The Democratic Senators obviously realize that ultimately they cannot win. They are simply trying to come up with a way that they can put a positive spin on things. No matter when they come back, they simply do not have the votes to keep the Republicans from going ahead with this legislation.

In the end, I think this is going to backfire on the Democrats. They will appear to have done all this for nothing. And, in the end, the Governor will balance the budget and reduce spending - which is what the majority of the voters wanted - he will look like a hero.

Gov.Scott Walker Stand Tall and hold to your policy . The Democrats are only potecting the union Bosses, Why then did they runaway and abandoned the people that they were elected to represent, not every one works for the state . Hold Fast and do not bend.Your still on the Job and the Democrats left their post that they were elected to hold. SHAME on the COWARDS.

They are protecting all workers! They should stay away until the next election if necessary

elections have consequences, reps won dems lost, suck it up and live with it. thats what obama told the reps after 2008 elections. it goes both ways. besides you cant keep paying people when you have no money. it will only make it better for the taxpayers, and thats who walker is working for. unlike the dems who only work for the unions.

I can't beleive that this crap is still going on. The people who ran away should be removed from office. Period. They are not doing anything except f-in' with the way the gov't is supposed to run.

I'm sorry if you are a minority and the vote isn't going to go your way but that doesn't mean you have the right to throw a wriench in the whole process. Majority wins - that is how this country operates - anything else is unfair and smacks of dictatorship...

Boycotting the vote does nothing except show that you are poor losers. Someone needs to teach these twits to learn to lose with grace.

I wonder how many of the 80,000 people who have gather at the rallies are actually from Wis. Anyone can show up, they're not asking for proof of residency to join the rally.

The dems say from the beginning they have been trying to reach out and find some sort of compromise. What I see is they want their way and only their way. Compromise mean working together, not running away.

If there is no money, there is no money. I have to balance my personal budget, I'm glad to see some one in government actually trying to do the same. It's about time.

These Democrat senators cannot possibly be as dumb as they sound. they must be playing some kind of game.

This governor wants to be the next Hilter, and is well on his way. Follow the money

I can only imagine how the mainstream media would be spinning this if it was Republicans that were "hiding" out of state. There would be a public bloodbath castigating them. But, now what we hear is that these cowardly Dem's are supporting their constituents and all that B-S. I keep hearing about that they have the private sector support as well, but I sure haven't met one of them in all the people that I have talked with. Let's call it what it is....a bunch of weak cowards who don't have the guts or business acumen to make the tough decisions, so they try to play the victim card. If it wasn't so disgusting watching these public "servants" refusing to do what they are "overly compensated" for, it would almost be humorious.

I just hope that the courageous govenor of WI holds his ground and that the tax paying public wins a much needed victory in that state. When does this insanity stop and when do we take the Gov't back from these maniacal liberals and mafia style unions who have only one objective....bleed the rest of us of everything that we work for which incl's paying for 100% of our self-funded retirement and a minimum of 25-50% of our own healthcare, and working until age 66+ for our meager SS, which we typically paid for in total. Are they that naive, that stupid, or just that greedy & corrupt??? Let's see the (hopefully) newly unemployed puplic workers compete in the real world. They would be singing a different tune real fast!

Gary -When anyone references Hitler or Nazism in this context any chance of intelligent discourse comes to an end.

 Refusal to negotiate is what dictators believe.  Union workers have conceded and will contribute more of their earnings to benefits, but to end collective bargaining (which is, in and of itself, the ability to negotiate) is nothing more than either the rantings of stubborn children led by a bully, or a cruel dictator who refuses to listen to anyone whose opinion differs from his own. 

I have read the other comments here and I cannot help but wonder where all these people were when our President came into office and met the party of NO.  That party must learn that there are other valid points of view.

What about Obama care did the Dems give the GOP any type of concessions?

Dems are dems and GOP's are GOP's neither like it when the shoe is on the other foot.

Grow up and do what's dood and right for USA. Stop being selfish!!!!!!!!!!!

Fire them all!!! They are AWOL. Democrats=Unions=Blackmail=Do it our way or we'll strike and shut down everything!

 This situation reminds me of the 60's and 70's when US automotive giants management negotiated settlement after settlement with the UAW with lots of (feigned) tough talk from both sides...but the settlement for the union was always large...and neither side cared as the car buyer  was paying ( finally by putting his wife to work)...This approach worked fine for management and union alike (but not for the buyer...the car buyer had no voice) until competiton slowly came forth in the form of Japanese car companies...things changed for the better in car pricing soon after.

We are seeing it again now in Wisconsin...the taxpayer has no voice in the public union settlements and the results ...particularly in the benefits end of the increased costs are huge...Hang tough Governor Walker ...develop competition at all levels. I applaude your efforts