it is. We're proving them wrong right now. This is what democracy looks like."
If approved by the state legislature, the Republican plan would force Evers to implement Wisconsin's Trump-approved Medicaid work requirements, stop him from banning guns in the state capitol, and restrict both his ability and that of newly-elected Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to execute the state's legal affairs.
The GOP's sweeping legislative package would also severely restrict early voting, limiting it to as little as two weeks before an election.
Walker, who has just weeks left in office, told reporters on Monday that he would sign the legislative package if it reaches his desk.
With governor-elect Evers vowing to pursue legal action if the plan passes the legislature, Wisconsin Democrats continued to voice their outrage at the GOP's patently anti-democratic plan, which mirrors ongoing efforts by Republicans in Michigan to effectively overturn November's election results.
"You rig the system when you win and you rig the system when you lose," Wisconsin Democratic state Rep. Chris Taylor said of the Republican legislation. "How is it that you have more power when you lose?"
rumitoid wrote:
'This Is a Coup': Protests Engulf Wisconsin Capitol as Outgoing Scott Walker and GOP Move to Cripple Democratic Power
Wisconsin citizens voted for a referendum to increase the minimum wage, which passed--until the GOP legislation dismantled it. Walker and the GOP promised its citizens they would vote on a bill to protect "pre-existing conditions"--and they tabled it. But that is just the beginning.
As Wisconsin Republicans voted to plow ahead with a sweeping package of legislation that would allow outgoing Gov. Scott Walker to strip significant authority from Democratic governor-elect Tony Evers, outraged Wisconsinites flooded the state capitol Monday night to denounce the GOP's brazen attempt to subvert the will of the voters and "undo democracy itself."
"This isn't a bill. This is a coup," Randy Bryce—aka the "Iron Stache"—said before Wisconsin's Joint Committee on Finance, which deliberated and ultimately voted along party lines to advance the Republican plan, which seeks to transfer many of Evers' crucial executive powers to the GOP-dominated legislature. A final vote on the plan is expected as early as Tuesday.
Apparently lacking the courage to speak on behalf of their legislation—or fearing the immense grassroots backlash—the bill's Republican sponsors didn't bother to show up to the lame-duck hearing.
Unlike some of their representatives, thousands of Wisconsinites braved the freezing weather and turned out in force, crowding the inside of the capitol building with chants of "Respect our vote!" and rallying outside to denounce the Republicans' last-ditch power grab.
"They are terrified that democracy is returning to Wisconsin," The Nation's John Nichols, a Wisconsin native, declared in a speech from the steps of the capitol building. "They are terrified that 2018 is not the end of anything, but only the beginning."
"The only way they can pull this off is if nobody finds out about it," Ben Wikler, another Wisconsin native and MoveOn.org's Washington director, said at Monday night's demonstration. "I was texting right before the show with some national reporters. They can't believe people are coming out in this weather once they hear how cold it is. We're proving them wrong right now. This is what democracy looks like."
If approved by the state legislature, the Republican plan would force Evers to implement Wisconsin's Trump-approved Medicaid work requirements, stop him from banning guns in the state capitol, and restrict both his ability and that of newly-elected Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul to execute the state's legal affairs.
The GOP's sweeping legislative package would also severely restrict early voting, limiting it to as little as two weeks before an election.
Walker, who has just weeks left in office, told reporters on Monday that he would sign the legislative package if it reaches his desk.
With governor-elect Evers vowing to pursue legal action if the plan passes the legislature, Wisconsin Democrats continued to voice their outrage at the GOP's patently anti-democratic plan, which mirrors ongoing efforts by Republicans in Michigan to effectively overturn November's election results.
"You rig the system when you win and you rig the system when you lose," Wisconsin Democratic state Rep. Chris Taylor said of the Republican legislation. "How is it that you have more power when you lose?"
'This Is a Coup': Protests Engulf Wisconsin Capito... (
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There you go again Rumi...blowing things way out of proportion. Let's see the link..video of all those 1000's of people. Are we talking 5 or 10 people???
kankune wrote:
There you go again Rumi...blowing things way out of proportion. Let's see the link..video of all those 1000's of people. Are we talking 5 or 10 people???
Kankune, you beat me to it. As soon as I finished reading the article, I searched in vain for a link, or at the very least, the name of the publication it came from.
The Stalin Times? Goebbels Weekly? Caracas Dispatch?
proud republican wrote:
Come on,Seth...As soon as you see name Rumitoid yo... (
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LOL! Can't argue with that logic.
Seth wrote:
Kankune, you beat me to it. As soon as I finished reading the article, I searched in vain for a link, or at the very least, the name of the publication it came from.
The Stalin Times? Goebbels Weekly? Caracas Dispatch?
FYI the word pravda means truth.
What they did was some token stuff, and actually things that will damage the GOP as a party. They ran on protecting healthcare and pissed on that.
One of the things they did that is going to cost the state ludicrous money is create a situation where the state prosecutor can be sidestepped with challenges by the GOP using private law firms to sue and defend against the AG at unlimited expense to the state's taxpayers.
The other factor is that this is expected to be repealed with a court appeal.
Good sensible advice would be for Walker to veto it for the sake of the party.
Seth wrote:
Kankune, you beat me to it. As soon as I finished reading the article, I searched in vain for a link, or at the very least, the name of the publication it came from.
The Stalin Times? Goebbels Weekly? Caracas Dispatch?
So true Seth. Its blah..blah..blah. They heard from a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend. And each one added deeper BS to it.
Seth wrote:
Reading some of these lefties' thread-starting pos... (
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You're 100% right. One difference....the campfire stories are a heck of a lot better.
Seth wrote:
Reading some of these lefties' thread-starting pos... (
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Hohoho...in keeping with the season. The lame duck legislature of Wisconsin ruled by the GOP is on record and verifiably dismantling the people's will and democratic process. Prove otherwise.
kankune wrote:
You're 100% right. One difference....the campfire stories are a heck of a lot better.
He is 100% wrong and nothing you say can change that fact.
rumitoid wrote:
Hohoho...in keeping with the season. The lame duck legislature of Wisconsin ruled by the GOP is on record and verifiably dismantling the people's will and democratic process. Prove otherwise.
For you, Rumitoid, the "people's will" is whatever a minority composed of leftists say it is.
Just like the government you envision would probably call America "The People's Republic" while running the country KGB style.
rumitoid wrote:
He is 100% wrong and nothing you say can change that fact.
Fact is Rumi..I can SAY anything I want and YOU can't change it. Get over it!
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