Photos: Looking back at the night Act 10 passed in the Wisconsin Senate
Republican Gov. Scott Walker is perhaps most known in Wisconsin for passing Act 10 -- a law that essentially wiped out the power of public sector labor unions. The proposal led to weeks of huge protests that overtook the Capitol and even spurred a contingent of Democratic lawmakers to flee the state to stall a vote. One of the biggest surprises during the chaotic time came late in the evening of March 9, 2011, when Senate Republicans used a series of parliamentary maneuvers to overcome a three-week stalemate with Democrats and pass the bill. With a crowd of protesters chanting outside their chambers, senators approved an amended version of Walker's bill that stripped most collective bargaining rights from public employees and raised employee payments for pension and health benefits. After the session, Senate Republicans scattered, answering no questions. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a news release: "Enough is enough." The conflict led to the largest series of protests at the Capitol since the Vietnam War. Here's a look back at the night Act 10 passed in the Senate.
Barca, Fitzgerald
State Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, (right) clashes with state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, D-Juneau, (left) during a meeting of the state Legislature's conference committee at the state Capitol on Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Conference committee Fitzgerald bangs the gavel while Barca protests
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald bangs the gavel over the protests of Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, right, during a hastily called conference committee meeting at which Republicans voted to send Gov. Scott Walker's controversial budget repair bill back to the two chambers of the Legislature. Democrats charged that the meeting, called less than two hours earlier, was convened illegally. News of the vote drew throngs of protesters to the Capitol on Wednesday evening.
Scott Fitzgerald, Jeff Fitzgerald
Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, left, and his brother, House Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, leave the state Capitol Senate parlor after approving an amended version of the state's controversial budget bill.
Legislators, protesters
Opponents of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill deride legislators as they leave the senate parlor at the state Capitol where they voted to move forward on an amended version of the controversial bill.
C.J. Terrell, Jason Kempen, protesters
Opponents of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill, including C.J. Terrell, foreground, and Jason Kempen, behind, demonstrate outside the senate parlor at the state Capitol as legislators inside move forward on an amended version of the controversial bill.
State senate prepares to vote
The state Senate prepares to vote after a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee Wednesday evening.
Protesters chanting
"Hell, no, we won't go," chant protesters after the state Senate passed the budget repair bill Wednesday evening.
Dale Schultz
State Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) responds to media questions after voting against the budget repair bill following a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011. Schultz was the lone Republican voting against the bill.
Amy Sue Vruwink
After a protester outside threw a snowball hitting a window at the state Capitol, State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink (D-Milladore) implores protesters to remain peaceful during a press conference of Democratic state Assembly members after the state Senate passed the budget repair bill following a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Voting no
State Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center) says "no" during a vote on the budget repair bill after a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011. Schultz was the lone Republican voting against the bill.
Peter Barca
State Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) speaks during a press conference of Democratic state Assembly members after the state Senate passed the budget repair bill following a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Tears after vote
Tears roll down the face of Liz Sanger of Madison after the state Senate passed the budget repair bill following a meeting of a state Legislature conference committee at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Troopers in stairwell
Wisconsin State Troopers flood a stairwell after protesters rushed into the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Capitol interior
The state Capitol in Madison, Wis., has been reoccupied by protesters who rushed into the building after hours, Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Troopers confer
Wisconsin State Troopers confer after protesters rushed into the state Capitol in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011.
Watching protesters
Wisconsin State Patrol officers view demonstrators in the Wisconsin State Capitol Building after hundreds of protesters gained access to the building Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Protests at the Capitol have ramped up after Republican lawmakers passed an amended version of the state's controversial budget repair bill through the Senate. John Hart - State Journal.
Protesters
Protesters rush into the state Capitol at the West State Street entrance in Madison, Wis., Wednesday evening, March 9, 2011. M.P. King-State Journal
Between 2010 and 2017, four major public sector unions in Wisconsin saw significant decreases in their membership.
