Wis. Republicans Rush Agenda Before Recalls

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker and GOP leaders are making a new push to pass a long list of conservative proposals this spring before recall elections threaten to end the party's control of the Legislature.

Republicans have gone to an accelerated schedule to pass bills to legalize concealed weapons, deregulate the telephone industry, require voters to show photo identification at the polls and expand school vouchers.

Republican leaders say they are just trying to make up for time lost during a Democratic boycott of the Senate. But the top Democrat in the Assembly, Rep. Peter Barca, says Republicans are rushing because they're scared they'll lose control of the Senate in recall elections beginning in July.