By: Associated Press//March 9, 2011//
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Two Democratic state senators say they think Republicans plan to pass parts of Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal that take away collective bargaining rights from public workers without them.
Senate Republican leaders weren’t saying why they hastily created a conference committee that’s meeting Wednesday night.
All 14 Senate Democrats left the state to prevent quorum on the bill. It takes at least 20 senators to take up any budget bill.
But not all parts of the proposal are budget-related.
Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch said he thinks Republicans plan to “ram through” parts of the bill that take away collective bargaining rights but that don’t cost any money. Sen. Jon Erpenbach said he thinks they will do anything they can to bust up public unions with or without Democrats there.