Wis. Assembly debates amendments to union bill

Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (back to camera on right), D-Kenosha, encourages legislators to stand up and applaud the citizens voicing their opinion at the state Capitol in Madison on Tuesday. Opponents to the governor's bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for many state workers are in their eighth day of large-scale protests. (AP Photo/Andy Manis)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly has voted down the first of dozens of proposed Democratic amendments to a bill that would cut collective bargaining rights for most public employees.

Debate on the amendments started Tuesday afternoon and was expected to last for hours as the Democrats try to derail a plan they call an assault on workers’ rights.

Republicans who control the chamber so far are standing firm in opposition and accusing the Democrats of stalling the plan they say is needed to balance the state budget. The first amendment was voted down 57-37, and the others are also expected to fail.

The Democratic amendments include measures that would restore public workers’ right to strike and require approval in a public referendum before the bill would take affect.