‘Capitol Chaos’ event focused on Wisconsin’s future after the passage of Gov. Scot

Christian Schneider, left, senior fellow at Wisconsin Policy Research Institute and Scott Ross, right, executive director of One Wisconsin Now

On Thursday, March 10, about 25 local journalists gathered at Brocach’s on the Capitol Square to hear Scot Ross, executive director of the liberal group One Wisconsin Now, and Christian Schneider, senior fellow at the conservative Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, discuss Gov. Scott Walker’s budget repair bill and the protests and legislative chaos it spawned. The event was hosted by the Madison Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ).

The Wisconsin Senate passed an amended budget repair bill the night before the SPJ event, and the Assembly passed it the day of the SPJ gathering. Those timely events steered the discussion to focus on what is next for both those who support the bill and those who do not. The following day, Gov. Walker signed the bill into law.

Ross and Schneider shared their thoughts on several issues, including how the two sides will be able to work together legislatively in the coming months and years; the recall efforts for both the governor and members of the legislature; and what the media got right and wrong in its coverage. You can listen to the full discussion and the follow-up questions from the crowd at Wisconsin Eye.