MADISON (WKOW) -- Some of the people who regularly protest Governor Scott Walker's policies say they will ignore new rules on demonstrations at the State Capitol.
Department of Administration officials Thursday released a state facilities policy that includes the potential for the costs of policing demonstrations to be passed along to protest groups, and requires all but the smallest of groups to obtain a permit 72 hours before any activism.
Chris Reeder leads a daily protest sing-a-long at the State Capitol, and told 27 News the singers will continue to gather each weekday in the Capitol rotunda at noon and apply for no permit.
Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts (D-Middleton) hopes other activists would likewise ignore the facilities policy, calling it an assault on free speech rights.
"It's absurd," Pope-Roberts told 27 News.
But Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) said the Capitol serves as an office building and historical site, and plays hosts to dozens of school groups and others. Grothman told 27 News requiring an advance permit is no different than a practice at state parks.
The policy states if Capitol police officers need additional law enforcement personnel to provide security at a demonstration, the rate of $50 per hour for each additional officer could be required of the group staging the protest. Grothman said he's confident such a charge would not be levied.
"Our goal is to provide equal and continual access for all Wisconsinites to their state buildings in a way that is reasonable and safe," DOA Secretary Mike Huebsch said in a statement.
The policy allows for some spontaneous demonstrations, if connected to a current event within the same week.
Madison attorney Jeff Scott Olson specializes in first amendment issues and said policies affecting free speech need to be strictly limited and provide the opportunity for judicial review or risk violating constitutional tenets. Olson said a policy clause relying on the content of a demonstration to determine its legality is discriminatory.
State officials said education on the policy would be carried out through December 16, even though the policy is technically in place.
