Conservatively Speaking
State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) represents parts of four counties: Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, and Walworth. Her Senate District 28 includes New Berlin, Franklin, Greendale, Hales Corners, Muskego, Waterford, Big Bend and parts of Greenfield, East Troy, and Mukwonago. Senator Lazich has been in the Legislature for more than a decade. She considers herself a tireless crusader for lower taxes, reduced spending and smaller government.
Senate Republicans move to kill sick leave
By Mary Lazich
Tuesday, Apr 17 2007, 02:21 PM
Senate Republicans were united today in a move to bring a bill to the Senate floor to end the ability of elected officials to increase their retirement benefits with unused sick leave.
A bill to end the sick leave benefit has passed in the Assembly, 66-29, but Senate Democrat leaders have refused to schedule the bill for a vote in the Senate.
Today, Senate Republicans moved to bring the bill up for debate and a floor vote. They noted the public is rightfully fed up knowing elected officials have a benefit the private sector doesn’t enjoy. Republicans argued that legislators need to serve the people they represent first, and not themselves.
Democrats immediately objected. Senate Democrat leader Judy Robson said if Republicans didn’t like the sick leave benefit, they didn’t have to take it.
The debate got very personal when Democrat Senator Bob Jauch went after Republican Senator Alberta Darling. Darling made the motion to bring up the sick leave bill. Senate rules prohibit Senators from personally attacking each other.
In the middle of debate, Robson stood and motioned for an adjournment of the floor session. Senate President Fred Risser quickly banged his gavel over Senate Republican shouts of objection. The rarely used move of the quick gavel prevented further discussion and a vote on a bill that passed overwhelmingly in the state Assembly and has tremendous public support.
Senate Republicans understand the sick leave benefit needs to officially be eliminated. It’s unconscionable that taxpayer-funded elected officials possess a benefit that most taxpayers could never obtain. Senate Democrats, on the other hand, seem poised to selfishly play parliamentary games and use stall tactics to keep the sick leave benefit intact.
