In February 2011, the govenor of Wisconsin proposed laws to close a budget gap, reducing the benefits of the state’s union employees. There were protests in Madison (the capital) and Democratic legislators fled the state to prevent the legislature from reaching a quorum and passing the laws.
 
Wisconsin State Senator Jon B. Erpenbach was interviewed by CNN and MSNBC on February 17, 2011, and he called the bills “microwave legislation” on both shows. A microwave heats up food quickly, and Erpenbach meant that the legislation was proceeding too quickly.
 
   
Wikipedia: Jon Erpenbach
Jon B. Erpenbach (born January 28, 1961) is an American politician.
 
Erpenbach, who is a member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, has been serving since 1998 as a member of the Wisconsin State Senate. He represents the state’s twenty-seventh senate district. Jon Erpenbach was born in Middleton, Wisconsin and graduated from Middleton High School. He attended the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh from 1979 to 1981. Before being elected to public office, he worked as a radio personality on two Madison area radio stations and also worked for a Milwaukee station. He subsequently worked in both the State Assembly and Senate in media relations and as communications director.
 
CNN.com
February 17th, 2011
09:42 PM ET
Dems flee, slow ‘microwave legislation’
Posted by:
Steve Frank - Digital Producer
Sen. Jon Erpenbach says Wisconsin lawmakers left the state to slow a bill that curbs union rights of public employees.
“This bill was introduced last Friday. He wants it law today. This is microwave legislation at its absolute, positive worst.”
 
Livedash
The Rachel Maddow Show
MSNBC
Aired on Friday, Feb 18, 2011 (2/18/2011) at 12:00 AM (February 17th is correct—ed.)
Transcript
00:22:01 The only way to slow this down, and we’re calling it microwave legislation, was to do what we did.