Source: https://thepoliticalenvironment.blogspot.com/2011/03/madison-attorneys-allege-illegal.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 00:36:22+00:00

Document:
Madison attorneys Lester Pines and Susan Crawford are circulating a memo cataloguing Constitutional, statutory and rule violations committed by Republican legislative leaders since Senate Democrats left the state to prevent a vote on Gov. Walker's budget-repair bill.
The Wisconsin Constitution absolutely prohibits members of the Wisconsin Senate from being arrested for a non-criminal offense. The failure or refusal of a senator to attend a session of the senate is not a crime. Nor is it in contempt of the Senate. Moreover, the Senate’s authority to cite any individual for contempt is limited to those offenses listed in Wis. Stat. §13.26(1), none of which have been committed by any of the absent senators. The Wisconsin Senate’s action today in citing fourteen of its members for contempt for their refusal to attend the Senate’s sessions and to issue warrants for their arrest has no basis in the law of this state.
Wis. Const. Art. IV, §15.
Thus, while the Wisconsin Constitution authorizes each house to penalize its members in order to compel their attendance, this power must give way to the constitutional protection bestowed on each member privileging them from arrest or civil process.
This privilege protects members of the legislature from arrest or civil process, except in criminal cases. State v. Burke, 258 Wis.2d 832, 653 N.W.2d 922 (Ct. App. 2002).
None of the fourteen absent senators has been charged with a crime. Nor has any crime occurred. The Wisconsin Senate has absolutely no authority to order any of its members arrested or taken into custody in order to compel their attendance.
(a) Arresting a member or officer of the house, or procuring such member or officer to be arrested in violation of the member’s privilege from arrest.
(b) Disorderly conduct in the immediate view of either house or of any committee thereof and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings.
(c) Refusing to attend or be examined as a witness, either before the house or a committee, or before any person authorized to take testimony in legislative proceedings, or to produce any books, records, documents, papers or keys according to the exigency of any subpoena.
(d) Giving or offering a bribe to a member, or attempting by menace or other corrupt means or device to control or influence a member’s vote or to prevent the member from voting.
(2) The term of imprisonment a house may impose under this section shall not extend beyond the same session of the legislature.
Wis. Stat. §13.26 (1) (emphasis added).
None of those offenses has been committed by any of the absent senators. In fact, were one of the absent senators to be arrested on a warrant issued by Senator Fitzgerald, that action would violate Wis. Stat. §13.26(a) and subject him to being held in contempt of the Senate.
Notably, §13.26 authorizes the order of contempt and imprisonment only of third parties. It does not authorized such an order against members of the legislature It is consistent with, and implicitly acknowledges, the privilege from arrest bestowed on members of the legislature by the Wisconsin Constitution.
The Senate Rules proscribe the lawful procedure by which members may be compelled to be present. Senate Rule 8 authorizes the Sergeant at Arms to “proceed to find and bring in such absentees” upon the Senate’s call to the house. Neither the Senate Rules, the Wisconsin Constitution, nor the Wisconsin Statutes authorize the sergeant at arms to direct law enforcement to arrest a member, under threat or show of force, to compel the attendance of the member.
While the Senate may lawfully impose penalties on its absent members, and may direct the Sergeant at Arms to proceed to find and bring in such members, the Senate has no authority to issue a warrant for the arrest of its members.
Imagine that these legislators will gladly accept the salary checks for the work they fled Wisconsin to avoid doing. That's simple fraud -- and it carries a statutory penalty.
Friend - - they are still working, just as they work from home when they are not at the Capitol. There is no law requiring their presence there. There are no hours, no clock to punch. Often the legislature is not in session and they get paid.
Yes, I agree with James. These legislators actaully are doing their work. They were given no other option, as there was no option for debate or input for constituents. The rush to have a vote less than a week from it's presentation on vastly sweeping changes that would give the Governor unprecedented unilateral powers was a farce and a despicable act.
Thanks for this great analysis. I will share it as widely as I can. My senator is one of the "absent" ones and from my experience I can tell you that he and his staff are working harder than they ever have, and making more personal sacrifices, to represent their constituents during this unprecedented Republican power grab.
If you consider your "constituents" to only be public sector union workers.
Their private sector taxpayers can go eff themselves apparently.
Collective Bargaining is basically sitting down together and coming to an agreement that both parties can agree to. That is what Protestors from all over Wisconsin and our Nation are fighting for Union-wise. Unions and the citizens who work for us, have already agreed to all the hard-hitting financial cuts. They are fighting for collective bargaining. Those selfish greedy wisconsin unions also have a lot to do with the origin of worker's comp, the 40 hour work week and more. Unions fought to create child labor laws. It is not only Union workers who benefit from these. Unions need always to change and grow with the times, and I believe there are special considerations when people are working for their fellow citizens and not for a profit making business.
Well, I can see why you are anonymous. Too chicken to stand behind your own name.
I am a private sector worker and I stand behind the brave Union workers ad public workers who have actually read this bill. I would be a years salary, Mr. Anonymous that you haven't even read the bill.
"Imagine that these legislators will gladly accept the salary checks for the work they fled Wisconsin to avoid doing. That's simple fraud -- and it carries a statutory penalty."
They are actually doing the work I voted for them to do: protecting my rights as both a Wisconsin & United States citizen. Personally I don't care where they work from, just as long as they support the will of the people! I support the Fab 14 and their stand against Governor Walker's unfair politics.
Anonymous, those Democratic senators were elected by Democratic majorities in their districts... they are representing their constituents.
But I noticed you ducked every last syllable of the legal opinion citing chapter and verse of the statutes. Maybe you don't think the laws of Wisconsin apply to Republicans?
Besides, *you* actually support these brave Democrats too ...they're doing it to fight for YOUR right to bargain for fair wages. Maybe you don't think you deserve to be treated well in a job? That's okay, we all think you do.
"If you consider your "constituents" to only be public sector union workers. Their private sector taxpayers can go eff themselves apparently."
Walker only considers campaign contributors and yes men as his constituents. Thank goodness there are 14 brave Democrats willing to stand up the illegal strongarm tactics Walker and the Fitzgeralds are using. Unless you are mega-rich, those 14 Democrats are protecting your rights and quality of life, too...you are evidently just too deluded to realize our Governor, his cronies and those pulling their puppet strings don't have your interests in mind...at all.

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