Politics & Government

Grothman Says There's 25% Chance Democrats will Respond to Contempt Warning

Republican lawmaker said move was necessary to help the Senate function as it should.

Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, said a move by state Republicans to order Senate Democrats to return to the state Capitol by 4 p.m. Thursday or be found in contempt was one that had to be made.

“I think we’ve got a situation here in which the Senate is not able to operate in a way in which it should,” he said in an interview Thursday.

If the Senators don't come back, they could be taken into custody. But will the order change anything in Democrats' minds?

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Grothman said he thinks there is about a "one-quarter chance" that the threat will motivate the legislators' return.

Senate Democrats have held up action on Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bils since fleeing to Illinois almost two weeks ago to protest what they see as an assault on public workers' rights.

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People have also been gathering at the Capitol to , which calls for most public employees to pay higher costs for health care and to contribute more to their pensions. It also eliminates most collective bargaining rights.

Grothman, whose district includes Port Washington and Saukville, was the center of a lot of attention on Tuesday, the day Walker announced details of his budget bill. Protestors of the bill crowded the State Capitol, shouting "shame" and other words while Grothman made his way into the Capitol building.

"(That was) what I think is the most unruly group and disrespectful group of people … I’ve yet to see in my life," he said. "There was jostling and it was truly a scary experience."

The experience shook up his staff, as well, he said, and many of them were dressing down so as not to be recognized on their way in to the office.

Despite the 17 days of protest in the Capitol, Grothman said he believes the vast majority of Wisconsin residents are backing the Republicans and the bill.

"Obviously, the type of people who support the governor are not the type of people who chant and carry signs; (those are) the type of people who oppose the governor," he said, adding that the protesting has been relatively disruptive in Madison.

"Most people who call me support me," he said. "I mean if you walk around Saukville — most of those people support me."


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