UPDATES- Dems believe WI GOP vote was illegal

As Paddy posted earlier, Wisconsin GOP passed their budget bill without the Democrats present. The 14 Democrats are still out of state.

Democrats are saying they believe under Rule 3 under legislature the GOP vote was illegal. They are saying they’ll have a media event within the hour.

There’s always the possibility of a general strike, says Ed Schultz on MSNBC as we speak.

UPDATE:

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, denounced tonight’s actions as illegal and said he planned to contact the attorney general to request an investigation.

“It is a continuation of a pattern of a naked abuse of power,” Barca said.

Via an email I just got:

Since they included the pay and benefit cuts, isn’t this is a fiscal bill?

SECTION 8.  On the passage in either house of the legislature of any law which imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases, discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state, the question shall be taken by yeas and nays, which shall be duly entered on the journal; and three−fifths of all the members elected to such house shall in all such cases be required to constitute a quorum therein

UPDATE, via MSNBC: Dems know the GOP wanted them to come back, so debated coming back as all this was going on. Some members’ resolve was cracking re: denying the quorum. But they didn’t need the 1 or 2 Dems after all, now did they?

One Dem Senator’s (sorry, missed the name) statement (Slightly paraphrased): In 30 minutes, 18 State Senators undid 50 years of civil rights. .. conspired to take government away from the people. Tomorrow, we will help the people take back their government.

Lawrence O’Donnell: They sound like they know they lost.

Walker applauds move

Rep. Peter Barca said they were completely caught off guard, that this broke the law. “Unless there’s good cause, you need one hour’s notice.” They did not get that. No question that this was a violation of the open meetings law. The fraud on WI was there for everyone to see. This was not a fiscal bill. The fraud has been exposed. It’s now clear to every person in WI how far they will go… I don’t recognize WI any more. This governor has divided this state…”

Barca is saying that he’ll talk to Miller about whether he’ll return tomorrow.

Mason: One remedy is to be forced to take the action again in the light of day.

Here’s a link to the LFB memo on the bill:
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/lfb/2011-13%20Budget/2011_03_09%20Modification%20to%20SS%20SB%2011_AB%2011.pdf

Here’s the roll call.

Via email alert:

UPDATE: Liveblogging Dem Sen. Chris Larson on The Last Word: “If they wanted us back, they could have had us back. We’re getting together to see what legal action can be taken. They’ve been sloppy in their haste trying to get this done. But the story is where the Republicans are…[not with] the people. They’ve proved themselves to be deceptive. Special interests over people. Shutting down public debate, public hearings, the phone lines, the capitol, our offices, and now this. There’s no low they won’t go to to kill workers’ rights. Untrustworthy, can’t keep their word. We asked for negotiations. They used the letter as a prop in a press conference… shows where they are, where they’re at. They’re passing things w/o the public being aware of them. I doubt if many in WI have heard what happened. A lot of people will step out to the streets to recall…“

Via one of my WI contacts:

I’m inside. Came in through a window. Leaks everywhere. Cops trying to keep it tight. I was shoved by one while filming protesters coming through a bathroom window. Chanting “general strike” in rotunda.

Dane101 editor.

Comparison of the LFB memos: a quick summary of the differences between the version approved by the Senate this evening and the bill that came out of the Joint Finance Committee, according to the LFB memos describing each bill.

UPDATE: Via @news3jessica: UPDATE FROM SEN. MILLER’S OFFICE: Senators will not be coming back tonight or tomorrow.

Miller says time for Dems to come home and take fight to ballot box

One day short of the three-week anniversary of their departure, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller said it’s time for Dems to come home and take the fight over collective bargaining rights to the ballot box. [...]

“We’re trying to figure out whether we should change it to Czar Walker. I think that’s the term. The Senate should be called the Evil Empire.“

UPDATE: Watching Rachel Maddow as we speak. Sen. Erpenbach is on with her now. “What they did is violate law. This will probably end up in court…. If we don’t, someone will take [this] to court. As it stands right now, we’re staying out of the state … we don’t trust the GOP, Walker. The entire state of WI is ashamed of them. We won’t go back because of the games they could play. There is unanimity on this, yes.”