(The following appeared on the CNN website on March 4, 2011.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gov. Scott Walker warned Wisconsin could take steps Friday to lay off 14 absent lawmakers return to the state Capitol.
The legislators left Wisconsin to protest a proposal that would restrict the collective-bargaining rights of many public employees. Walker has said the measure is needed to get the state’s financial house in order.
The lawmakers fled to Illinois to prevent a quorum for voting on the state’s budget repair bill, which would limit collective bargaining to wages and require public workers, with the exception of police and firefighters, to cover more of their retirement plans and health care premiums.
The full story appears at www.cnn.com.