Thousands protest collective bargaining bill in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Thousands of people descended on the Wisconsin state Capitol again today to protest a bill that would strip most public employees of their collective bargaining rights, but Gov. Scott Walker insisted he has the votes to pass the measure. On the second consecutive day of demonstrations, Walker said he was open to making changes in the legislation, the boldest anti-union proposal in the nation. But he said he would not “fundamentally undermine the principles” of the bill, which he says is needed to help balance a projected $3.6 billion budget shortfall and avoid widespread layoffs.