Seems that Walker, DOA want to be in contempt of court now for not opening building.

[kpete]

@daveweigel @andrewkroll @ddayen Seems that Walker, DOA want to be in contempt of court now for not opening building.
http://twitter.com/thomasmbird/status/44823691082735617

according to eyewitness reports today, the Capitol has been at least temporarily closed. This is in direct violation of the judicial order. The Department of Administration has now determined that protesters need a permit to walk into their Capitol. They’ve also issued a bulletin that camping on the Capitol grounds will be prohibited. The signs that were hung all over the Capitol have been removed, and will apparently be made available to protesters.

Perhaps this is due to Governor Walker giving a press conference right now. In his press conference, Walker specifically responded to Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller’s letter asking for negotiations, calling it “ridiculous” and saying Miller and the Senate Democrats, not him, was blocking progress. Walker, along with Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, are claiming that Miller isn’t in control of his caucus. Despite the rhetoric, this presser is something of a backpedal, with its focus on negotiation and dealmaking.

I’m trying to get more information on the closure of the building. Clearly DOA is playing cute with access to the Capitol.

…I should add that protests are going on inside the building as we speak. It looks like people outside looking to get in are having a little trouble. Hoping to hear more soon.

UPDATE: This press conference is pretty outrageous. Walker is claiming that he’s been negotiating in good faith in private, and Miller is blocking progress. We’re in a game where each side is looking for the high road, that they’re the ones seeking negotiation. And Walker is trying to sow discord between Miller and other individual Senators. The last time anyone on the Republican side said this, it was Scott Fitzgerald saying he was assured by one of the Fab 14, Tim Cullen, that there would be half a dozen Senators back in the chamber. Cullen later said that he never made that claim and wouldn’t have the authority to do so. You can’t trust a word from Walker or his allies.
http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/03/07/walker-doa-risk-contempt-violation-with-closure-of-access-to-capitol-in-madison/

[gratuitous]

1. Ah, it's all the fault of the Democrats!

See what those darned Democrats made Scott Walker do? Aren't you all just ashamed of yourselves? And why is Charles Manson still in prison while Sharon Tate is free as a bird? Oh yeah, she's dead, but you see my point, I'm sure.

[Myrina]

2. Yeah, negotiating in good faith, in private ... with the faux-Koch's ...

:nuke:

[BumRushDaShow]

3. This is what happens

when you don't have an "exit strategy".

[myrna minx]

5. George Costanza's home in the Hamptons is just a little bit further...n/t

[LiberalFighter]

4. They really need to put them in jail

[Auntie Bush]

6. Walker is full of propagana bullshit... equal to Beck and Faux News!

[HereSince1628]

7. There are WI Constitutional Issues at stake here.

All these executive branch decisions should be challenged in court.

Who has the resources to do that? How do we send support for those actions?

[Scuba]

8. Thanks for the update. See you saturday.