# Question about the fleeing Wisconsin Democrats **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840 "2011-02-18T19:21:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2011, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/21 "2011-02-20T20:20:29Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > If he’d be gone in a week, how did he get elected in the first place? > > Would only union workers be allowed to vote? I was up on The Square, and thought “Didn’t any of these people vote?” But soon learned that there are a lot of Republicans upset at the shadiness of what Walker did. I’ve seen a lot of signs like “I voted republican and all I got was this shitty governor”. Walker smartly avoided any specifics of what he would do once elected. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/22 "2011-02-21T05:52:17Z")
> [@LouisB](#): > > IIRC, when Texas Dems went to Oklahoma to avoid a redistricting scheme, someone (Tom Delay?) obtained the registration number of a charter airplane some of the Dems used and tried to involve the FAA in running them down; I don’t remember all the details. The long and short of it was the redistricting scheme was pushed through… Yes, but DeLay ended up being admonished for it by the House Ethics Committee, FWIW: [http://www.texasalmanac.com/politics/politics.html](http://www.texasalmanac.com/politics/politics.html) Gov. Oliver Morton of Indiana, a strongly pro-Union ally of President Lincoln, quietly had Republican legislators absent themselves from the capital during the Civil War to deny antiwar Democrats a quorum, and then ruled as a virtual dictator: [Oliver P. Morton - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Morton#Conflict_with_the_General_Assembly) ---
**Author:** ![Smitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@Smitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smitty)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/23 "2011-02-21T21:58:16Z")
Is there anything in the law that says these legislators can be removed from office if they don’t show up? Not knowing Wisconsin state law, but I assume the legislature can remove a member by vote; but without a quorum, there can be no vote. Just wondering if there are any moves the Governor can make. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/24 "2011-02-21T22:13:35Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > If he’d be gone in a week, how did he get elected in the first place? > > Would only union workers be allowed to vote? While I’ll admit to not have seen any of the Governor’s campaign advertising materials, I’m guessing that “I plan to bust public unions” was a stealth plank of his campaign and wasn’t something he mentioned in any stump speeches. If I’m wrong about that, please let me know. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/25 "2011-02-21T22:15:15Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > … > Gov. Oliver Morton of Indiana, a strongly pro-Union ally of President Lincoln, quietly had Republican legislators absent themselves from the capital during the Civil War to deny antiwar Democrats a quorum, and then ruled as a virtual dictator: [Oliver P. Morton - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Morton#Conflict_with_the_General_Assembly) Interestingly, it turns out that Lincoln himself organized use of a walkout in the Illinois house in 1839: [http://ncsl.typepad.com/the\_thicket/2011/02/legislative-walkouts-are-nothing-new.html](http://ncsl.typepad.com/the_thicket/2011/02/legislative-walkouts-are-nothing-new.html) It didn’t seem to hurt his subsequent political career. That article lists several more modern instances, including the 2003 Democrat walkout over redistricting in Texas. In 1994, the California Republicans tried it when the assembly was evenly split, and they wanted to prevent Willie Brown becoming speaker. It’s not an unknown tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/26 "2011-02-23T18:44:18Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > While I’ll admit to not have seen any of the Governor’s campaign advertising materials, I’m guessing that “I plan to bust public unions” was a stealth plank of his campaign and wasn’t something he mentioned in any stump speeches. If I’m wrong about that, please let me know. I’m a building steward in AFT-Wisconsin, Local 3605. We were GOBSMACKED. :: don’t get me started :: ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/27 "2011-02-23T19:45:14Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > While I’ll admit to not have seen any of the Governor’s campaign advertising materials, I’m guessing that “I plan to bust public unions” was a stealth plank of his campaign and wasn’t something he mentioned in any stump speeches. If I’m wrong about that, please let me know. It’s not exactly responsive to your post, but here’s a Washington Post [article](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/19/AR2011021904205.html) suggesting that Walker has a history of confrontation with unions. > [@yabob](#): > > Interestingly, it turns out that Lincoln himself organized use of a walkout in the Illinois house in 1839: > > [http://ncsl.typepad.com/the\_thicket/2011/02/legislative-walkouts-are-nothing-new.html](http://ncsl.typepad.com/the_thicket/2011/02/legislative-walkouts-are-nothing-new.html) > > It didn’t seem to hurt his subsequent political career. That article lists several more modern instances, including the 2003 Democrat walkout over redistricting in Texas. In 1994, the California Republicans tried it when the assembly was evenly split, and they wanted to prevent Willie Brown becoming speaker. It’s not an unknown tactic. It’s basically an elaborate filibuster. ---
**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/28 "2011-02-23T22:03:42Z")
The governor is safe for a year from recall. Most of the fugitive senators aren’t. They only need to replace one of them with a Republican to be able to go ahead with the majority wants. I am sure most of the crowd did vote at least once. They still lost. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/29 "2011-02-23T22:26:51Z")
Allo of those House Democrats won their elections too. They are now doing what they were elected to do. Elections have consequences. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/30 "2011-02-23T23:54:04Z")
I have a question. Could the Republicans “trick” the Democrats by telling them “you win” and we’ve decided to abandon the controversial vote. Please come back to work now that you’ve won so we can move on to other business. But when the Democrats come back, they could simply renege once quorum was met. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2011, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/31 "2011-02-23T23:54:17Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Allo of those House Democrats won their elections too. They are now doing what they were elected to do. Elections have consequences. They were elected to run away? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/32 "2011-02-24T00:45:03Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > They were elected to run away? As Colbert said last night, “Legislators are not allowed to use parliamentary tricks to grind the government to a halt, except on the Federal level.” ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/33 "2011-02-24T00:52:07Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > They were elected to run away? They were elected to represent their constituents to the best of their abilities, which they are now doing. This is a legal political tactic no different in substance than a filibuster. Lincoln himself once used the tactic. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/34 "2011-02-24T02:00:01Z")
> [@The\_Controvert](#): > > I have a question. Could the Republicans “trick” the Democrats by telling them “you win” and we’ve decided to abandon the controversial vote. Please come back to work now that you’ve won so we can move on to other business. > > But when the Democrats come back, they could simply renege once quorum was met. In fact, that’s pretty close to the plan that Gov. Walker [said](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/23/wisconsin-democrat-walker-master-plan_n_827367.html) to a reporter pretending to be David Koch, except instead of telling them, “you win” he’d tell them, “let’s talk”. Then, once a recess was called, the 19 Republicans would declare that the Democrats’ presence earlier constituted a quorum, and they’d then pass the bill. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/35 "2011-02-24T03:26:57Z")
This battle is being waged in more than one state: [Republicans challenging unions in state capitols - cleveland.com](http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/02/republicans_challenging_unions.html#incart_mce) ---
**Author:** ![3waygeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e95f7d/32.png) [@3waygeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3waygeek)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2011, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/36 "2011-02-24T14:31:41Z")
Note that even if the Wisconsin Democratic Senators were in-state, it may violate the state constitution to force them back into session, as the [Wisconsin state constitution prohibits legislators from being arrested](http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_228dd3c0-3e28-11e0-8296-001cc4c03286.html) while the legislature is in session. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2011, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840/37 "2011-02-26T04:05:09Z")
Advice for legislators on the lam: [http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/25/lawmaker-recommends-all-work-no-play-strategy-for-wis-senators-who-fled-state/?hpt=C2](http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/25/lawmaker-recommends-all-work-no-play-strategy-for-wis-senators-who-fled-state/?hpt=C2) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-the-fleeing-wisconsin-democrats/571840.md?page=1)