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Capitol protests cost state millions in damage, security

By   /   May 13, 2011  /   15 Comments

By Wisconsin Reporter

 
MADISON — When thousands of protesters took control of the state Capitol for a month earlier this year, they left behind thousands of dollars in damage and cost taxpayers millions of dollars in added security.
 
Gov. Scott Walker’s office Friday said the month-long protests cost more than $8 million in extra labor costs and property damage.

Of that amount, more than $7.8 million was spent on staffing the Capitol with Capitol Police and state and local authorities between Feb. 14 and March 13.
 
A spokesman for Gov. Scott Walker had no comment on the Department of Administration, or DOA, report. A spokesman for state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the senator was focused on the state Senate’s legislative agenda.

Local law enforcement agencies also were paid for the cost of salaries, lodging, meals and medical assistance while attending to the Capitol. 

 
The $8 million price tag includes:
  • $458,506 in Capitol Police overtime and staffing beyond what would be needed on a typical day.
  • $3.9 million for extra law enforcement  from around the state who assisted.
  • $3 million for assistance from other state agencies, including the State Patrol.
  • $422,252 in extra costs, such as providing food for local law enforcement assisting the Capitol Police.
While the Capitol maintains regular business hours, visitors may only enter through certain wings and are subject to metal detector screenings.
 
State Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, criticized the Walker administration for continuing to keep “extreme levels” of law enforcement, following the Capitol protests.
 
“We did not need to waste this money, nor do we need to continue to waste this money. The majority of the people here now are fourth-grade school children on tours,” he said.
 
State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said the Capitol was a “fortress” during the protests.
 
“The protests that occurred this spring were peaceful. It is unnecessary to turn the people’s house into a fortress, where the people are not welcome,” said state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison.
 
The DOA also estimated it will cost $270,000 to refurbish and restore the interior and exterior of the Capitol. Exterior repairs are scheduled to take place after the outdoor summer events planned at the Capitol.
 
DOA Secretary Mike Huebsch originally estimated that the repairs would cost $7.5 million.
 
The state hired historical architect Charles Quagliana to assess damage to the Capitol building and recommend remedies.
 
“Essentially, the building experienced three to five years of wear within a two-week period of late February and early March 2011,” Quagliana said in his report.
 
He recommended using:
  • A custom stain remover to clean marks and stains from stone in the Capitol, which will take about 80 to 100 hours.
  • A skilled mason to repair nicks and chips to stone materials, which will take about 200 to 250 hours.
  • Semi-skilled workers to clean the marble, for about 3,500 to 4,000 hours.
Interior repairs are expected to cost about $161,050, while exterior work — including replacing some shrubs and trees — is estimated to cost about $108,500.
 
Most of the work will take place in August, according to the DOA, so it won’t conflict with summer Capitol events.

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  • Dale

    It is a shame, shame, shame…that people took control of the Wisconsinites House. These people were acting like 4th graders hacing a tantrum. They can not call it a peaceful protest and have the Governer forcred to add security, not leave the building, bang on their drum, the singing and shouting of chants to make noise of disturbance. Also include the damage that was done to the interior and exterior of the Capital. These people were led on a leash by their big brother known as Oragnized Labor. I say stop the madness and stop the forced joining of unions. If the unions believe in the signs they, themselves, were carrying stating “IT’S ABOUT FREEDOM” then let the people chose to join the union or not.

  • Ralph Thompson

    I think the DEMOCRATIC PARTY and the union thugs should pay the cost of recalls. recount and the damages. I was their stupidity which caused this dammage. Also the only people that should lose their jobs should be the 14 idiots who ran off to Chicago or commie land.

    Thank you

    Ralph Thompson

    Baldwin, Wi 54002

    715-684-2763

  • Hollis Martin

    Send the bill to the Unions – They made the mess, they should clean it up.

  • Jeffrey

    Send the bill to the teachers union in particular…They seem to be the most destructive. Also alot of the blame has to fall on the state fleeing Democrats.

  • viola schmick

    I don’t understand why the Democrats keep opposing the governor’s budget bill saying everything proposed costs too much money while at the same time they are and have been running up HUGE costs with the Kloppenburg recount, the recalls, cleaning up the capital building and grounds, etc. – expenses they incurred for the taxpayers of the state!! Just watch proceedings on Wisconsin Eye and see for yourself!!

  • http://political-heat.blogspot.com Chris Walker

    Protesters aren’t upset about costs, they’re upset about radical cuts to services for poor families, education, and seniors. As for footing the bill, I would love to see an org find a way to get donations going. This protester would gladly pitch in $$$.

  • clear and honest

    If you believe the above, then you believe in Santa Clause and the tooth fairy. Walker knows that the bill for protest bothers the electorate, and these claims are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo exaggerated.

  • clear and honest

    My Lord, what a lie…..or if the above figures approximate the actual cost, then the Walker Administration is to blame for horrible personnel management. Another source says this:

    The estimates released Friday on the damage done to the state Capitol were done at a cost of $13,800 by Charles Quagliana, a historic preservation architect.

  • clear and honest

    Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie and more lies.

  • Irish Mom

    Right on, Viola. Also I certainly hope that the Governor does NOT hire any unions to do the clean up–give the work to private contractors on bids and stimulate the economy a little!

    Also, I watched the YouTube of a couple of guys trying to scrub off the pain on a monument or something on the Capitol grounds, and they were having a really hard time. I say, leave it there as a “monument” to the damage that the union protesters did, but put a little price tag of the damage also.

  • TROY

    When SHTF These Unions will get the punishment they have long deserved. I dont believe in the law anymore. The union scum doesn’t follow the law, and neither will my team. The left has no Idea what is about to hit them. Have a nice day.

  • http://www.wisconsinreporter.com/week-in-review-wi Mom

    Better yet, ask the unions to help redistribute wealth by offering to clean up the mess they made for free… that will help the “poor” state of Wisconsin out. Or here’s another one: the police should have provided their services for free – that’s what’s being asked of the private sector….

  • peony

    The gov. caused this mess — HE is solely responsible for any costs incurred. He has no respect for the democratic process, preferring to dictate rather than govern. He was bought and paid for by the Koch brothers, whose agenda is to bleed the sick, the elderly, and the poor until they cease to exist. Their agenda will destroy our public school system, creating a crop of factory-ready workers for Koch Industries. Walker’s agenda will destroy our state, and we will fight him every step of the way. If we chip some marble in the process, that’s a small price to pay.

  • Mary

    I’ve said all along…send the bill for all repairs and expenses to the unions. They have more money than the WI taxpayer!

  • Kate in Wisconsin

    I think it’s funny how the unions kept saying they care about Wisconsin and wanted to do their part to help cut costs, then they proceeded to run up costs with their protests, missing work, and recounts. They showed the only thing they care about is themselves.

    I’m also amused with the comments by Democratic lawmakers about the security around the Capitol. First of all, do they remember all the death threats that came in against all lawmakers? Second, I’ve talked to people that work at the Capitol who said the protesters were out of line with everything they did and that they could have used even more security there. So maybe they should have checked with some of the folks that are there all the time before branding the Capitol a “fortress.”