Wisconsin News and Sports
A program meant to train pediatric physicians is on the chopping block. Lawrence McAndrews, President and CEO of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals, says the decade old Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education has been eliminated from President Obama’s proposed budget.
When the CHGME was not in place, McAndrews says they saw 13-percent [Read more...]
Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (PHOTO: WRN)
One of the 14 Senate Democrats hiding out in Illinois said Friday that they’re talking with Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald about breaking the Senate impasse over Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill, but Fitzgerald said there are no negotiations. “He did reach out to us, to a degree,” said Senator Dave Hansen of Green Bay, the Assistant Minority Leader. “So we’re hoping against hope that there’s some common sense action that’s going to happen. We’re holding strong, and there’s no deadline set, and negotiations are continuing.” [Read more...]
Republicans in the Wisconsin state Senate brought Governor Scott Walker’s budget repair bill to the floor on Friday. With the fourteen Senate Democrats still not in the chamber – or even the state – they could not vote, but they did discuss the legislation. “If nothing is done, 1500 state employees are at risk for layoffs. Thousands more could be at risk if this fiscal crisis extends into the next biennium,” said Senator Alberta Darling of River Hills. “Wisconsin public employees will still have a larger scope for collective bargaining than federal employees. We are trying to protect jobs, we are trying to prevent layoffs, we are trying to do as voters asked us in November, to get this state on a stable financial footing.” The Senate took the floor amid a twelfth day of protests in and around the Capitol by public and private sector union members and their supporters, opposing Walker’s plans to strip must public employees of much of their ability to collectively bargain. [Read more...]
Protesters in Capitol (PHOTO: WRN)
After twelve days of constant occupation by opponents of Governor Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill, the Wisconsin state
Wisconsin Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs announced Friday that the Wisconsin State Capitol will return to normal business hours on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. when it will close to allow for cleaning. The Capitol will re-open on Monday for normal business hours starting at 8:00 a.m. As has been done all this week, Capitol Police will be monitoring the number of people in the building. Capitol Police officials have spoken with and worked closely with the organizers of protest groups at the Capitol, who have agreed to voluntarily remove their items from the building.
“We are closing the Capitol for a short period of time for public health reasons, as well as for general building maintenance,” Chief Tubbs said. “Everyone agrees that our State Capitol is a source of pride for our state and that we should take a break to take care of the building. People have been very respectful of the building, law enforcement and staff to this point. Since the beginning, protest organizers have worked very cooperatively with law enforcement. Based on discussions with them about the need to return to normal business hours, Capitol Police is anticipating that a thorough cleaning can begin at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. As always, the top priority of Capitol Police is ensuring the safety of everyone at the Capitol. I thank everyone in advance for their cooperation.”
Preparations for the return to normal business hours will begin today. Protestors are being asked to remove all large items from the rotunda and hallways that could be fire hazards including:
Mattresses
Folding tables and chairs
Electrical items such as extension cords
Cooking appliances like crock pots
Coolers and other food storage devices
Easels and boxes
Beginning Saturday, people will not be allowed to carry blankets or sleeping bags into the building. Capitol Police officials and protest organizers have also agreed that individuals should remove and take with them any signs that they wish to keep. Doors have been locking every night since protests began to ensure the safety of those staying inside. Tonight, doors will lock at 9:00 p.m. and on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and protestors will be allowed to remain on the ground and first floors of the building.
Any items left in the building after 4:00 p.m. Sunday will be taken to a designated lost and found within the Capitol for people to claim. People should claim their items before Friday, March 4, 2011 before 6:00 p.m.
On Monday, the building will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and cleaning crews will continue their work throughout the day. Normal business hours (Mon.-Fri. 8:00 am – 6:00 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) will continue thereafter.
A Neenah lawmaker was one of four Republicans in the assembly to vote against Governor Walker’s plan to strip nearly all public employee unions of most of their collective bargaining rights. Representative Dean Kaufert said he supports requiring workers to pay more toward their pension and health insurance, but he thought the proposal went too far. “I understand these bold steps have to be made,” Kaufert told WHBY. “But there has to be some working together, there has to be some areas of compromise, some ways to do it where we don’t have to start a civil war.” [Read more...]
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