Senate Budget Debate Interrupted By Protesters

A small but loud group of protesters stormed the state Senate’s doors today as lawmakers there debated the Wisconsin state budget.

But that short burst of chaos was the only surprise so far as Republicans appeared ready to pass the spending plan.

State Senators were talking about non-fiscal policy in the budget – like a new bass fishing season – when protesters pushed through the doors outside the Senate chamber shouting “focus on jobs, not vaginas.”

The chant referenced a bill lawmakers approved last week that would require ultrasounds before abortions. The Senate proceeded awkwardly while police made arrests. As the commotion died down, state Senator Dale Schultz announced he would likely be the only Republican to vote against the budget. Schultz sprinkled his speech with quotes from Teddy Roosevelt and Bob La Follette. He also blasted the way the budget would expand voucher schools statewide.

Schultz: “A lot of my constituents, Mr. President, believe that we are witnessing the beginning of the dismantling of our public school system, and I have come to share that view. People are worried that this initial expansion is the death knell for small school districts.”

So far, Schultz has voted with Democrats on a few amendments, but no other Republicans have joined him. That was the case as Republican senators voted to keep a budget provision that would evict the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from the University of Wisconsin. Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, said he hoped WCIJ continued its work somewhere else.

Grothman: “I do notice the Center is getting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in independent donations, some coming from people I don’t agree with. But the fact that they are getting hundreds of thousands of dollars a year – money from other areas – indicates to me that this Center is not going to close.”

Employees of Wisconsin Public Radio currently collaborate with WCIJ. This budget item would prohibit that.

Republicans also voted to keep a plan in the budget that would legalize bail bondsmen. Democrats have offered nearly 40 amendments, a sign that debate could continue into the evening.