In another show of unity, the City Council also unanimously passed a resolution supporting collective bargaining and local control. The council even voted to modify the resolution slightly when Ald. Jed Sanborn, one of the more conservative members of the council, objected to some language he considered "sweeping" in its condemnation of Walker's budget repair bill, which called it "an attack on the middle class."

"The language in this resolution goes too far. ... We can't pretend that our state government doesn't have problems," with its budget, Sanborn said.

Rhodes-Conway, one of the sponsors of the resolution, called the debate over language what "democracy" looks like, adding, "I would like us to send a strong message tonight, but most importantly, I want us to send a message."

Council President Ald. Mark Clear did break from the celebration at one point to remind his colleagues and the audience that the City Council was taking a risk in approving these contracts because Walker is likely to reduce shared revenue funds to cities dramatically, potentially putting the city in a precarious budget situation of its own in 2012.

"I think all of us suspect, some of us maybe know what's coming in the state budget and how that will affect the city," he said. "I'm so proud of this body for doing what we did tonight knowing that's coming. I think that says a lot about the values we share as the city of Madison."