Republican senators unanimously approved a resolution Thursday calling for the forced return to the Capitol of the 14 Senate Democrats who fled the state more than two weeks ago to avoid a vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill.

Andrew Welhouse, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the Senate is “compelling the Democrats’ attendance,” and because they did not return by a 4 p.m. deadline Thursday, they will be held in contempt of the Senate.

The resolution contains a provision for all law enforcement throughout the state who have the practical ability to compel the Democrats back to the Capitol to do so, Welhouse said.

“It’s not exactly arresting them, but we do have the ability to compel them to come back and actually do their job,” Welhouse said. “The authority we are going on is the Wisconsin state Constitution’s Article four, section 7 – that’s the constitutionality of it, it’s specifically stated.”

Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said the Republicans’ latest attempt to draw the Democrats back to Madison has had no impact on them, adding the Republicans have overreached their bounds.

Risser said the Democrats are not affected by the threat to be held in contempt because the resolution is not actually a law.

“We pass hundreds of resolutions every session – that resolution is just that, it is not a law,” Risser said. “Anyone with any knowledge of civics knows that a resolution has to pass both houses to become a bill.”

Risser said he did not believe law enforcement officers would spend much time “running around” enforcing the resolution. He said the Democrats would return to the Capitol together when they feel it is the appropriate time.

Walker said he has not formally approved the resolution and hopes he can convince the Democrats to return to the Capitol without being forced or using legal means. Walker said he has opened dialogue with a number of Democratic senators and representatives about different negotiations and options.

“I personally am going to continue to push through my administration for a way that allows these senators to come back that involves making an offer and hoping they will take us up on it,” Walker said. “We are reaching out to some of the reasonable and responsible senators in hope they might find that opportunity to find their way home. We’re trying to have a good discussion, and we’re trying to have an honest debate about how to bring them home.”