Labor

Wisconsin Protests: Moderate Republicans Working on Compromise

Have fled to IL to delay vote.

Democrats in Wisconsin have vowed to stay away from the capital for as long as necessary in order to block Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to gut public employee’s collective-bargaining rights. So the question arises: Is compromise possible? A group of moderate Republicans are issuing a proposal to suspend those collective-bargaining rights but then reinstate them in 2013. Still, Democrats want an elimination of collective-bargaining rights ruled out altogether. “Collective bargaining isn't a fiscal issue," said one Democratic senator. "If it's OK to collectively bargain in 2013 why isn't it OK today?" Three Republicans will need to defect from Walker’s proposal in order to kill it.