MADISON, Wis., March 3 (UPI) -- A judge ruled late Thursday police may arrest protesters who remain in the Wisconsin statehouse after hours.
However, Dane County Circuit Judge John Albert also said the state government cannot limit access to the building during the day, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. He ordered the state to change its access policies by Monday.
Public employees have been protesting Gov. Scott Walker's plan to end collective bargaining rights for government workers. Action in the state Senate has been stalled because all 14 Democratic senators exiled themselves to Illinois, denying the Republican majority a quorum.
Republicans voted 19-0 Thursday to find their fugitive colleagues in contempt and subject to being taken into custody. At the same time, Walker said he would start sending out layoff notices to state unions and workers by the end of Friday if the standoff over his so-called budget-repair bill isn't resolved.
The Senate resolution alleges the Democratic lawmakers are violating a Senate rule that requires senators to receive a leave of absence before being absent for a day.
"We simply cannot have democracy be held hostage because the minority wants to prove a point," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.
Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson questioned the motion's legality and told the Wisconsin State Journal the Republicans' "bullying tactics" had produced "an even greater divide in our state."
The Wisconsin Constitution prohibits the arrest of legislators while in session unless they're suspected of committing felonies, treason or breach of the peace, the State Journal said. A Fitzgerald lawyer said rounding up senators was legal under a provision that lets the Senate enforce its own rules.
Thursday's resolution does not call for the senators' extradition from Illinois. It says the senators may be fined $100 a day, starting Friday, for every day they're not in session.
Walker said the layoffs of as many as 1,500 state employees would be needed to save $30 million. Democrats said Walker has other options and does not need to resort to layoffs.
The Democrats have been out of the state since Feb. 17 to prevent passage of Walker's controversial bill, which would eliminate most collective bargaining for public employee unions.
At least 20 senators must be present to pass the bill, but Republicans hold just 19 seats.
