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      MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Thousands of Wisconsin state workers were
bracing for layoff notices Friday as Republican Gov. Scott Walker
and absent Democrats remained in a standoff over a budget balancing
bill that would also strip public workers of their collective
bargaining rights.


      Walker said he would issue 1,500 layoff notices Friday if at
least one of the 14 Senate Democrats doesn't return from Illinois
to give the Republican majority the quorum it needs to vote. Senate
Republicans voted Thursday to hold the missing Democrats in
contempt and force police to bring them back to the Capitol.


      The legislation has led to nearly three weeks of protests - some
attended by tens of thousands of union supporters - in and around
the state Capitol, which was completely cleared of demonstrators
late Thursday for the first time in 17 nights after a judge ordered
the building closed during non-business hours.


      The final 50 or so protesters left peacefully about two hours
after the judge's order, which also said the state
unconstitutionally limited access to the building since Monday and
ordered the state to grant greater access to the public by next
Monday.


      "We decided it would be best for our image to leave tonight
peacefully and come back tomorrow," said Matt Rowe, 21, of
Madison, carrying an armful of blankets after he left the building.


      The protesters' dramatic departure capped a day full of
developments, including Walker's threat of massive layoffs he said
would be needed to make up for savings not being realized in the
stalled bill.


      Walker says the bill is needed to ease a deficit that is
projected to hit $137 million by July and $3.6 billion by mid-2013.
His proposal comes up with the money for this year in part by
forcing state employees to pay for half the cost of their pensions
and twice their current health care premiums - concessions
equivalent to an 8 percent pay cut.

      With the labor bill stalled, Walker said he has to issue layoff
notices starting Friday so the state can start to realize the $30
million savings he had assumed would come from the concessions. The
layoffs wouldn't be effective for 31 days, and Walker said he could rescind them if the bill passed in the meantime.


      All state workers, except those at prisons, state hospitals and
other facilities open around the clock, would be potential layoff
targets, he said.


      "I pushed it off as long as I could because I do not want to
have layoffs," Walker said.


      While Walker said he is actively working with some of the
Democrats in hopes of striking a deal, he told The Associated Press
in an interview Thursday that he won't compromise on the collective
bargaining issue or anything that saves the state money.


      "I can't take any of that off the table," he said. "We cannot
tear apart this budget. We cannot put this burden on local
governments. But if there are other ways they are willing to work
with us to find a pathway back, I think that's what people want."


      Democratic Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller confirmed there
were talks with Walker, but he did not think they were close to
reaching a deal.


      The statewide teachers union and state workers unions have said
they would agree to the benefit concessions - as long as they
retain collective bargaining rights.


      But Walker argues that move is necessary to deal with $1 billion
in cuts to school districts and local governments that he proposed
separately as part of his budget plan for the next two years. He
says schools and local governments would have a tough time making
the necessary cuts if they have to negotiate with unions.


      The Republican leader of the state Senate signed orders Thursday
finding the 14 missing Democrats in contempt and allowing the
chamber's sergeant at arms to use police force to detain them if
necessary. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says his orders
are binding only if the senators return to Wisconsin.


      Sen. Chris Larson said they hadn't done anything illegal and
couldn't be arrested.


      "There are so many police supporting us, they might have a hard
time finding one to bring us back," said Miller, one of the AWOL
Democrats.


      The Wisconsin Professional Police Association, a union
representing 11,000 law enforcement officials from across the
state, released a statement from its director, Jim Palmer, slamming
the resolution to go after the Democrats.


      "The thought of using law enforcement officers to exercise
force in order to achieve a political objective is insanely wrong
and Wisconsin sorely needs reasonable solutions and not potentially
dangerous political theatrics," Palmer said.


      A memo provided by private attorney Jim Troupis, who was hired
by the Senate Republicans and often works with the GOP, said the
state Constitution gives them authority to act to compel attendance
under its rules.


      Once the senators do return, Fitzgerald said they could face
reprimand, censure or even expulsion.


      Associated Press writer Todd Richmond contributed to this story.
      
      
      

Gallery

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Wis. Dems threatened with police action, layoffs

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Wis. Senate may order police to bring back Dems

Business and Economic News

Politics and Government News

Thousands of Wisconsin state workers were
bracing for layoff notices Friday as Republican Gov. Scott Walker
and absent Democrats remained in a standoff over a budget balancing
bill that would also strip public workers of their collective
bargaining rights.

Wis. governor warns of layoffs, talks to Democrats

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