By the end of June, visitors to the state Capitol building in Madison will have an easier time getting inside. State officials have announced they will reopen all eight of the ground floor doors to the building by June 27th and metal detectors will no longer be used to screen visitors.
The Department of Administration and Capitol Police put many of the current procedures in place after thousands of people occupied the Capitol for almost two weeks during the debate over the Governor’s collective bargaining law. The reduced security is the result of a settlement in a lawsuit against that restricted access to the building.
Officials argued the steps were needed to protect those working in the building or the thousands who visit on a daily basis. However, Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) says it was a complete waste of money. He says protesters were peaceful and there were no injuries when the building was still open to the people at the beginning of the demonstrations.
Barca says the move to restore full public access was a long time coming and it’s great that the Capitol will be back to “as it should be” and will be open to the people.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:15)
