Tempers flared in the Wisconsin Assembly as lawmakers pulled their second all-night floor session this week. Democrats had been caucusing more than three hours Friday morning when Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald called Representatives back to the floor. Republicans began acting on a bill without them. That drew furious response from Minority Leader Peter Barca. “This abuse of power has got stop!” shouted Barca.
But Fitzgerald said Democrats needed to get back on the floor. “Don’t punish everybody that’s here because you can’t control your caucus,” Fitzgerald told Barca. “Come on. You were just in caucus for three and a half hours. What’s the debate about?” Fitzgerald mentioned that he had just turned 45 recently, and a member of the public shouted an expletive from the gallery, at which point Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Kramer ordered the galleries cleared. Democrats actually caucused another 45 minutes before coming back on the floor at 2:30. (Members were still on the floor as this was posted.)
AUDIO: Tempers flare in Assembly (18:00)
