Via Jeff Rae

The protest was sparked by Gov. Scott Walker's proposed budget repair legislation, which would remove state employees' collective bargaining rights and mandate workers to pay more for health care and pension funds.  It has taken on a larger character, however, pitting working class needs like education and public transportation infrastructure against austerity rhetoric.

Tom Morello, former member of Rage Against The Machine and currently The Nightwatchman, performed an acoustic set outside at noon CST, starting by saying "I'm a proud union man."  

He told the crowd: "The future of the rights of working people is going to be decided on the streets of Madison," Morello said. "You're making history here and the whole world is watching."

Morello also read a letter from an organizer in Egypt's Tahrir Square which expressed support for the Madison protest.  A larger event was schedued for 5 p.m. CST.

Inside, a lively crowd of students, teachers, state workers and concerned citizens clapped along to bagpipes, political speeches and chants.  By all accounts, they are enjoying themselves very much.  Monday is a state-mandated furlough day for government employees, freeing many to attend.

Teachers in Milwaukee were not required to be in school for the Presidents' Day holiday, but schools elsewhere in the state had classes scheduled.  Teachers across the state, however, remained on strike.

In a key decision, Madison's teachers' union voted Sunday to return to work Tuesday:

"John Matthews, executive director of Madison Teachers Inc., said union members decided to continue their protests on Monday, a move that forced the district to cancel classes Monday.

Although they are returning to work on Tuesday, Matthews said teachers would continue to protest at the Capitol against Walker's budget repair bill before and after school."

Walker has ridiculed Wisconsin's Senate Democrats, who relocated to Rockford, Illinois rather than vote on the budget legislation (which is expected to pass given the Republican majority there).

He said in a statement Monday:  "Instead of stimulating the hospitality sector of Illinois’ economy, Senate Democrats should come back to the Madison, debate the bill, cast their vote, and help get Wisconsin’s economy back on track." 

The AP reported that Senate Republicans may try to attach a major part of the budget legislation bill to another bill on Tuesday, thwarting the "Wisconsin 14":

"Democratic state Sen. Jon Erpenbach told The Associated Press on Monday that Republicans could attempt to attach the part of the proposal taking away collective bargaining rights to an unrelated bill and pass it Tuesday."