MADISON, Wis. (UPI) -- A controversial bill that would erase most of public unions' collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin was approved Friday in the state's Assembly.
The 51-17 vote came just after 1 a.m., following 61 hours of debate, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Twenty-eight lawmakers -- 25 Democrats, two Republicans and one independent -- did not vote on the bill.
Democrats showed their anger at the bill before the final vote, denouncing a move to end debate and questioning whether proper procedure had been followed, the newspaper said. Democrats said they had 15 speakers remaining when debate was cut off.
"Shame! Shame! Shame!" Democrats shouted as Republican lawmakers left the lower chamber.
Republicans offered no comment and some had police protection when they left. Protesters were at the Capitol for more than a week to demonstrate against the bill.
The measure would give the Gov. Scott Walker's administration broad powers to reshape health programs covering low-income Wisconsin residents, and to use borrowing and cuts to employee benefits to plug a $137 million gap in the biennial state budget that ends June 30.
Walker and the Republican-led Senate have only a few days to pass the bill and sign it into law before a key refinancing provision would be lost. .
The 51-17 vote came just after 1 a.m., following 61 hours of debate, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Twenty-eight lawmakers -- 25 Democrats, two Republicans and one independent -- did not vote on the bill.
Democrats showed their anger at the bill before the final vote, denouncing a move to end debate and questioning whether proper procedure had been followed, the newspaper said. Democrats said they had 15 speakers remaining when debate was cut off.
"Shame! Shame! Shame!" Democrats shouted as Republican lawmakers left the lower chamber.
Republicans offered no comment and some had police protection when they left. Protesters were at the Capitol for more than a week to demonstrate against the bill.
The measure would give the Gov. Scott Walker's administration broad powers to reshape health programs covering low-income Wisconsin residents, and to use borrowing and cuts to employee benefits to plug a $137 million gap in the biennial state budget that ends June 30.
Walker and the Republican-led Senate have only a few days to pass the bill and sign it into law before a key refinancing provision would be lost. .
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