Wisconsin rallying against Walker

Photo credit: @gl33p

By all accounts, what's going on in Wisconsin is astounding. People are not taking Scott Walker's war on state workers lying down -- except maybe for the people who slept in the Capitol building last night.

Some estimates number today's protest at 30,000, and the Madison East students and more had the chance to return to the rally, after so many Madison teachers called in sick that the superintendent canceled classes.

Republican legislators are noticing. The state Senate had never looked like a lock to pass this budget, and now there's definite movement:

Gov. Scott Walker said Wednesday he was responding to requests from Republican legislative leaders to make at least some changes to a bill that would strip public workers of most of their union rights.

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Two GOP sources familiar with the talks said Republican Sens. Dale Schultz of Richland Center and Van Wanggaard of Racine were backing a plan to put at least some union bargaining rights back into the bill. One source said that the plan would make use of devices such as sunset clause to bring back certain bargaining rights in future years.

Republicans are going to be looking for a bill just enough improved to mute protest, but as little changed as they can get away with. According to AFSCME, the plan is to keep the protest going Thursday; there will be more buses leaving early early in the morning from around the state.

When you've got them on the defensive and talking changes, it's time to double down.