Anti-reform protestors in Wisconsin shouting angry slogans forced two Republican lawmakers to close down a town hall meeting on March 7 aimed at hearing the concerns of constituents. Fears over security and noise levels prompted the early shutdown, according to one of the legislators.  

After spending more than three weeks in Illinois seeking to block a Republican reform bill aimed at reining in a multi-billion dollar deficit and the powerful government-sector unions, at least some of Wisconsin’s 14 missing Democratic state Senators could be preparing to return to Madison, according to news reports.

Pro- and anti-reform activists in Wisconsin are seeking to recall state Senators over Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to rein in spending and the powerful government-employee unions that have been protesting the measure for more than three weeks. The efforts are drawing support and money from across the nation as conservative and liberal groups, along with a battery of unions, urge their members and supporters to get involved.

Despite weeks of hysteria by some demonstrators over Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed reforms, the truth is that the state is facing a very real budget crisis — billions and billions of dollars in deficits and unfunded liabilities — and the reforms being pursued by Republicans are hardly radical.

A coalition of government-union members, socialists, and other protesters — some of whom were bussed in from out of state — raucously invaded Madison, Wisconsin, beginning on February 16, to demonstrate against a budget bill backed by Republican Governor Scott Walker.

Democratic Wisconsin state senators who fled to Illinois in an effort to block a vote on Republicans’ budget-repair proposal could be in hot water if they don’t come back to work — the legislature voted to hold them in contempt and send law enforcement out to get them. Government-employee layoffs are also imminent if the missing State Senators do not return, according to Gov. Scott Walker.

As the anti-reform protests in Madison, Wisconsin, drag into their third week, much has been said about how peaceful, respectful, and well-behaved the demonstrators have been. But there are certainly some glaring exceptions which, while not adequately covered by the mainstream media, deserve some attention nonetheless.

The consequences of the battle playing out in Wisconsin and other states between government-employee unions and taxpayers hoping to rein in spending will be huge and international, warned CEO Arthur Thompson of The John Birch Society (headquartered in Wisconsin) in his weekly video address.

Unions — in both the public and private sectors — have been thrust back into the national spotlight following weeks of unrest over proposed reforms, particularly in Wisconsin, but in other states as well. Countless commentators and analysts of all persuasions have offered their opinions on the matter. And the outcome of ongoing battles, all of them agree, will have far-reaching repercussions.

Communist propaganda organs reported with glee that at least some Wisconsin police were refusing to enforce lawful orders to evict anti-reform protestors from the Capitol building in Madison. Instead, the law-enforcement officers, egged on by their union, chose to side with the coalition of government-employee labor groups, socialists, and other leftist organizations that have staged protests over the last two weeks against Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s efforts to rein in a massive budget deficit.