Republican Wisconsin Senate President Roger Roth ordered the public to be removed from Senate galleries, minutes after the start of a lame-duck session to weaken incoming Democratic office holders.
.@RepSteineke expects Assembly floor session to start at 4 p.m. and wrap up by Midnight. @tmj4
— Pete Zervakis (@PeteZervakisTV) December 4, 2018
Here are updates from the Associated Press:
3:25 p.m.
Members of the public are being allowed to return to the Wisconsin Senate gallery after being removed for ignoring warnings to remain quiet.
Republican Senate President Roger Roth ordered the galleries cleared shortly after debate began Tuesday. That led to an outburst of anger and shouts of "Shame!" from those forced to leave.
After about a 40-minute break, Roth said leaders from both parties agreed to let the public back in with the understanding that those being disruptive would be removed and everyone could be kicked out if there are repeated problems.
The Senate is debating lame-duck measures taking power away from the Democratic-elect governor and attorney general.
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2:45 p.m.
Republican Wisconsin Senate President Roger Roth ordered the public to be removed from Senate galleries, minutes after the start of a lame-duck session to weaken incoming Democratic office holders.
The public erupted into shouts of "Shame!" and "Whose house? Our house!" after the order for police to clear the galleries. Roth says he was ordering the public removed for not heeding repeated warnings to remain quiet during debate.
The state Senate is meeting Tuesday in an unusual lame-duck session to consider sweeping proposals that would weaken incoming Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul.
The disruption brought Senate debate to a halt as people slowly left and shouted down at the senators.
Public gallery above the Senate gets rowdy after GOP lawmakers mentions he can clear people out for not following rules. @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/V9XdalvQsG
— Pete Zervakis (@PeteZervakisTV) December 4, 2018
