Shilling sounds off at Republicans’ flurry of last-minute bills

Senator urges Democrats’ inclusion

It’s a pretty typical gambit for the Wisconsin legislature – waiting until the last minute to squeeze through all sorts of legislation.

That is what’s happening right now, which is what prompted La Crosse state Sen. Jennifer Shilling to ask for a little consideration on the floor of the senate Tuesday.

“We have a blizzard of bills that are coming through,” Schilling pleaded, “and committees are working and staff are working hard to keep up. I just ask and request that you respect the role of the minority.”

In other words, Shilling says, allow democrats to have a voice in legislation, too.

Often, the party in charge quickly passes bills through the legislature without considering minority party amendments. 

Shilling says it feels like the last couple of weeks of lawmaking in Madison will be like putting “50 gallons of policy into a 10-gallon bucket.”