Mad In Madison: Wisconsin Workers Protest Against Governor’s Budget Proposals

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1||February 16, 2011: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) proposed rolling back public employee unions’ rights to plug a $137 million budget shortfall. State workers and residents took to the state capitol of Madison yesterday and today to protest the measures, which would remove public employee unions’ power to negotiate for better pension and health benefits.

Here, demonstrators congregated in front of the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison on Tuesday. ||Michael Sears/MCT/Newscom&&

2||Though firefighters and law enforcement would be exempt, some turned out in support of the protesters. ||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

3||The proposed changes would effectively end collective bargaining agreements that have been in place for decades.||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

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5||Demonstrators held a sign comparing Gov. Walker to a menacing, tank-like vehicle from the Star Wars films. ||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

6||A woman inside the Wisconsin State Capitol expressed support for the demonstrators. ||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

7||An overflow crowd gathered in the Capitol rotunda on Monday for a public hearing on the proposed budget. ||Michael Sears/MCT/Newscom&&

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10||Protesters congregated in front of the state Capitol building.||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

11||Many people held signs in support of teachers unions. Madison public schools canceled classes on Wednesday when 40% of the city’s unionized teachers called in sick to protest the measures. ||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

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13||One sign compared Gov. Walker to Rome’s infamous tyrannical emperor, Nero.||Michael Sears/MCT/Newscom&&

14||People packed Monday’s public hearing on the proposed changes.|| Michael Sears/MCT/Newscom&&

15||A protester compared Gov. Walker to recently ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. ||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

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20||Protesters crowded around the Wisconsin State Capitol. ||flickr.com/paulbaker&&

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40||||TPM Reader Steve Leo&&

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