Posted on 02/28/2011 9:15:21 AM PST by bigbob
The Department of Administration issued a statement this morning that no additional protesters will be allowed to enter the Capitol until remaining opponents of the budget repair bill comply with law enforcement orders to clear the building.
DOA Executive Assistant Jodi Jensen said the majority of protesters departed the building upon the request of Capitol Police Sunday evening, and that those who remained have complied with officers and remained in a "designed area of the building."
"Officers in the building are continuing to work with those few individuals to gain their compliance. No additional protestors will be allowed into the building until this situation is resolved. Once it is, law enforcement will continue to implement the procedures that were announced this morning," Jensen said. "Under those procedures, protestors will be allowed into the building, but crowd size will be adjusted to accommodate the cleaning crews, the preparation for the Tuesdays joint legislative session and the number of protestors who remained in the building overnight."
Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca said announcing the "surprise" lockdown after its implementation is unacceptable.
"Denying people access to the People's House of Democracy and their elected representatives is not acceptable, especially when it was not communicated to offices in the building and to the public or media in advance and there have been no incidents to date," said Barca, D-Kenosha, in a statement. "Politicians may not always enjoy hearing what the citizens of this state have to say, but it is wrong to block elected officials from their constituents."
Scroll down to read the new "rules" which have been published and are being enforced. This should defuse the situation in a few days and the liberal astroturfers won't get the publicity they came (i.e. were hired) for.
The new rules:
The Department of Administration says cleaning the Capitol will take longer than expected.
In a statement this morning, the agency said a cleaning crew began work last night with a second shift cleaning through today. A third will wrap up Monday night before law enforcement begins preparing tomorrow for the governor’s budget address.
DOA says the following procedures will be in place today:
Visitors to the Capitol will enter at the King Street entrance.
A handicapped entrance will be available at the Martin Luther King, Jr. entrance.
Visitors will be admitted to meet with legislators and other officials who work in the building, to attend committee hearings and to observe the state Assembly and state Senate if they are in session.
Capitol Police will be stationed at the King Street entrance and can assist members of the public who do not have an appointment, but who wish to see their legislators or meet with others in the building.
Protestors will be allowed into the building, but crowd size will be adjusted to accommodate the cleaning crews, the preparation for the Tuesdays joint legislative session and the number of protestors who remained in the building overnight.
Items that created safety or fire hazards and were removed from the building beginning on Friday will not be allowed back in.
Police will continue the practice that began on Saturday of disallowing items including sleeping bags, blankets and animals (other than service animals) into the building.
Members of the media will enter the Capitol at the West Washington entrance.
sounds good to me...
They need to setup speakers and play Ronald Reagan speeches 24/7. Maybe add some Ann Coulter and Mark Levine.
These “demonstrators” can go only so long without a half pint of wine and a cigarette.
What if our elected officials have run off to another state?
Barca can’t be so stupid as to think this rent-a-mob is really from his state. The names and addresses of those remaining in the building should be published.
Are they stopping the protesters from travelling to Illinois now?
That is entirely uncalled for!
My thoughts exactly.
Animals? They were bringing animals into the building?
“They need to setup speakers and play Ronald Reagan speeches 24/7”
And maybe some Slim Whitman. Make their heads explode!
The people left in the Bldg. are unemployed and most likely homeless. They are sitting around playing their Bongo Drums will most likely start singing 1960 songs soon.
Ole Slim yep that would get me out of there pronto lol.
Hee! Too bad Rush has a cold today or someone could rent a PA system and blast ‘em with The EIB Network!
“They need to setup speakers and play Ronald Reagan speeches 24/7. Maybe add some Ann Coulter and Mark Levine.”
Levine has the most obnoxious voice in America...just use him on LOUD
...Mark Levine...”The human vezuvula”....
Beck is who really drives them crazy.
“Animals? They were bringing animals into the building? “
You know those 200 goats killed on I5 this morning? Where do you think they were going?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.