Courtesy @MissPronouncer

Wisconsin Senate Republicans have given have the 14 AWOL Senate Democrats an ultimatum: return to Wisconsin by 4 p.m. local time on Thursday, or be held in contempt. If that happens, Republicans could force police to bring the Democratic state senators back to Wisconsin.

The Associated Press reported: "The resolution says the Democrats would be found guilty of contempt and disorderly conduct if they don't return by 4 p.m., after which the Senate would issue an order similar to an arrest warrant. The order would give the chamber's sergeant at arms the power to take any necessary steps, including police assistance, to bring the senators back."

"This is not about a budget-repair bill or about politics," Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said. "This is much bigger than that and the minority party has forced our hand . . .  They're insulting the very fabric of our representative democracy."

Wisconsin state Senate Democrats say that despite the ultimatum, they're staying in Illinois.

"All fourteen of us remain in Illinois, very strong in our convictions," Sen. Jon Erpenbach said in a statement. "Issuing arrest warrants at 4 p.m. isn't going to solve the problem."

The strains of the budget stalemate were evident on Thursday, with Gov. Scott Walker limiting public access to the Capitol building. The move forced Wisconsin Assembly Democrats to remove their desks from their chambers and set up shop outside.

"Obviously there was a court order to open this building and anybody with a brain would tell you they're defying the court order," said Minority Leader Peter Barca.

Judge John Albert almost cleared the Capitol Wednesday after two days of hearings on the matter:

"He told a packed courtroom shortly after 6 p.m. [CST] Wednesday that he wanted to test the state Department of Administration's contention that building access would return to normal quickly if the protesters who have spent the last two weeks sleeping overnight in the rotunda left."

There are about 100 protesters still sleeping in the building:

"'It's worth a try,' a weary-sounding Albert said as he massaged his temples. 'They should be out of the Capitol because it's closed to business.'"

But the Attorney General's Office convinced not to do so, avoiding a confrontation that Walker had promised last week.

Former Dem state Rep. David Obey, who served more than four decades in the Assembly, tried to get in and was told to wait in line:

"I came here and tried to walk in. They told me to get in line and let in these folks who have been waiting for over an hour. My question is why the hell are they expected to wait an hour. This is their capitol, not just the governor's capitol. He is a temporary occupant of that building, he isn't a permanent king."