MADISON, Wis. (AP) – One of the 14 Wisconsin Democrats who fled the state to block a vote is now floating a proposal that would make such a move ineffective in the future.
Sen. Tim Cullen of Janesville has drafted a constitutional amendment removing the requirement that 20 senators need to be present in order to vote on any budget bills that spends money. That requirement allowed the absence of the Democrats to stop the 19 remaining Republicans from acting on an emergency budget bill proposed by Gov. Scott Walker.
Republicans eventually removed the spending items and passed the bill without the Democrats last week.
Cullen’s proposal would have to be approved in two consecutive legislative sessions and voters in a statewide referendum.
He did not immediately return messages for comment.
