MADISON - A paralyzed Wisconsin lawmaker lashed out at his Republican colleagues Thursday, saying accommodations they gave him after a months-long fight were short of what he needed.

"You disregard my accommodation request with the wave of a hand as if it's too much," Democratic Rep. Jimmy Anderson of Fitchburg told other lawmakers.

On a 61-35 party-line vote, the Assembly adjusted its rules to allow those with disabilities to phone into committee meetings. Democrats opposed the rule because it didn't include everything Anderson wanted, such as a ban on overnight sessions.

Republicans in the Assembly adopted other changes Democrats opposed, including ones that would allow Republicans to try to override vetoes multiple times and prevent Democrats from forcing votes on legislation they favor.

"The great irony of this is that this is a political stunt that is being pulled," said Anderson, who is paralyzed from the chest down.

In a floor speech, Anderson described months of therapy he has had to go through after he got ulcers from spending too much time in his wheelchair during an overnight session in December. Republicans held the overnight session so they could pass lame-duck laws limiting the powers of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

Anderson said he is embarrassed to talk about his therapy but felt the need to detail it on the Assembly floor because he doesn't believe Republicans have taken his accommodation request seriously.

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, called the dispute over disability accommodations unfortunate but believed Republicans were meeting his needs.

"I can certainly understand his frustration with the process," Steineke said. "We've been frustrated too."

Before Anderson gave his speech, Republicans accused Democrats of acting politically by opposing accommodations for Anderson that they have sought for much of the year.

"They are political twenty-four-seven," Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester said of Democrats. "They are hyper-partisan, always full of hyperbole."

Anderson asked in January to change the rules to allow him to call into committee meetings when he has difficulty attending them in person.

Vos for months refused to change the rules and accused Anderson of "political grandstanding." Vos argued it would be disrespectful if representatives did not appear at committee meetings in person, but he announced this week he was changing course after an attorney for Anderson threatened a lawsuit.

Anderson began Thursday's floor speech by making a rare call of the house, which requires all members of the Assembly to come into the chamber and take their seats.

He described a drunken driver slamming into the vehicle he was in as he was traveling with his family to celebrate his 24th birthday in 2010. The accident paralyzed him and killed his parents and 14-year-old brother.

"I was staring into the lifeless eyes of my little brother," Anderson said. "I begged him to tell me that he was still alive. I begged him over and over and tell me he was OK. All I could do was stare because I couldn’t move.

"All I could hear was the ticking of the engine. That was until I bled out. On that day my entire family was taken from me and I suffered a complete spinal fracture. I will never walk. I will never use my hands. I will never be able to enjoy my life as I once did."

In an interview, Anderson argued the rules meant to accommodate him don't go far enough because they don't ban overnight sessions.

"I have to vote no," Anderson said in the interview. "The other rules changes are awful. I might like the slice of roast beef but I don't like it if they put it between two slices of moldy bread."

Initially, Republicans planned to make all the rules changes as one package. They broke it into two proposals to try to attract Democratic votes, but Democrats didn't go along with either set of rule changes.

One change included in Assembly Resolution 13 would allow state representatives to try to override Evers' vetoes as often as they like. The resolution passed 60-35, with Republican Rep. Scott Allen of Waukesha joining all Democrats in opposing it.

For years, the Assembly could vote just once on overriding each veto.

Republicans control the Assembly 63-36 and Senate 19-14 — shy of the two-thirds margin needed in each house to override a veto.

Democrats argued the change would allow Republicans to spring veto override votes on them when a few Democrats are absent, allowing them to hit the two-thirds margin. Republicans disputed that, saying they wanted to be able to hold multiple votes in case public pressure built on a veto override that would give them the final votes they would need.

Assembly Resolution 12, approved along party lines, included the rules changes meant to accommodate Anderson's disabilities. One provision gives Republicans the ability to easily prevent Democrats from forcing votes on legislation they consider important.

Steineke said that provision will help leaders manage the floor schedule and make sure the Assembly ends its sessions at a reasonable hour. He noted the Senate has long had a similar rule.

"The Senate has the exact same thing and democracy hasn't died in the Senate," he said.

But Democrats said they view the change as a ploy to prevent them from making Republicans take a stance on important bills.

Lemonade stands

On a voice vote, the Assembly approved Senate Bill 170, which would allow those under 18 to operate lemonade stands and the like on private property without getting a permit.

The stands could not have more than $2,000 in sales a year and they could not sell food or drinks that spoil, such as meat.

The Senate approved the measure on a voice vote Tuesday. It heads to Evers for final approval.

Officers' families

The Assembly unanimously approved a measure meant to help the families of police officers killed on duty by requiring local governments to continue to pay the officers’ family health insurance premiums.

Under Senate Bill 266, the state would reimburse the local governments for those costs using the proceeds of an existing fee on phone lines that generates $62 million annually.

The Senate unanimously signed off on the bill Tuesday. It goes to Evers.

Trespassing

The Assembly on a voice vote approved a measure that would expand the scope of penalties that can be imposed on those who damage or trespass on properties operated by energy companies.

While state law already makes it illegal to damage such properties, Assembly Bill 426 would broaden the definition of properties affected. The bill heads to the Senate.

Critics believe the measure is intended to criminalize lawful protests of oil and gas pipelines.

The Madison office of climate group 350.org contended on Twitter that the bill “would restrict our ability to peacefully protest pipelines and fossil fuel activities, by making it a felony to trespass on or damage property owned by oil and gas companies.”

F-35s

The Assembly overwhelmingly approved a resolution in support of bringing F-35A Lightning II jets to the 115th Fighter Wing based at Truax Field in Madison. The proposal has been controversial in Madison, with advocates saying stationing the jets in the city would bring jobs and opponents saying the planes are too noisy.

The Madison airfield is one of two preferred candidates to get the F-35s. The jets would be flown more frequently than the F-16s they would replace.

Assembly approved Senate Joint Resolution 69 on an 87-9 vote. The vote came two days after the Senate supported it on a voice vote.

The measure amounts to a statement from the Legislature and does not go to the governor.

Lee Bergquist of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

Contact Patrick Marley at patrick.marley@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @patrickdmarley.