Have fun trying to get into the Statehouse in Madison this week. For two days, access to the building has been restricted, windows have been welded and bolted shut to prevent food and supplies making it in to protesters. Emergency services have been delayed in responding to calls. A Dane County judge yesterday issued a temporary restraining order to open up the Capitol to the public. The Department of Administration filed a challenge, and the case is currently being heard in Judge John Albert's court. Thanks to the Walker Administration's refusal to comply with a court order opening the Statehouse, getting in and out of the building has been a little hairy.
That hasn't stopped Wisconsin Democratic Assembly members from doing their jobs. This week they climbed out windows to meet with their constituents.
As Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the state's Department of Administration continued to refuse to comply with a court order to allow the public back into the Capitol Building in Madison, Democratic lawmakers literally climbed out their windows to meet with constituents on the Capitol lawn today.
Several members of the state assembly and their staff whose offices are located on the first floor—including Representative Nick Milroy of the Northern Wisconsin 73rd district, Representative Cory Mason of Greater Racine, Representative Josh Zepnick of the south side of Milwaukee, and Representative Fred Clark of Baraboo—pushed desks, chairs, and telephones over their windowsills, and set up temporary offices in the ice and snow right below their windows, outside the Wisconsin Avenue entrance to the building.
This is what democracy looks like.