Scott Walker has a new bargaining tool: pink slips.
The Wisconsin Republican said he'd issue 1,500 layoff notices to state employees Friday if at least one Democrat doesn't show up to give the GOP majority the quorum it needs to vote on the budget.
The ultimatum comes after weeks of protests against the anti-union bill and a boycott by minority Democrats, who have fled over the border to Illinois to thwart action on the legislation.
On Thursday the GOP-dominated state Senate ordered the arrest of the 14 Democrats, but it's unclear if the detention would be constitutional, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
If passed, the legislation would essentially end collective bargaining privileges for most public employee unions.
Battles over union benefits and bargaining rights are gripping many Rust Belt states, with Republicans in Indiana and Michigan also pushing to roll back long-held rights of government worker unions.
The GOP in Wisconsin argues the proposal contains a number of provisions to plug a $137 million deficit, while Democrats and unions see the legislation as an attack on worker's rights and an attempt to weaken union support for Democrats.
Supporters of Wisconsin public employees rally at the United Steelworkers Workers headquarters in downtown Pittsburgh Thursday. (Puskar/AP)
"The state's broke," Walker said Friday. "Local governments are broke. They don't have anything to offer."
On Thursday, protesters who had been staying 24/7 in the state capitol building peacefully left after a judge ordered them to leave.
But more drama ensued when Democratic Rep. Nick Milory – who has been holding office hours outside -- was tackled by police while trying to enter the building to get to his office after the building was closed to the public. It was caught on video.
Milroy said he was not harmed but was concerned the governor has created and "armed-palace environment. He insisted law enforcement was just "following the orders of Gov. Walker."
ashahid@nydailynews.com
With News Wire Services
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