Open Thread: WTF Wisconsin?

News on the #wiunion Twitter feed is coming in fast and furious, but here's an update:

The Wisconsin State Journal:
With a crowd of protesters chanting outside their chambers, Senators approved Gov. Scott Walker's bill, which would strip most collective bargaining rights from public employees. The new bill removes fiscal elements of the proposal but still curbs collective bargaining and increases employee payments in pension and health benefits. The changes would amount to an approximate 8 percent pay cut for public workers.


The Assembly is set to approve the bill at 11 am local time. At the moment, the State Capitol is effectively locked down. Reporters from the local CBS affiliate and the State Journal are reporting that members of the press are not being allowed in the Capitol, and that the State Patrol is preventing journalists already in the building from entering the Assembly antechamber.

ETA 10:03-- Law enforcement is reportedly barring anyone from entering the Capitol, including legislators and their staff.

ETA 10:07-- I've seen multiple reports on Twitter that law enforcement officials have begun arresting forcibly removing protesters [10:28-- it's not clear whether they are being arrested] near the Wisconsin State Assembly.

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