US News

Wisconsin Democrats prepare to return

MADISON, Wis. — The leader of the 14 Wisconsin Senate Democrats who left the state last month to block legislation that would curb public-employee union rights said yesterday the senators plan to return “in the relatively near future.”

Democratic Sen. Mark Miller said his colleagues intend to let the full Senate vote and potentially pass Gov. Scott Walker’s “budget-repair” bill, which would limit public unions’ collective-bargaining rights, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The Democrats, who fled to Illinois on Feb. 17, believe that the measure lacks voter support and that passage could hurt Republicans politically, Miller said.

“We are now looking at returning to the state Capitol and requiring the senators to take a vote and have them declare who they’re with — the workers or the governor,” Miller said.

He said he thinks recent polls have been “disastrous” for Walker and give Democrats more leverage.