About This Map

This map shows the Wisconsin Assembly vote on the 2011 "Budget Repair Bill" (January 2011 Special Session: AB-11). The Senate approved this bill on March 9, 2011, with no Democrats present or voting. Hover your cursor over the map to see details for each district. See Instructions.

Context

Republican Governor Scott Walker introduced AB-11 in February 2011. Popularly known as the the "Budget Repair Bill," AB-11 was officially An Act relating to: state finances, collective bargaining for public employees, compensation and fringe benefits of public employees, the state civil service system, the Medical Assistance program. Criticism of the bill's restrictions on collective bargaining led it to generate more controversy than any other state legislation in recent memory.

The Wisconsin Senate originally planned to vote on the "Budget Repair Bill" on February 18, 2011. Protesters engulfed the state capitol to oppose its passage, however, and public opposition inspired all 14 Democrats in the senate to abruptly leave the state shortly before the scheduled vote.

The departure of the Democrats forestalled passage of the bill by depriving the senate of a quorum. The Wisconsin Constitution requires 3/5 of legislators to be present for any vote on a bill that "imposes, continues or renews a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or renews an appropriation of public or trust money, or releases, discharges or commutes a claim or demand of the state."

Republican senators overcame the absence of the Democrats on March 9, 2011, by approving a conference committee report that stripped all appropriations language from the legislation. Republicans contend that the revised "Budget Repair Bill" did not meet the constitution's definition of fiscal legislation, allowing a vote to be held with a smaller quorum. The vote passed 18-1, with no Democrats voting. Opponents are contesting the legality of the senate vote in court.

Following the Senate's vote, AB-11 was approved by the Assembly on March 10, 2011 and signed by Gov. Walker on March 11, 2011.

See the Full History of AB-11 at the Wisconsin Legislature website.

Wisconsin Senate Vote on AB-11 (January 2011 Special Session)