The Assembly has adjourned.

One of the special session bills that never made it to the Assembly floor is being coaxed back to the floor by Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha.

The Senate version of the bill, which would increase advanced manufacturing grants for tech colleges by $400,000, annually passed 32-1.

The motion failed.

The Assembly passed a bill that pushes back the deadline for the UW Restructuring Task Force to complete its work, but an amendment moves the deadline up to July 31, 2012. The report of the committee could be delayed until the end of August under the bill.

The changes will now have to be approved in the Senate, which only approved the bill under the bills original deadline of Jan, 2013. The task force's original timeline was January of this year.

Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, has attempted a pulling motion on Assembly Resolution 14, which would change rules to require that members of the public are "reasonably" apprised of notice of a committee meeting two hours before it starts, which would be the time required if there's good cause that the normal 24 hour requirement is impractical. It also would apply that rule to extended, special or extraordinary sessions.

Lets rise above partisanship today," Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha said. "Its a rule, its very simple, you can read it in about three minutes and all it says that we're going to follow the laws we require of other people."

The vote on suspending the rules fails, 59-36.

Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, tried to to pass an amendment to a bill regarding liability of a municipality or county for disrepair of highways that would have restored funding for sexual assault services.

The amendment was defeated on a 60-36 vote.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, is now asking that the Senate version of the bill be put aside and taken up in favor of the Assembly version. He went into an extended dialogue about how the Assembly should take up it's own bill instead of the Senate version, calling it jokingly a "Fitz vs. Fitz" fight.

The reason for this was that the Assembly version also had the same Mason amendment appended to it.

There is an objection to that measure to which Barca responds, "I'm shocked!"

Eventually, SB 125 was passed on a voice vote.

Assembly is discussing what other bills to take up, since there's an amendment to the next one on the schedule.

The following bills have been passed by voice vote:

*SB 89, regarding income tax withholdings for employees of county fair association. Bill raises the exemption for withholdings from $100 annually to $500.

*AB 176, which eliminates minimum harvesting requirements for commercial fishing.

We're now on an amendment to SB 125, offered by Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine.

The vote is 59-36. Rep. Tamara Grigsby, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, were the paired votes.

Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, is trying to get the observers back into the gallery. This is coming as the crowds outside the Assembly are making the desk in front of us rumble with drumming.

"I must also point out that there were many many people who traveled for this vote."

Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer said they should have nudged each other to keep protesters in order. "If they wanted to stay in the gallery, they could have kept quiet."

Kramer ruled that the galleries don't need to be opened.

"I thought you were supposed to be have someone from the public be watching this," replied Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, "I just don't want to have an invalid vote on this bill."

Kramer then pointed to the press and said WisEye is available.

Pocan then tried to argue there were some people who may have gotten off of work later and not gotten an ability to come into the gallery. That drew groans.

UPDATE: The drums have stopped.

We're back on debate, but protesters continue to chant outside the chambers.

And after a few more outbursts, the galleries are being cleared. Chief Charles Tubbs is on the floor viewing the galleries.

Some observers are shouting "We have a right to be here!" as they leave. Others are shouting "Shame" as they're led out of the Assembly. The handful of people (maybe about 30-50) outside the Assembly continue to chant while some bang on the gates to the Assembly chambers.

Right before Rep. Christine Sinicki, D-Milwaukee, began speaking on the bill, two protesters slowly unrolled a banner reading "Bury the bill." The two were removed from the gallery, while Rep. Alvin Ott, R-Forest Junction, shouted "Rules!" from the back of the room. He then approached the leadership and said they should stand informal while the galleries are cleared because it's making "a mockery" of the proceedings.

As of right now, the galleries are not being cleared.

Another protester on the other side of the gallery has also just been removed.

We're now on to final passage.

Molepske speaking against the bill:

"This bill should not be passed tonight. We are not opposed to mining, we’re opposed to this bill. Just look at the senate; if it was such a great bill, they’d be rushing to pass the bill. They aren’t."

After statements from Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee, that the contested case hearing process is "simply an avenue for lawyers to drag out the hearing forever," Democrats responded that it's a necessary process for grievances and would actually minimize the need for litigation.

Meanwhile, Rep. Louis Molepske Jr. and other Dems urged the GOP members to at least amend the bill to give 100 percent of the net proceeds tax revenue to the locals. Right now, the bill has a 50/50 split between the state and the local communities. The amendment would change that to 60/40 in favor of locals.

Honadel also claimed that he had shared a draft of the bill with representatives from Northern Wisconsin. Both Rep. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, and Rep. Nick Milroy, D-South Range, said they'd never seen the bill.

Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, also claimed that provisions in the bill could result in the suspension of federal emergency flood insurance from FEMA. The bill exempts mining from prohibitions on building in a floodplain zone.

Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, responded to all of those claims by emphasizing that the Legislature had to make a choice between China and Wisconsin. He also assailed Dems for protecting the contested case hearing, saying it takes power out of the hands of DNR staff.

"It has been repeatedly said, you need to trust the Dept of Natural Resources. Those are the scientists, those are the experts. This bill says exactly that, let's let those professors in the DNR make that decision."

Rep. Mike Kuglitsch, R-New Berlin, took the opportunity to speak to the body for the first time to address what he saw in Hurley when he went there for the hearings held by the Committee on Jobs, Economy and Small Business. Kuglistch said it was obvious the people of the community desperately wanted the mine and supported the bill to make that happen.

"This was evident with the many signs that displayed: 'Mining: Our history, our culture, our future," Kuglitsch said. He also said residents shouldn't have to move away from the area to find jobs and that they need to "put the state to work."

Rep. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, is making similar points on how the bill would help not only Hurley, but those employed by mining equipment manufacturers.

"Those are jobs for people in the most distressed areas of our state and it's a benefit to everybody in this room when we take someone who can't get a family supporting job and get them on that ladder...and we don't have to provide them services from the state."

Tim Sullivan, former Bucyrus CEO and current head of the Wisconsin Mining Association, said during a press conference when the bill was first unveiled that while the bill may not create more jobs for those manufacturers, it would preserve existing jobs.

Stone also shot back at Rep. Louis Molepske Jr., D-Stevens Point, who said those up in the north don't want the bill as written. Stone said the people in the area want the bill and that committee members took those concerns and made the bill better through amendments.

After a brief period to honor and meet Marcia Anderson, Wisconsin's only two-star general, the Assembly is ready to go.

The Assembly is taking a breaking from the mining debate to pass a resolution for Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention Month.

After Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Ft. Atkinson, asked leadership who was the author of the bill, Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald ignored the question but chastised Democrats for what he said was "rhetoric coming to fruition."

"I want to know, when Democrats, when people on that side of the aisle are going to really be sincere about creating jobs," Fitzgerald said. "Because we know this is going to create hundreds of jobs in construction of the mine, generational jobs. These aren't jobs that are going to pick up and move to China. I don't know how anyone from Iron County can vote against this piece of legislation."

Fitzgerald then took a shot at Democrats assertion that there was a "phantom author" of the bill by moving that all GOP members be made coauthors of the bill. This was followed by GOP standing en masse to be recognized as coauthors.

The GOP substitute amendment is not under discussion on the floor, with Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber saying that most of the changes in the substitute amendment would have been unnecessary if they had created a fair bill in the first place.

One of the charges she leveled is that the new cap on reimbursement for permitting costs to the DNR would not be enough, and said she believed that DNR costs could exceed $8 million.

However, a memo from DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp to Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder (sent on Tuesday)claims that $2 million would be enough to cover the permitting costs "the Department could expect to incur during this budget biennium." But she did not close out the possibility of other costs.

"If the cost of the review of a particular proposal is greater than the established cap, the DNR will seek additional state funding in the next biennial budget."

After a speech from Rep. Dan Knodl, the gallery erupted in swearing and coughing, a few GOP representatives stood up and ordered the gallery cleared. Speaker Pro Tem Bill Kramer asked the gallery be cleared. That prompted Rep. Mark Pocan to criticize the observers and the speaker.

Pocan warned those who are swearing to leave the gallery, "Otherwise, they're going to clear the whole gallery."

Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald then took the microphone to say that it's getting out of hand, but warned that while the gallery won't be cleared now, one more outburst would force his hand. In the midst of his remarks, several observers coughed obscenities at him.

"I hear one more obscenity and that gallery is cleared," Fitzgerald said.

In the end, the gallery members who caused the disruption were removed, but the rest of the gallery was allowed to remain.

The Dems only attempt to amend the mining bill with a stripped down proposal was voted down in short order, 60-36.

The mining debate started out with an impassioned speech from Rep. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, who made the case for the Dems substitute amendment. Among the changes it would have made:

-Would increase the notice of intent payments from three payments of $50,000 for local communities to three payments of $100,000. That money is used by local communities to pay for legal and other costs related to negotiating agreements with the mining company.
-Says it adopts Minnesota timelines, which they say is a "model" of iron mining.
-Restores net proceeds tax to 100 percent local and imposes a tax on tonnage rather than simply "net proceeds."

Bewley said the request from Gogebic Taconite turned into a simply request for streamlining into rolling back environmental protections and raiding segregated funds.

"This gives you everything the mining company asked you for. It holds them to their word that they have no intention of changing environmental standards. Where did that come from? They didn't ask for it, so why is it in here?"

Assume that we'll get to the mining bill fairly quickly. In addition to the sub amendment that was approved in committee on Tuesday, there's a small amendment from Kuglitsch and Klenke dealing with fees for waste and a substitute amendment from the Dems on the bill.

UPDATE: The Dems sub amendment contains provisions more in line with what tribes and residents have been asking for. That includes tweaking the net proceeds tax on iron mining to charge $2.38 per ton of iron ore sold and essentially restoring language that gives that tax revenue completely to local communities impacted. The bill also makes clear that the new provisions would not apply if there are significant amounts of sulfide minerals at the mining site. They also remove most of the changes to environmental regulations included in the original bill.

It seems to retain the initial 12-month waiting period before filing a mining permit application, but makes the timeline for mine permitting subject to completion of the DNR's Environmental Impact Study.

Dems are slowly working their way back into the chamber, but it looks like the Assembly is more likely to start around 2:45 now.

The Assembly Dems said they'll caucus for around 90 minutes. GOP is only meeting for a caucus picture. We should be back by about 2 p.m.

Jill Billings is now officially the Assembly representative for the 95th district, which covers La Crosse. Billings, a Democrat, won the seat late last year in a landslide special election to replace now-Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse.

She was sworn in by Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.

The Assembly is now in session.

We're in the process of a roll call.

Legislation to overhaul the state's mining permitting process headlines today's Assembly calendar.

The agenda also includes SB 2, which includes changes to the timing of the application process under the open enrollment program. GOP leaders noted on the finalized calendar they intend to concur with changes the Senate made to the legislation.

In addition, Rep. Jill Billings, D-La Crosse, will also be formally sworn in. She won a special election in November to replace now-Sen. Jennifer Shilling.

The Senate has adjourned.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald delivered a strong rebuke to Dems for their criticisms of the guv from the chamber floor and warned the next budget will be even tougher than the one crafted less than a year ago.

Minority Leader Mark Miller and several Dems gave speeches today during final comments criticizing Gov. Scott Walker for the state's sluggish economy and the job losses the state has seen for six straight months.

Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, accused Dems of living in a fantasy world. He went on to mock Dems for their job creation efforts in the last session when they were in the majority and was incredulous that they could call on Republicans to work with them while they're launching four recall efforts seeking to take back the majority.

"It’s about we didn’t get our way in the last election and the way we’re going to change that is going back to politics," Fitzgerald said. "We’re going to go back to the street and recall legislators and waste $9 million of taxpayer money so you can take over the chamber sometime this summer and then what?"

Fitzgerald then challenged the Dem senators considering a run for guv to use the chamber floor to launch their campaigns and lay out what they plan to do

"I'll tell you what I think you're going to do. You’re going to raise taxes," Fitzgerald said. "If you think this budget was scary, wait until the next one."

Fitzgerald said he hopes Legislative Fiscal Bureau Director Bob Lang will tell lawmakers within the next few weeks that somehow income and sales tax collection have grown compared to a year ago.

"But I'm not optimistic because that's where the national economy is," Fitzgerald said. "I'm not sure what happened in December, but I hope retail sales will change that."

His comments prompted several Dems to rise in rebuttal.

Minority Leader Mark Miller offered a critique of Gov. Scott Walker’s job creation efforts during closing statements today in a preemptive shot at the guv ahead of tomorrow’s State of the State address.

Miller, D-Monona, said the state was poised to make progress on the job creation front at the beginning of last year. But he charged Walker took the state in a new direction after taking office in January 2011, putting the state on an extreme agenda that he said reversed that progress.

It included reducing opportunities for workers to acquire new skills, raising college tuition, and reducing taxes for the corporations and the wealthy instead of investing in workers and families.

“Our state and our citizens are paying the price for these failed policies,” Miller said.

“It’s time to get Wisconsin working.”

The state Senate today approved via voice vote legislation to establish new standards for the use of physical restraint and seclusion in Wisconsin schols.

Sen. Luther Olsen praised the legislation and the various groups that came together to work on it.

He said sometimes restraint and seclusion are needed.

"But we need to do it right so we can protect the studtns and the adults who work with them," said Olsen, R-Ripon.

The legislation would allow seclusion and physica restraints to be used on students on if certain conditions were met, including the pupil's behavior presenting a clear and immediate risk to the student and others and the degree of force or seclusion used is only what's necessary to resolve the risk.

It also would prohibit certain techniques from being used such as pressure on the student's chest, neck or throat.

"It does protect students, it does protect the staff and it makes sure parents know what's going on at school," said Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point

The bill was referred back to the committee on Senate Organization. The bill would exempt certain UW campuses from a prohibition on raising tuition beyond the 5.5 percent cap created by the 2011-13 budget. Campuses at Parkside, Green Bay, Stevens Point and the two-year colleges wish to create differential tuition for portions of the campus.

The Senate is reconvening with a quorum call.

The state Senate has recessed until 1 p.m. for partisan caucuses.

The Senate approved a resolution wishing Rep. Tamara Grigsby a speedy recovery.

She has been battling cancer and was hospitalized last month. She has since returned home to continue her recovery.

The Senate voted along party lines to send back to Org a resolution changing the body's rules to prevent the committee from waiving a rule requiring a bill to receive a public hearing before it could be placed on the calendar.

Dems complained there is a growing perception that the Legislature is limiting public access to the body and argued the rules change would help alleviate that.

Senate President Mike Ellis countered the rule allowing Org to waive the public hearing requirement has been on the books through Dem and GOP majorities and noted the rules passed unanimously last year when they were proposed.

"These rules are not a product of a Republican-controlled Senate," Ellis said. "They're the product of past history. Whether that's good or bad is in the eye of the beholder."

Countered Sen. Fred Risser," It has been on the books a long time. It's time to change that right now."

Senate President Mike Ellis is calling the session to order, and roll is being taken.

The hour of 11 a.m. having come and gone, Sen. Joe Leibham just announced the Senate will convene at 11:30 a.m.

The state Senate is set to be on the floor beginning at 11 a.m.

Today’s calendar includes legislation to limit the ability of school employees to use physical restraints on students and allowing high schools to grant a vocational diploma.

The Senate passed remaining bills on the calendar, including one changing the requirements of the membership of the Natural Resources Board. That bill would require an agricultural representative on the board and at least three people who have held a trapping, fishing or hunting license in seven of the last 10 years. The bill passed 23-9 and now goes to the governor's desk for approval.

Senate President Mike Ellis made a ruling before adjournment regarding Senate Resolution 22, which prohibits Senate Organization from waiving the requirement for a public hearing for a bill that comes to the floor. That bill will now come to the floor in the next floor period.

The Senate unanimously passed a bill that would waive certain fees for occupational licenses for veterans. The bill was included as part of Gov. Scott Walker's "Wisconsin Working" agenda released last week.

Walker released a statement praising the Senate and Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, for their action on the bill.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald moved to refer the bill back to Senate Org. The bill would essentially affirm a decision from the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules to suspend requirements for a time length for concealed carry training necessary to obtain a permit.

A spokesman from JCRAR Chair and Sen. Leah Vukmir's office said they're still working with the Department of Justice on permanent rules and that there's no urgency to pass the bill as long as those talks are continuing.

Members from both sides of the aisle are giving their remembrances of former press corps dean Dick Wheeler, who passed away last fall. The Senate unanimously approved a resolution honoring Wheeler.

Other senators emphasized Wheeler's fair approach and sometimes prickly demeanor. Sen. Jon Erpenbach noted that outside of his daughter, Dick Wheeler gave "the best eye-rolls" ever. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said that the fact that Wheeler is gone is only just hitting him now.

"I think Dick would be somewhat uncomfortable with the attention given to him, and expect us to turn the attention back on ourselves," said Sen. Bob Jauch,D-Poplar.

The Senate voted 18-14 to amend an Assembly change to the open enrollment bill.

The Senate originally passed its version of the bill 20-11 in early 2011.

The Assembly approved an amendment that would only allow a student to transfer to a school out of the student's district if the resident's school district, receiving district and parents agreed the transfer was in the student's best interest. The Senate amended this to allow parents to appeal the decision to the Department of Public Instruction if the resident school district blocks the transfer.

Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, tried to refer the bill back to the education committee for further DPI input, but that motion failed 15-17.

Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah, is calling senators back into the chambers.

After a series of resolutions honoring fallen soldiers, the Senate has broken for a reception with the families in the Senate Parlor, followed by caucus. They intend to return to deal with the rest of the calendar at 1 p.m.

The Senate is now in session.

The state Senate will be in this morning for its first floor session of the year.

The calendar includes three appointments to the Board of Regents and an Assembly bill to place new requirements on membership for the DNR Board.

The state Assembly is due to meet on Jan. 26.

Rep. Leon Young is urging fellow Milwaukee Dem Peggy Krusick to voluntarily leave the caucus, saying an amendment she offered this week to bar the use of race in handing out college grants to poor students was counter to the party’s core values.

But Krusick shrugged off the suggestion last night during a brief interview outside the Assembly chamber while most of her fellow Dems were in caucus.

Krusick’s amendment was approved early Wednesday when Republicans joined her in supporting it. But it turned out to be a moot point because the Higher Education Aids Board stopped using race as a factor in awarding Talent Incentive Program grants more than a year ago.

“Standing up for minorities is a core value of the Democratic Party and Rep. Krusick’s amendment is counterproductive to our objectives,” Young said. “While I continue to respect her independent voice, her actions have undermined the Caucus and its goals.

“Since Rep. Krusick has already indicated that she has no intention of altering her maverick voting behavior, I believe that the only recourse is for her to remove herself from our Caucus.”

The blow-up over Krusick’s amendment prompted some Dems to even talk of trying to expel her.

Asked last night if she remained a member of the caucus, Krusick just shrugged her shoulders. She pointed out her amendment was approved and that the vote speaks for itself.

“I’ll always vote my district first,” Krusick said.

After Republicans turned away two pulling motions from Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, the Assembly has adjourned its final session of the fall floorperiod.

Dems have delayed taking up the Senate message of a bill that would, in part, eliminate damages in employment discrimination cases.

A number of Dems objected to taking up Senate messaging of a bill creating an elected comptroller for Milwaukee County, but the chamber overwhelmingly overrode that objection on an 82-11 vote.

Opponents said the issue was one of local control and complained that the legislation was rushed.

“We have unfairly put this before Milwaukee County without due process,” said Rep. Elizabeth Coggs, D-Milwaukee.

Rep. JoCaste Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, countered that the legislation would “ensure that the people of Milwaukee will have a truly independent comptroller” not beholden to the county executive or county board.

The bill passed on a 79-11 vote.

The Assembly has concurred in today's Senate changes to castle doctrine legislation, clearing the way for the governor's signature.

The Senate amendment, authored by Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, includes EMTs and fire fighters in the bill's language exempting police officers from some aspects of the bill.

SB 199 -- dealing with private sewage system maintenance programs -- has also been delayed on a Dem objection to messaging to the Senate.

The Assembly has passed a bill allowing local units of government to repeal comprehensive plans implemented under the state's “Smart Growth” law, but the bill cannot move forward until next year.

Dems said most local governments have already complied with the requirements of the law and argued that its provisions help control the costs of government.

“This bill makes no economic sense,” said Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison.

Republicans argue the property rights provisions of the bill have sparked concerns in some areas of the state, noting that communities that want to keep their “Smart Growth” plans would be allowed to.

The bill passed 56-38, but Dems objected to messaging to the Senate.

The Assembly has finally passed AB 142, dealing with Talent Incentive grants for Wisconsin college students, on a 58-35 vote.

The bill tied up the chamber's Tuesday session well into Wednesday morning over an amendment excluding race from consideration in the awarding of grants.

Dems objected to messaging of the bill to the Senate after passage, delaying the measure until early next year.

The Assembly has concurred in legislation that would allow individuals suing the state to file in the county of their choosing.

Currently, those suits are filed in Dane County. The measure passed without debate by a 58-34 margin.

The Assembly has concurred in a wide-ranging education bill that would, among its other provisions, allow test scores to be considered in teacher evaluations.

“It would be equivalent to firing doctors because they only work on the most difficult cases,” said Rep. Cory Mason, D-Racine, of that aspect of the bill.

A Dem amendment to remove that provision was tabled 57-37. The bill passed 54-38.

Dems are now completely out of caucus and session has resumed.

After a voice vote to message SB 86 -- allowing school districts to fire or refuse to hire convicted felons -- to the Senate with most Dem lawmakers still off the floor, Dem leaders admonished Republicans and sought to return to caucus.

Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison, said the caucus is working as expeditiously as possible to resolve ongoing issues, and that she “strenuously object(s) to being called out here” before their business is completed.

Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, then berated Republicans, promising that they would be in the minority someday in the future.

“This abuse of power has got to stop,” Barca declared. “We do not behave like this. We do not treat each other like this.”

Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, R-Horicon, responded that he's trying to work with Dems, but that they've been in caucus for hours without a hint of a timeline.

“Don't punish the rest of us here because you can't control your caucus,” Fitzgerald said.

After one protester in the gallery yelled an expletive during Fitzgerald's remarks, Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Kramer ordered the gallery cleared.

The Assembly is now back in caucus; lawmakers intend to reconvene at 2:30 a.m.

With the Dem caucus approaching three hours, the chamber's billboard now indicates that the Assembly will reconvene at 1:15 a.m.

UPDATE - 1:19 a.m.: Quorum call is underway, with most Dems still not in the chamber.

The Assembly has recessed for a Dem caucus.

The Assembly has passed two of the special session bills litigation bills.

The first bill limits interest rates on civil actions for consumers who win judgments to 1 percent plus prime rate. The bill passed 59-36 and will head to the governor.

The second bill says that a real property owner is not liable for injury or death of a person trespassing on their property. This does not apply if the owner willfully, wanton or recklessly caused the injury. It also does not apply in certain conditions if the trespasser is a child. The bill passed 80-15.

Currently, the Assembly is taking up the bill that would force judges to presume that reasonable attorney’s fees do not exceed three times the compensatory damages awarded. The court could overcome this presumption, however, with proper justification.

Democrats argue that the bill would make it impossible for certain residents, such as students, to sue landlords and businesses under the consumer protection act, because lawyers would no longer take cases for small amounts.

"Were picking the winners and that’s the unscrupulous businesses who screwed them over," said Rep. Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis.

Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, responded to a question from Dem. Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, as to whether he would pay less in attorneys fees under a pending case. Vos said he would not, as the bill wouldn't apply retroactively.

UPDATE: The Assembly voted 55-39 to approve the limits on attorneys fees.

Minority Leader Peter Barca complained the legislation would gut Wisconsin's "lemon law" and be detrimental to consumers.

"It's all about the little guy," Barca said, repeatedly calling the bill "terrible."

Vos countered the bill would not impact the "lemon law" and said Republicans doubled to $10,000 the size of a case that could go to small claims court. He also said Dems were misinterpreting the bill because it does not establish a hard cap, but rather sets a statewide standard that judges should consider.

He also rebuffed criticism from Dems about his own case dealing with attorneys' fees, saying about a fourth of the Dem caucus are attorneys who would be impacted by the legislation as well.

"Well, no, it's not," Vos said, responding to Barca's criticism. "It's about the trial attorney."

On a unanimous vote, the Assembly passed a bill that would expand the range for loan amounts for the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority agricultural production loans.

The bill takes the current range for loans, $30,000 to $100,000, to between $2,000 and $150,000. It also extends the time in which the loans can be used.

On a separate note, the body also referred the bill creating the Next Generation Reserve Board, which is intended help growth in the bio-science industry, to the Joint Finance Committee. JFC co-chair Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the bill may come back from JFC along with venture capital provisions.

"No bills go to Joint Finance Committee to die, its where bills are given life," Vos said to much laughter.

In the middle of the special session, Rep. Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, pushed to bring up a bill that would allow signs in the Assembly galley, but Rep. Evan Wynn, R- Whitewater, said he would not introduce the bill after getting only a few co-sponsors.

Wynn, in response to a question, said the bill was only co-sponsored by eight Democrats and three Republicans.

Rep. Mark Pocan said such legislation was necessary tonight, given that some of the gallery observers have been removed during the session for, according to Pocan, holding signs with Jesus, the American flag and Mother Teresa.

"I know those are all highly revolutionary and cause problems, but that’s what’s happened tonight," Pocan said.

Assembly Majority Leader Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said that while they might take up the issue at some point, it was not the time.

The Assembly quickly passed a bill streamlining certain functions of the Department of Revenue in a 72-22 vote. The bill will now head to the governor for his signature.

Democrats tried to push a bill for tech college grants relating to advanced manufacturing skills, arguing that the bill would actually create jobs. The motion to withdraw and take up the bill failed in a 40-55 vote.

Democrats argued that the bill, which would increase the grants given for tech college training for advanced manufacturing skills, would immediately benefit an economy looking for skilled labor. They also criticized Republicans for not bringing up the bill, which has already passed the Senate on a nearly unanimous vote. (Cowles was the only senator to vote against it.)

Joint Finance Committee co-chair Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and other Republicans argued the potential lapses in revenues and gap in Medicaid funding means there needs to be a defined source of funding for each bill, which he said the Democratic proposal didn't have.

Currently, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca is arguing for the Assembly to take up another special session bill making tax credits for angel and early stage seed investments refundable.

UPDATE: The Assembly failed to take up the bill.

They've also passed SSS SB 3, relating to the the film production service tax credit application fee.

The Assembly passed a bill that expands the small business loan guarantee program in a voice vote. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.

The bill would expand eligibility for the program by redefining small businesses as those with 250 or fewer employees rather than 50 or fewer, increasing the capital that can be provided by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority and removing the requirement that a business owner receiving the grant must be actively engaged in the business.

Democrats offered several amendments to the bill, each of which was voted down. Rep. Chris Danou, D-Trempealeau, offered an amendment that would ensure some of the funds go to businesses in rural communities, something other Democrats asserted might harm those in urban communities who are also vying for the loans.

Barca said Democrats supported the proposal, but pushed Republicans to take up a Democratic special session bill first, namely SSS SB 16, which would provide a system through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation that would award entrepreneurial tax credit access grants.

The bill was moved to the foot of the special session calendar.

We're standing informal as Democrats and Republicans discuss a motion from Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca to take up a Democratic special session bill.

We're a tad late here, but the Assembly is starting to get back to business.

Dems are out of caucus and heading back to the Assembly floor.

After a motion to move SB 272 -- which would restore indexing of Homestead Tax Credit -- to Senate Org fell short, the Senate has adjourned its final session of the 2011 fall floorperiod.

The Senate has passed AB 69 on a 26-7 vote.

The measure would enact the “castle doctrine,” providing immunity to property owners using lethal force against an intruder.

But the chamber approved Dem Sen. Jon Erpenbach's amendment to add EMTs and firefighters to language exempting peace officers on a voice vote, meaning it must return to the Assembly for concurrence.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said Wisconsinites should not have to consider their liability when defending their home and family.

“This is about protecting life, not property,” Wanggaard said.

But several Dems said the proposal went too far, with Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, lamenting that the National Rifle Association had more sway in the chamber than the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Sen. Ellis has rung the bell once again.

UPDATE - 2:40 p.m.: The chamber is back in session.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said staff is currently in discussions with Assembly Republicans over Sen. Erpenbach's amendment to AB 69. The chamber has recessed for half an hour while those talks continue.

The Senate has passed legislation that would, in part, eliminate damages in cases of employment discrimination.

The measure also deals with cases of unfair honesty or genetic testing. It passed 17-16.

Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, objected to third reading of SB 202 during Wednesday's session.

The chamber also concurred in two Assembly bills relating to railroad crossings and municipal collective bargaining agreements on voice votes.

The Senate has moved AB 69, which would enact the “ castle doctrine,” to the foot of its calendar after some confusion over a Dem amendment.

The chamber originally approved the amendment -- which author Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, said would add EMTs and firefighters as “public safety workers” exempted from the bill's provisions along with police officers -- before voting to reconsider.

“If this (amendment) doesn't pass, this day in the state senate is truly bought and paid for by the NRA,” Erpenbach said.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said there was concern about that provision of the bill and that “we're going to try and move through this by the end of the day.”

The Senate has concurred in Assembly changes to SB 116 on a voice vote, clearing the way for the state's fall primary to move from the second week in September up to the second week in August.

The bill fulfills the state's requirements under federal law to provide 45 days for military and overseas voters to return absentee ballots.

A Dem amendment allowing clerks to send absentee ballots to all voters via email was tabled on a 17-16 vote.

After some initial hesitancy to reject the amendment among his caucus, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said he was concerned about the security of emailed ballots in addition to the constitutional issues raised by Sen. Lazich.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, called that “the weakest excuse I've heard, ever.”

“You have to verify who you are with ... a photo ID,” Erpenbach said.

Both Dems and GOP representatives have headed into caucus.

The Senate is in a 15-minute recess so Republicans can caucus over a proposed change to a bill moving up the state's fall primary.

The Assembly version of the bill eliminated the capability of local clerks to distribute absentee ballots to state residents via email. Dems sought to allow emailed ballots within the state, charging that the current bill amounted to voter suppression.

“I don't know, this sounds like a good amendment,” said Sen. Mike Ellis, R-Neenah. “So I wish somebody on my side of the aisle should tell me why I shouldn't vote for it.”

Sen. Mary Lazich, R-New Berlin, said lawmakers decided to exclude in-state email because clerks in some areas of the state don't have the capacity to adaquately email ballots.

“Right now, to keep this constitutional, to keep it consistent, we do not use email ballots,” Lazich said.

Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville and the author of the amendment, asked, “Is it our job to make our election process easier for the clerks, or is it our job to make the elction process easier for the voter?”

UPDATE - 12:25 p.m.: The Senate has reconvened.

The Assembly is in session.

Senate President Mike Ellis has rung the bell to call senators to the chamber.

The Assembly Committee on Organization passed an amended version of the Assembly policy on concealed carry along party lines, which would allow concealed weapons on the floor or in the gallery.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca attempted to amend the proposal to include signs in the gallery as well. Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald said while there is a valid discussion to be had on cameras in the gallery, signs don't make sense for an "observation deck."

During the debate, Fitzgerald once again raised the possibility of reinstating metal detectors and security in the Capitol as an alternative to allowing concealed carry.

"I wouldn't mind seeing a discussion on both sides of the aisle on that," Fitzgerald said. "I just know that a lot of your folks feel that things should be open."

The Assembly did amend the policy slightly to add the word "concealed" before weapon, after Barca raised concerns about people openly carrying rifles into the gallery.

Another amendment from Barca attempting to prohibit the loading and reloading of weapons was shot down after Assembly Majority Leader Suder pointed out such an action would likely conflict with a prohibition on brandishing a weapon to cause fear.

Chief Clerk Rob Marchant has announced that this morning's floor session will start a little late.