Friday, April 29, 2011

The ice won't last forever

Fishermen take advantage of remaining – but melting – ice on Monona Bay, despite more mild weather, to continue ice fishing in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 11, 2011.

Bedtime story?

Audrey McMillan, 7, of McFarland, reads "Mythological Monsters" to Buddy, 9, a tired Golden Retriever, at the Monona Public Library in Monona, Wis., Tuesday afternoon, March 8, 2011. Since 2008 at the library, children have been afforded the opportunity once a month to read to dogs through the Reading Education Assistance Dogs program. Karen Wendt, the library's youth services coordinator says children sometimes feel like they'll be corrected when reading with an adult. When reading with a dog, she says, it helps the children "feel relaxed, comfortable, in a non-judgemental setting. Children who are relaxed and having fun while they're reading, read for longer...and they will read more often." Information about registering for the opportunity is available at: www.mononalibrary.org/youth/

Speed Cycling

Speed Cycling is a new option for local cyclists looking to shift their participation in the sport into a higher gear, offering year-round a temperature-controlled environment for high-intensity, competitive indoor training.

Speed Cycling co-owner Petra Kilian-Gehring, center, instructs a class at the facility in Fitchburg, Wis., Monday, March 7, 2011.

CompuTrainer devices are used during workouts at Speed Cycling in Fitchburg, Wis., Monday, March 7, 2011.

Fitness class participants pedal quickly at Speed Cycling in Fitchburg, Wis., Monday, March 7, 2011.

Gary Gruenisen of Madison, and Jill Lundberg of Fitchburg give full effort during a fitness class at Speed Cycling in Fitchburg, Wis., Monday, March 7, 2011.

Homeless Health

By health and medicine beat writer David Wahlberg:

As workers left Downtown Madison on a cold evening, homeless men filed into a Sunday school room on the third floor of Grace Episcopal Church.

It became their emergency room, as volunteer doctors and nurses listened to their medical needs...

...[Dr. Cate] Ranheim and her husband Erik, also a doctor, started a program that combines "street medicine" and social work to try to keep the homeless healthy and prevent expensive hospital bills the patients rarely can pay.

Dr. Erik Ranheim examines the tonsils and uvula of patient Thomas Hons after complaining of sleep apnea symptoms at a medical clinic at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011.

Dr. Dave Deci uses a stethoscope on patient Robert Huffar at a medical clinic at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, Wis., Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011.

Wisconsin Budget: The Final Two Days

... or maybe not.

Majority Republicans in both houses used rare procedural maneuvers to bypass roadblocks from minority Democrats, and pass the controversial Budget Repair Bill curtailing public employee collective bargaining rights. These photos follow the bill's final two days from it's passing through the Legislature to the Governor's desk.

State Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), right, continues to speak in objection while state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (D-Juneau) bangs the gavel adjourning a meeting of the state Legislature's conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.

The state Senate prepares to vote after a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.

State Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) says "no" during a vote on the budget repair bill after a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011. Schultz was the lone Republican voting against the bill.

Tears roll down the face of Liz Sanger of Madison after the state Senate passed the budget repair bill following a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.

After a protester outside threw a snowball hitting a window at the state Capitol, State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink (D-Milladore) implores protesters to remain peaceful during a press conference of Democratic state Assembly members after the state Senate passed the budget repair bill following a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.

Wisconsin State Troopers confer during a tense moment as protesters rushed into the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.

The state Capitol in Madison, Wis., was reoccupied by protesters who rushed into the building after hours, Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.

Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs pleads with protesters to leave the state Assembly antechamber voluntarily at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday morning, March 10, 2011.

Wisconsin State Patrol officers drag a protester out of the state Assembly antechamber at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday morning, March 10, 2011.

Wisconsin State Patrol officers drag a protester out of the state Assembly antechamber at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday morning, March 10, 2011.

State Reps. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) and Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse), facing, embrace in tears as protesters are removed from the state Assembly antechamber by Wisconsin State Patrol officers at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday morning, March 10, 2011.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson enters the state Assembly to lead the body in prayer at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

State Reps. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) and Daniel Knodl (R-Germantown) hold hands during prayer led by the Rev. Jesse Jackson in the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

State Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) lights a lighter while holding the Assembly rulebook as he speaks on the motion to remove State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) from his leadership position at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) reads from a death threat letter, in hand, addressed towards him and other Assembly Republicans while responding to Assembly Democrats' motion to remove Fitzgerald from his leadership position at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

State Rep. Jennifer Shilling (D-La Crosse) shows signs of frustration in the Assembly chamber at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

State Assembly Democrats seek to be recognized as Republicans move forward on a vote to pass the budget repair bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Protesters yell "Shame!" from the state Assembly gallery after the body passed the budget repair bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Dressed in all orange, down to her high-heeled shoes, to match her party's matching t-shirts, state Rep. Elizabeth Coggs (D-Milwaukee) stands in the Assembly chamber at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs tries again to persuade protesters to leave the building after the state Capitol closed in Madison, Wis., Thursday evening, March 10, 2011.

Pens sit ready to be used by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker to sign a copy of the budget repair bill during a ceremonial bill signing at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Friday afternoon, March 11, 2011.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker shakes hands with state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald after signing a copy of the budget repair bill during a ceremonial bill signing at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Friday afternoon, March 11, 2011.

Wisconsin Budget: Seen Around the Capitol

A protester's note sticks to a sign notifiying visitors of operating hours at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, March 3, 2011.

A police officer guards the King Street entrance to the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011.

A man promoting the legalization of the drug DMT and the taxation of it for revenue, a cause very separate from the state's budget issues, is pulled from a ledge by law enforcement above the King Street entrance to the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Monday, Feb. 28, 2011.

Matt Blasinski of Madison walks around the state Capitol grounds with a palm tree, dressed as a flamingo in Madison, Wis., Friday, March 4, 2011. While the weather in Madison was more mild compared to recent days, Blasinski's acts were intended to poke fun at FOX News reports on recent protests over the budget repair bill. Some felt those reports misled viewers by showing video footage of physical altercations at protests that actually occurred outside of Wisconsin. Many cited palm trees in the background of the footage as evidence that the footage was not from the Wisconsin protests.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Wisconsin Budget: In the middle of the night

I don't think I'll ever forget Feb. 24, 2011, and the early morning hours of the 25th. It was when any remaining feeling in my mind that "politics are boring" was completely washed away.

What I witnessed happen in the Wisconsin Capitol was pure, unadulterated drama. Like watching two base hits and a double happen in the bottom of a shutout game that went into extra innings, there were hours upon hours of nothing and then 10 minutes of everything.

Assembly Democrats held out on the floor for hours. They debated. They proposed amendments. They even tried to remove the Speaker Pro Tempore from his position.

Just after 1 a.m., Republicans (with a solid majority) ended debate, called the roll, and voted to pass the budget repair bill. This all happened so quickly that 28 state representatives (2 of them Republicans and the lone Independent) couldn't get their vote in. The measure passed 51-17. (You can watch it happen here)

Very unfortunately, I think, due to the timing of events that night (which I presume was calculated), most of these pictures never saw print because of deadlines and the news-cycle and will perhaps only serve the historical records.

Gov. Scott Walker speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011. Walker reiterated the possibility of layoffs of public employees if his budget repair bill did not pass.

State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink watches the roll call board as votes come in on a motion by Assembly Republicans to table an amendment to the budget repair bill proposed by Assembly Democrats in the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011. The motion was tabled.

From left, Assembly Democrats state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys, state Rep. Jon Richards, state Rep. Gary Hebl, state Rep. Peter Barca and state Rep. Fred Clark discuss how they will proceed at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday evening, Feb. 24, 2011.

State Rep. Peter Barca explodes in anger after Assembly Republicans voted to give, and gave, the budget repair bill its third reading, before recognizing Barca, in the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday evening, Feb. 24, 2011.

State Rep. Bill Kramer, tries to calm tempers in the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday evening, Feb. 24, 2011, after a motion was made to remove him from his position of Speaker Pro Tempore.

Protesters swarmed the West Gallery after Assembly Republicans gave the budget repair bill its third reading in the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday evening, Feb. 24, 2011.

State Rep. Bill Kramer looks out over the state Assembly as members discuss a motion to remove him from his position as Speaker Pro Tempore at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Thursday evening, Feb. 24, 2011.

State Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) holds a rule book for the state Assembly during debate in session at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

Assembly Democrats, from left, state Rep. Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison), state Rep. Gary Hebl (D-Sun Prairie), background, and state Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo) show the first signs of outrage as their Republican counterparts cut off debate and voted on the budget repair bill state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

State Reps. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee), left, and Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison), right, shout while approaching the Speaker Pro Tempore in the state Assembly after Republicans cut off debate and voted on the budget repair bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

State Rep. Christine Sinicki (D-Milwaukee) and other Assembly Democrats approach the front of the chamber in outrage as their Republican counterparts cut off debate and voted on the budget repair bill in session at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

To jeers of "Shame!" yelled by the Assembly Democrats, Assembly Republicans, foreground, immediately walk out of the chamber after cutting off debate and voting to pass the budget repair bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

State Rep. Janet Bewley (D-Ashland) gestures at Assembly Republicans as they walk out of the chamber after cutting off debate and voting on the budget repair bill at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

Assembly Republicans walk out of the chamber into elevators escorted by law enforcement officers after cutting off debate and rapidly voting to pass a controversial budget repair bill in the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

Escorted by law enforcement officers, Assembly Republicans exit the state Capitol after cutting off debate and rapidly voting to pass a controversial budget repair bill in the state Assembly in Madison, Wis., early Friday morning, Feb. 25, 2011.

Wisconsin Budget: On Pins and Needles

A multitude of Wisconsin law enforcement officers, including the Wisconsin State Patrol seemingly occupy every nook and cranny of the west wing outside of the state Assembly chamber at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011. The area was closed to the public Tuesday.

State Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha), the minority leader, addresses the state Assembly at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

State Rep. Robin Vos (R-Rochester) talks across the aisle to state Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) in the state Assembly chamber at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.

Protesters in the gallery of the state Assembly wear blue tape over their mouths before the chamber convenes at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2011.