Republican state senators passed an amended version of the budget repair bill Wednesday night, sidestepping the requirement for a quorum and shocking the state.
They stripped the financial aspects from the original bill, leaving only the changes to collective bargaining.
After passing out of a contentious meeting of the Joint Committee on Conference, the bill passed through the Senate with an 18-1 vote. State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, was the only one to vote against it.
Protesters continue to flood the Capitol in anger over the bill, and Democratic Assembly members are trying to keep public hearings going through the night. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said Madison Police will not forcibly remove anyone from the Capitol.