Wis. Assembly Dems Climb Out Capitol Windows to Meet Constituents
By Ruth Conniff, March 2, 2011
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.
"We literally climbed out because we can't get to our constituents," said Rep. Mason of Racine. "It's taking a long time for me to get in. We're going to take our responsibilities outside and listen to what the public has to say. Even if the governor doesn't want to hear it, we do."
Representative Fred Clark of Baraboo, who also climbed out, said, "There is absolutely no reason for the kind of lockdown that is happening now in the Capitol. My constituents can't get in to see me. People couldn't get in to attend hearings, to see us, or to see the Governor's budget address last night--there were empty seats in the gallery. There's no excuse for that. I had to climb in the window to get in here yesterday, because I left my I.D. at home."
the rest:
http://www.progressive.org/rc0302b11.html