(I couldn't find this posted. Hope it's not a dupe)
Public Hearing On Budget Gets Big Turnout In West Allis
Committee Limited Number Of Speakers At Hearing Monday April 11
WEST ALLIS, Wis. -- The Joint Committee on Finance held its third and most well-attended public hearing on Republican Gov. Scott Walker's state budget proposal near Milwaukee on Monday.
The turnout led to additional controversy after the committee decided to cut off public testimony after about 270 people signed up to speak.
...Each person coming to the hearing was given two minutes to speak when they registered, but by noon so many people had already registered that the co-chairs decided people could only submit written testimony.
Some residents didn't take it so well when they were informed of the change, and Democrats, who were already concerned the hearing wouldn't go past 6 p.m. despite having the room until midnight, cried foul.
"It's absolutely unconscionable that someone is coming at noon and told they can't speak," said state Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee.
...Republicans said they couldn't keep the hearing going for hours.
...Several unions had planned events including an afternoon protest outside the hearing at State Fair Park. Following a 4:30 p.m. rally, the expo hall filled up and hundreds more people showed up to try to speak, but the co-chairs continued to say they would be ending the hearing at 6 p.m. and would share written testimony with the entire committee.
Another public hearing on the budget is planned for Neenah on Wednesday.
Following the public hearings, the committee will return to Madison to begin work on making changes to Walker's budget before sending it on to the state Senate and Assembly.
We'll give them a BIG Welcome!
LINK TO VIDEO OF PROTEST - GOOD JOB WEST ALLIS! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntr1i1UZh4g