Wisconsin state Republicans have approved Governor Scott Walker's "budget repair bill", which was stripped of its fiscal elements but retained its anti-union core. Protests against the bill, already underway, escalated almost immediately.

Earlier, Over 25,000 demonstrators swarmed the Capitol Building in Madison, Wisconsin to protest against Governor Scott Walker's budget bill. The measure is seen as a direct attack on unions, as it would strip labor groups of their collective bargaining power, as well as their health benefits. The measure would affect most state workers, including teachers. Wisconsin state Democrats have walked out on the budget bill vote, leaving the Wisconsin state Congress without a quorum. The fight has reached the national stage, with US President Barack Obama cautioning Wisconsin to reconsider. The battle in Madison highlights the differences in perception on the budget repair bill: is it a budget reduction bill, or a workers' rights reduction bill?