The public wasn’t allowed into the capitol today, even Democrat assemblymen were harassed and not allowed to bring in guests. It is against WI state law to turn away the public from a public building, explicitly including the capitol building and grounds (see below). All capitol building police have been replaced with state troopers (head of the state troopers is the father of two Republicans, one the assembly speaker, one the senate majority leader). Senate Democrat staff key codes have been deleted from all copiers, preventing even basic tasks from being accomplished. Walker is supposedly traveling via tunnels under the building and hot rumor is he intends to sneak in tea partiers tomorrow for the budget address. Completely illegal techniques being used against a legal non-violent protest in order to control and whitewash the building for the media and his big speech. From the Wisconsin state constitution: Right to assemble and petition. SECTION 4. The right of the people peaceably to assemble, to consult for the common good, and to petition the government, or any department thereof, shall never be abridged. A narrowly drawn anti−cruising ordinance did not violate the right to assemble or travel. Scheunemann v. City of West Bend, 179 Wis. 2d 469, 507 N.W.2d 163 (Ct. App. 1993). The right to intrastate travel, including the right to move about one’s neighborhood in an automobile, is fundamental, but infringements on the right are not subject to strict scrutiny. Cruising ordinances, reasonable in time, place, and manner, do not violate this right. Brandmiller v. Arreola, 199 Wis. 2d 528, 544 N.W.2d 849 (1996), 93−2842. The legislature cannot prohibit an individual from entering the capitol or its grounds. 59 Atty. Gen. 8. Section 947.06, Stats. 1969, which prohibits unlawful assemblies, is constitutional. Cassidy v. Ceci, 320 F. Supp. 223. Wisconsin, a Constitutional Right to Intrastate Travel, and Anti−Cruising Ordinances. Mode. 78 MLR 735.
The people of Wisconsin should contact their Attorney General if they think their Governor has broken the law. From the little I’ve read he seems like a decent guy.
Phone: 608-266-1221
Address: Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen 114 East State Capitol Madison, WI 53707-7857
