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Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:35 PM EST
Andy Manis/AP
Protesters pack out the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin on Thursday, demonstrating against Gov. Scott Walker's bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for state workers.
Ferris Bueller would be proud. Not only did 14 Democratic lawmakers boycott a vote on thecontroversial anti-union bill, they straight-up left the state!
It’s like skipping class on test-day. Sen. Jon Erpenbach says the group did it to force negotiations over the Republican-backed bill, which would strip most public employees of their collective-bargaining rights. They want to slow down the bill because it's "tearing the state apart."
Erpenbach wouldn’t say where they all went. Personally, my guess is they left Madison for nearby outlet mecca frequented by many Midwesterners, Gurnee Mills. Then again, where does a Senator go when they ditch?
Senate Republicans can't vote on the bill unless at least one Democrat is present. Police could be dispatched to find them, but it's unclear if they would have the authority to cross state lines.
Senate Democrats score one point for creativity.
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