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They fled their state capitol today in order to prevent the republican-dominated legislature from reaching a quorum and passing a bill that would have stripped public employees of their bargaining rights and cut back their health and pension funds. its a last-ditch effort to give protesters more time to pressure republican lawmakers to reconsider their votes on a plan that republican governor scott walker said was necessary to balance the budget. >> kill the bill! kill the bill! kill the bill! k...

It was called the saturday night massacre and nothing about it will probably ever be repeated again in our history. except for one thing. it was really, really, really weird. absolute crazy business at the highest reaches of government. so crazy that it is hard to explain that -- its hard to explain that this really happened, that american government went that rogue. it is that same level of incredulity that we can expect from future generations when they are told about what happened in the grea...

>> do you think what the state senators here in wisconsin did was the right thing to do? whats your opinion of it? and do you think it would ever unfold the same way in ohio? >> well, i think in wisconsin, its a little bit different of a situation. because by them walking out, they didnt have a quorum to vote. were so deep in the minority here, its 23 to 10, that our walkout, they could still have a vote and move forward with the bill. but its not going to be as easy as they thought here, becaus...

Head into sessions today. we had a fistful of amendments to try and make a lousy bill a little bit better and it became very clear to us that the republican leadership wasnt going to consider the amendments, certainly not pass any of the amendments. and we were left with just this option on the table. governor walker introduced this legislation late friday afternoon of last week, and now he wants it to be law this week and its making sweeping changes in the state of wisconsin. and youre right, t...

Head into sessions today. we had a fistful of amendments to try and make a lousy bill a little bit better and it became very clear to us that the republican leadership wasnt going to consider the amendments, certainly not pass any of the amendments. and we were left with just this option on the table. governor walker introduced this legislation late friday afternoon of last week, and now he wants it to be law this week and its making sweeping changes in the state of wisconsin. and youre right, t...

Quorum. >> as we talk about waiting for people to come back, where the heck are these guys? where did the democratic lawmakers go? as we said in the open, theyre hiding out, but where? >> reporter: well, there are lots of theories. were not exactly sure. we are told they are out of state and the reason for that the governor told state troopers to find these guys and these women. the problem that is the state does not have jurisdiction to go over state lines. so unless they can go into another st...

>> now hes resorting to threats to do that without any negotiation. >> reporter: but the speaker says no deal unless democrats and president obama agree to republican spending cuts. im steve handelsman, nbc news capitol hill. meanwhile, demonstrators in wisconsin have chosen a tactic. they fled the state yesterday, reportedly checking into an illinois hotel. majority republicans need just one of the 14 democrats to show up for a quorum, which would allow them to vote on and pass the now stalle...

Republicans work on their own cuts and threaten a government shutdown. >> the only people cheering for government shutdown around here are democrats. >> were terribly disappointed that speaker boehner cant control the votes in his caucus. >> if march 4th comes around and there is no agreement on this current budget, there will be a government shutdown. >> read my lips -- were going to cut spending. >> read my lips. >> were going to cut spending. >> good evening. wisconsin democratic lawmakers on...

Quorum and therefore they were unable to hold their big anti-union vote, which they planned to hold today and they planned to win. to avoid the threat of being forcibly returned to the state capitol, democratic senators did not just not turn up at the state legislature today. they fled the state. what is happening in wisconsin right now is not about the budget. it is not about teacher tenure. it is not about whether or not librarians have too good a dental plan. that is not what this is about. t...

State senate to get a quorum, are you not? >> right, we are. and we know full well we are going to be voting on something thats never been an issue, never said, oh, we are not voting. our budget cycle actually ends june 30th. it is not june 30th, not even close to june 30th, we have time for the budget repair bill, how long is it going to take is your dwhaerks is up to governor walker, he has a responsibility to try to bring us together. as you can see, plainly see right now, the state is absolu...