The way the Senate Democrats tell the story, they're heroes. They're appropriately pulling a Lincoln-esque move by fleeing to the Land of Lincoln. But I find that version hard to swallow.
I agree with the Senate Dems' opposition to the bill —stripping away state workers' collective bargaining rights is too extreme, especially considering the fact that unions have agreed to accept Walker's proposed benefit cuts. But in using a technicality to prevent a vote indefinitely, the Senate Democrats are circumventing our established government process, and that shouldn't sit well with any Wisconsin citizen, be they in favor of the bill or against it.
The sad fact is that November's elections placed Republicans in power. Protesters have done an admirable job trying to sway Gov. Walker to their side. But when the time comes for a vote, even a rushed vote, senators need to take their licks and accept the results of the democratic process. Breaking quorum is not a tool of the democratic process—if it were, the Capitol's Sergeant of Arms and Wisconsin State Troopers would not have the authority to forcibly bring them back to the Capitol within state lines.
This is a poor man's version of a filibuster, which, despite how much Jefferson Smith may differ, is not a fabulous display of democracy. It is a sham when Republicans do it to block health care legislation, and it is a sham when Democrats use it as well. To view one as vile and one as heroic, as many supporters of the senators do, is blatantly hypocritical.
The editorial board describes the senators' escape as ""admirable,"" but it never was. It was wrong and foolish. Walker holds too many cards to give in at this point. Senate Dems will not be able to out-stubborn him. Any sunset clause inserted into the bill can easily be wiped away by Walker's line-item veto power. Not to mention any Democratic state senator will face cries of ""coward"" and ""runaway"" when it comes time for re-election. All the Senate Dems have done is sink themselves to Walker's level of political engagement for nothing, as he can easily call their bluff.
But the editorial board is right about one thing: The Senate Democrats should return to the state as soon as possible. Their constituents need representation—and their reputations need some salvaging.
