The temporary blockage of a pro-union website was cleared within 30 minutes as part of a routine procedure, Gov. Scott Walker's spokesman Cullen Werwie said Tuesday.

The site, defendwisconsin.org, was briefly blocked as a newly created site from internet access at the Capitol until it could be run through a software approval program, Werwie said in a statement.

The site was created by University of Wisconsin teaching assistants and graduate assistants to offer information about the statehouse protest against Walker's proposed elimination of most collective bargaining rights for public employees.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin called the blackout of the website deliberate. And both Werwie and Democratic Party officials accused each other of lying.

The state Department of Administration "blocks all new websites shortly after they are created, until they go through a software approval program that unblocks them," Werwie's statement said.

Walker has repeatedly said "protesters have every right to have their voice heard," Werwie said. "Debate and participation in the democratic process are good for the state. Senate Democrats should try it out," Werwie said.

Democrats fled the Capitol Thursday to delay consideration of Walker's union measure.

Graeme Zielinski, a spokesman for the state Democratic Party, said the teaching assistants' website had been up for several days before being blocked at the Capitol. The site was unblocked after a media inquiry, he said.

Werwie's description of how new sites are automatically vetted is inaccurate, according to Zielinski.