Governor of Wisconsin Planning on 1,500 Layoffs Effective April 4th Unless Democrats Return

Scott Walker, Governor of Wisconsin, told state employee unions last Friday that he plans on giving 1,500 workers layoff notices which would go into effect on April 4^th unless the state’s 14 Democratic senators return to vote on the state’s budget repair bill.

The Democratic senators fled to Illinois to try and prevent a quorum for the vote on the budget repair bill.  Walker feels that the bill is necessary in order to get the state’s finances in order.

The layoffs would save money for the state, although the budget bill originally planned was supposed to force employees to pay more for their benefits instead of laying off so many.  Walker also said in a statement that he could rescind the layoffs if the budget repair bill was passed before the layoffs become effective in 31 days.

This is all part of an effort by the governor to get the 14 absent Democratic senators back to the state to vote on the proposed state budget repair bill.  Whether it works or not is still something that remains to be seen.