Senate President Mike Ellis says the Republicans have the votes to pass Walker's budget repair bill:
Senate President Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, told The Associated Press that there are the 17 votes needed in the 19-member Republican caucus to pass Walker's proposal. Democrats are powerless to stop it in either the Senate or Assembly.
Interesting that it was Ellis, and not Fitzgerald, who the State Journal sought for the quote. The position of Senate President carries no real power within the caucus -- it is the Senate majority leader who is supposed to keep his party in line. The Journal Sentinel got Fitzgerald's office to predict victory as well, however. Ironically, however, both Ellis and Fitzgerald have been targeted as possible votes against the governor's legislation.
Regardless, the 17 votes Ellis says the party has means union protestors have one mission today: To scare one Republican senator into voting against the bill. One vote is all they need. And there are clearly a few Republicans who are scared of the ramifications of this legislation. Something is wrong when only Glenn Grothman is willing to boast to the press about a bill.
Anybody willing to guess who the two Republicans to vote against the bill are?
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