Assembly Budget Debate Resumes After Bomb Threat Leads To Evacuation Of Capitol

The Wisconsin state Capitol is once again open and the state Assembly has re-convened to deliverate over the state budget after a bomb threat led to a 90-minute evacuation of the Capitol building and grounds.

The evacuation occurred shortly before 4 p.m. Wednesday as lawmakers in the state Assembly were in the middle of budget debate. Police cleared both the building and grounds around the Capitol square where hundreds of people were gathering for an outdoor concert.

The state Department of Administration says the building was clear of any threat, but that no further details would be released Wednesday because an investigation is ongoing. Department spokesman Cullen Werwie said in an email the evacuation was due to a credible bomb threat.

Meanwhile, lawmakers have picked up where they left off in the debate over the state budget, although Republicans are not expected to make any changes to the bill, which passed the Senate on an 18-15 vote Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said this budget was for everyone. He highlighted the way it preserved SeniorCare and held the line on taxes.

“There are no new income taxes, no new sales taxes and property taxes are frozen,” he said.

Madison Democratic Rep. Chris Taylor shot back that the budget underfunded public schools and the University of Wisconsin while rewarding GOP backers like the voucher school lobby.

“They’ve done really well in this budget, it’s just the rest of us who aren’t doing very well in this budget,” said Taylor.

Vos told reporters he had not talked to Gov. Scott Walker about what provisions might get vetoed, but Vos assumed Walker would sign the budget this week.