It’s not so comfortable when the shoe is on the other foot, eh Republicans? In this case, Republican State Senator Leah Vukmir and Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner ended the Town Hall after only 27 minutes because a large and unfriendly crowd. The room was absolutely full, with a large continent in the hallway (see the video) and they didn’t even have to be bused in by the Koch brothers.
U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner shut down Monday night’s town hall meeting in Wauwatosa early because the overflow crowd was more interested in talking about the state budget bills with Republican host state Sen. Leah Vukmir, attendees said.
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Wauwatosa resident Ryan Stoltz said Sensenbrenner “swung his gavel anytime someone from the crowd voiced dismay. He threatened to end the meeting anytime the crowd applauded, got too noisy for his liking or talked out of turn. It was crazy how he wouldn’t listen to anyone.”
Stoltz, a teachers union member, showed up at the Wauwatosa Public Library for the meeting because he has not received replies to voicemails and e-mails to his elected officials. They contact residents for support when they campaign, so he expects the same when they’re in office, he said.
Specifically, he wanted some insight into what impact Gov. Scott Walker’s proposals to decrease school funding and limit collective bargaining for public employees would have on the Wauwatosa School District.
When Vukmir said that workers would not be losing collective bargaining rights, the jeers started, he said. After another raucous reaction by the crowd, the meeting ended — 27 minutes after it started.
The video of part of the Town Hall is below. I found it difficult to hear but you can see the size of the crowd and hear what happens when Vukmir ends the meeting early – the room breaks out in cries of “Shame!”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFflNLSKorw&sns=em[/youtube]