The 'fab 14' return: Up to 100,000 protesters welcome home missing Wisconsin lawmakers



They may have failed in their mission to stop a controversial bill, that strips unions of their bargaining rights, getting passed.



But today the Wisconsin Democratic senators who fled to Illinois three weeks ago to try and stall proceedings, were given a hero's welcome on their return to the state.

Up to 100,000 people, who were protesting the passing of Governor Scott Walker's budget repair bill at the state Capitol today, cheered as the group came home.

'Heroes': Wisconsin State Senator, Mark Miller, centre, and 13 other Democratic lawmakers, greet supporters after returning home to Madison

Many wore badges or held signs bearing new nicknames for the group: the 'fighting 14,' the 'Fab 14,' or simply the 'Wisconsin 14'.

'It's so good to be home in Wisconsin,' Democratic Senate Minority Leader, Mark Miller, told those gathered as they chanted 'Welcome Home' and 'We're With You.'



'Our fight to protect union rights has become a fight to protect all our rights - a fight to protect democracy,' said Miller.

March: Up to 100,000 people protested outside the State Capitol the day after Governor, Scott Walker, signed his controversial budget repair bill into law

'You have inspired the nation with your passionate and peaceful protests.'

The group returned after Republicans in the Senate used a loophole to force the bill, designed to plug a $137million budget shortfall, through last night, despite the missing democrats.

Republican senators bypassed the opposition by separating the union rights issue into a new bill and voting it through on their own last Wednesday.

Procession: A farmer drives his tractor in a 'tractorcade' during the demonstration outside the State Capitol

A special conference committee of state lawmakers approved the bill a short time later.

The lone Democrat present on the conference committee, Peter Barca, shouted that the surprise meeting was a violation of the state's open meetings law but Republicans voted over his objections.



The Senate convened within minutes and passed the measure without discussion or debate.

Protests against the bill have been going on for the past three weeks but today's saw the biggest turn out of people.

We shall not be moo-ved: Protesters dressed as cows also took to the streets of Madison to demonstrate against the bill that strips unions of their rights

Farmers drove their tractors in a 'tractorcarde' around Capitol square, while others donned elaborate home-made cow costumes.



Teachers and other union employees also made up the throng.



As the Democratic senators, little known before they staged their own protest, walked around the square people called them by name and lined up to shake their hands.

Senator Timothy Cullen called it his greatest experience as a public official. 'We heard about how strongly they felt,' he told the New York Times. 'But you have to be here to feel it.'

Ongoing: Protests against the bill have been going on for the past three weeks but today's saw the biggest turn out of people

The Democrats are still officially in contempt of the Senate, though both sides have said that it is unlikely they will be detained.

Numerous efforts were made to try and get them back after they fled. Their pay was frozen, they were stripped of their parking spaces and were even threatened with arrest.



Today, Republicans hit back at the group declaring them as cowards who had abandoned their posts.

Scott Fitzgerald, the Senate majority leader, said in a statement: 'Today, the most shameful 14 people in the state of Wisconsin are going to pat themselves on the back and smile for the cameras.

'They’re going to pretend they’re heroes for taking a three-week vacation.

'It's an absolute insult to the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who are struggling to find a job, much less one they can run away from and go down to Illinois - with pay.'