Thousands surround Capitol in Wisconsin

A state Capitol thrown into chaos swelled for a fifth day Saturday with thousands of protesters, as supporters of Republican efforts to scrap the union rights of state workers added their voices to the debate and GOP leaders insisted there was no room for compromise.
Supporters of Gov. Scott Walker gathered on the east side of the Capitol, surrounded by a much larger group of pro-labor demonstrators who since Tuesday have filled the Capitol. Walker has proposed requiring government workers to contribute more to health care and pension costs and largely eliminating their collective bargaining rights.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Republicans — in control of both the state Senate and Assembly — have the votes needed pass the measure.
“The bill is not negotiable,” he said. “The bill will pass as is.”
But not without 14 Senate Democrats who fled the state on Thursday in an effort to rescue collective bargaining.