MADISON (AP)—Several Republican lawmakers were charged with trespassing and marijuana possession after they staged an occupation of the UW-Madison Teaching Assistants' Association headquarters Thursday.
TAA President Kevin Gibbons was approaching the office around 8 p.m. when he heard a faint drum beat and whiffed some "really skunky ganja."
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the original plan was to camp out on Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi's lawn, but noted the TAA office "was, like, way closer to Qdoba."
An anonymous Republican state representative admitted to supplying the pot, but emphasized he does not support legalizing the drug.
"We must not let our family values be degraded by legitimizing such unholy substances," the assemblyman said before passing out on his half-eaten burrito.
When asked if he knew anything about the protest, Gov. Scott Walker said he "had no idea. I was just at home with the kids, being a family guy, doing what the taxpayers of Wisconsin elected me to do."
"That's bullshit," state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, said. "Scotty bailed when the plan changed. Said he ‘didn't feel comfortable in an academic setting.' Whatever, bro."
Democratic legislators looked on in awe and amusement as their colleagues from accross the aisle were dragged off in handcuffs.
"Look, we do stuff like this all the time," state Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said of his caucus. "But the first rule of legislative pot protests is to not drum so loud that you get busted by the fuzz. That's just poor policy."
