Too Far

Earlier today Wisconsin Senate Republicans passed a resolution that gave the 14 Democratic senators who fled the state an ultimatum: return to the senate floor by 4:00 pm today or they would be held in contempt. This ultimatum gave the Sergeant at Arms the authority to "take any and all necessary steps, with or without force” in order to bring the Democratic senators back to Wisconsin so the senate would have quorum and the Republicans could pass their union-busting legislation.

This time the Republicans have gone way too far. According to the state Constitution, lawmakers are prohibited from being arrested while the legislature is in session, except for “treason, felony and breach of the peace.” Fleeing the state in an attempt to negotiate with Republican leaders and to avoid passing legislation that would drastically hurt thousands of workers does not constitute treason, a felony, or a breach of the peace. The Republicans have simply ignored their state’s Constitution and have clearly over-reached their authority in passing this resolution.