Here's a direct link to the bill that passed in the WI senate tonight.
Budget Repair bill
Even the briefest look shows that there are fiscal implications galore. Actual dollar amounts are spelled out on almost every page. The Senate needs 20 members to vote on fiscal matters. They are claiming that since there are no "appropriations" in the bill, it is legal.
This is highly questionable. So, why are they doing this now, if they could have done it anytime in the last 3 weeks? It doesn't make sense. More below.
Howard Fineman on The Rachel Maddow Show suggested that this is a ploy to incite protesters to violence, which could be turned against them.
He might very well be right. The governor and the senators must know how bad this all looks. They can't possibly imagine that this will turn out well. It is clearly political suicide. Running a million attack ads won't make much of a dent at all.
They also know that the bill is probably, if not certainly, illegal.
Are they praying for an over-reaction? An over-reaction that will save their butts?