State Rep. Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, announced Thursday that he will engage in a sit-in at the Capitol until the state budget is done.
Nelson said he would stay in the Assembly chambers, at his desk, 24 hours a day, seven days a week until a budget passes the state Assembly and state Senate.
The budget is currently 109 days overdue, with a recent attempt to pass the budget failing to pass the state Assembly Monday. Wisconsin is the only state with a fiscal year that starts July 1 to not have a budget.
Nelson said he was inspired to do the sit-in last night after coming across a newspaper article on a UW-Green Bay student who was denied financial aid due to the budget impasse. Nelson said he then had to ask himself what he was personally doing to move the budget process along.
The question isn't why am I here, the question is where is everyone else?"" Nelson said.
After the Assembly vote on Monday failed to pass a budget, Nelson made a motion not to adjourn while all the legislators were still in the Assembly chambers.
This was not successful, and Nelson said he then asked for a roll call vote to show ""everyone in this state [which legislators are] interested in passing a budget and who is just giving up and going home.""
Nelson said many other legislators, Democrat and Republican, have stopped by his desk and supported his efforts.
The stalled budget affects senior citizen care, student financial aid, the stewardship fund and numerous other parts of the state in negative ways, according to Nelson.
""I can't go back to my district, look my constituents in the eyes, and tell them I'm doing everything until a budget is done, unless I'm here,"" Nelson said.
Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said at a press conference that Nelson's sit-in would have no impact on budget negotiations. Huebsch said the sit-in was likely a way for Nelson to gain media attention.
""The Democrats have even resorted to sit-ins to call for higher taxes,"" Huebsch said.
Huebsch also said the budget negotiations with Gov. Jim Doyle were progressing significantly since Monday. Huebsch said both sides in the discussions were making compromises.
