How does a bill become a law? The answer to that is in the Wisconsin Blue Book and the stuff of fourth (I think this is when we all learned it) grade classrooms. But boy that lesson has been turned on its head in the past several weeks in Wisconsin! Now I'm not taking sides here, but the budget repair bill – has so many lawyers attached to it in the courts right now that one veteran reporter (not me) compared this week's hearing over a restraining order to "a five-headed hydra." [Definition of HYDRA:: a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology] So, court resumes tomorrow (with all the attorneys) to determine whether the judge will issue a "preliminary injunction" against the bill over an alleged violation of the opening meetings laws. That injunction is more lasting than the temporary restraining order (3rd) now in place. Oh, and the Supreme Court is also deciding whether to take the case (more lawyers). Stay tuned.

Some of you may have seen Wisconsin Public Television's coverage of Governor Walker's State of the Budget Address on Tuesday. Behind the scenes it was anything but business as usual. The extremely tight security at the Wisconsin State Capitol presented extra challenges for the production crew trying to bring cameras, lighting equipment and other gear into the second floor Assembly Parlor where we set up our mini studio. Each entry required passing through 2-3 checkpoints of security.

30 minutes before the Governor's speech thousands of noisy, angry protesters converged on the police barricade just outside the Assembly windows. That is also the exact spot where our director, producer and technical support team are working to bring you the live broadcast from our production truck.

In one ear we heard chants of "This is what democracy looks like" in the other ear "standby in 3, 2, 1. The viewers at home only saw the quality production they are accustomed to getting from Wisconsin Public Television... despite that it was one of the more bizarre, challenging – and perhaps memorable live productions we may ever encounter.

***in the category of full disclosure the employees of Wisconsin Public Television are state employees.

This week on "Here & Now," we talk with Governor Scott Walker about his special session of the legislature where his bills designed to boost the business climate in Wisconsin are sailing through. We also interview U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy from Washington on the heels of his vote to repeal the healthcare reform law. And this week, we hear from a candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Marla Stephens, director of the appellate division for the state public defender's office.

I invite you to join me for "Here and Now" Friday at 7:30p on Wisconsin Public Television.

Four words. Crazy at the capitol. There are two days left in the legislative session and lawmakers are jamming in as many bills as possible. They'll be off the floor for several hours today in partisan caucus. Can you say 'all nighter?' There's the fight over the clean energy bill. The senate leader says he doesn't like it. The Assembly passed it out of committee and scheduled it for a floor vote. There's the education reform bill. Word today that the incoming Superintendent of Milwaukee schools doesn't like a portion of it. There's Rep. Jeff Woods expulsion to get a floor vote. There's a lot. We'll be reporting on various new legislation that may come out of the capitol. Stay tuned.

The Wisconsin legislature is in its final push as its session draws to a close. Some items of notice: a constitutional amendment to limit the veto power of the Governor. The proposal would prohibit the Governor from increasing or decreasing spending on individual budget items.

Another bill before the State Senate is the so-called payday lending measure. It regulates the industry, but does not impose an interest cap, although some are still pushing for a 36% interest cap.

Another set of bills from the Assembly democrats would give tax credits for dairy farm expansion, biomass fuel producers and food processors.