Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, swore an oath of office in January. That oath requires him to “support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wisconsin,” and faithfully to discharge the duties of his office to the best of his ability.

Just over two months since he took that oath, Fitzgerald is seeking ways to pressure 14 Democratic state senators who disagree with his attempt to force adoption of a budget repair bill attacking the legitimate bargaining rights of public employees while at the same time rewarding the political cronies of Gov. Scott Walker. To prevent passage of the budget repair bill, the 14 state senators went to Illinois. With his attempt to engineer the arrest of those Democratic lawmakers, Fitzgerald has violated the central tenet of his oath.

The Wisconsin Constitution states: “Members of the Legislature shall in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest; nor shall they be subject to any civil process, during the session of the Legislature, nor for 15 days next before the commencement and after the termination of each session.”

Fitzgerald is not supporting the constitution of the state of Wisconsin. He has violated his oath.

Why?