Café Society will meet at the Cultural Center on Wednesday, March 16

Dan S. Wang, a writer, artist, activist and resident of Madison, Wisconsin, will help kick off our conversation. He also teaches and works in Chicago. Dan blogs at “proposition press.”

From “Budget repair bill passes Senate, Thursday vote set in Assembly” by Mary Spicuzza and Clay Barbour

“In a surprise move late Wednesday, Senate Republicans used a series of parliamentary maneuvers to overcome a three-week stalemate with Democrats and pass an amended version of the governor’s controversial budget repair bill. With a crowd of protesters chanting outside their chambers, Senators approved Gov. Scott Walker’s bill, which would strip most collective bargaining rights from public employees.”

Questions for Consideration

What do you think about the actions of Wisconsin’s state legislature? What are the legal/political implications of the procedural maneuver to end the struggle? Was it necessary? What is the impact of the ongoing mass demonstrations at the Capitol building? What would economic justice look like for working people in Wisconsin and across America? What steps can we take to alleviate the budget crises we are experiencing in our states?

Want to learn more?

• Why I’m Fighting in Wisconsin
• Anti-Public Employee Bill Passes Senate in Wisconsin; Only the Beginning of the Fight
• GOP Ends Union Stalemate
• Wisconsin Capitol Re-Occupied After Republicans Illegally Pass Anti-Union Bill
• Did Walker Win?
• Walker says Republicans needed to move in a different direction
• After GOP’s Union-Stripping, Unions Launch Morning Protests Across Wisconsin. Strikes Next?
• The conservatives go on offense