Pressure Increasing For Missing Senate Democrats
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Staff members of the 14 Wisconsin Senate Democrats who skipped town 11 days ago rather than vote on an anti-union bill will now have to get their pay authorized by the Republican leader.
Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Monday that he would take over the duties of reviewing and approving Democratic staff members' timesheets.
The Senate's organizational committee run by Republicans approved the change giving Fitzgerald the authority rather than the Democratic senators.
Fitzgerald is also not allowing Democratic lawmakers or their staff members to use Capitol copiers, saying there has been some "highly unusual usage" of the machines in recent days.
Fitzgerald is also no longer allowing senators' paychecks to be directly deposited. Instead, they are being held at the Capitol.
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