Wisconsin news:

►  In today's NY Times -- Amid protests over proposed union restrictions, Wisconsin lawmakers prepare to vote -- As furious protesters once again began gathering near the state Capitol building, state senators were expected to vote on Thursday on a bill that would sharply curtail the collective bargaining rights and slash benefits for most public sector workers in the state. Madison public schools are closed for a second day, as teachers called in sick to lobby at the Capitol against the sweeping proposal. More than a dozen other public school districts announced they were closed for the day as well.

►  At Huffington Post -- Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker faces backlash for threatening public workers with National Guard -- Public employees around the country have become the nation's scapegoats for the rough economy, with many Republican politicians in recent months criticizing them as privileged, overpaid and underworked -- unlike their private sector counterparts. But in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker (R) is now in hot water, facing an overwhelming backlash from the state's residents. Wisconsin is facing a $137 million budget deficit. In order to close it, Walker wants to sharply curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions, effectively preventing them from negotiating benefits, hours and working conditions.

►  FUN FACT: Susan Dreyfus, Secretary of Washington's Department of Social and Health Services, personally contributed $2,000 to Scott Walker's campaign for Governor of Wisconsin, before and after she moved to Washington, according to campaign finance records. Her most recent $500 contribution was received the day before Election Day 2010 and lists her mailing address as P.O. Box 45010, Olympia, WA -- her DSHS address. She is married to Waukesha County (Wis.) Circuit Judge Lee Sherman Dreyfus, Jr., the son of former Wisconsin GOP Gov. Lee S. Dreyfus. (They are "living apart" while she works in Washington.)

Legislative news:

►  In today's Olympian -- Legislators close to deal to narrow budget gap -- Negotiators at the Capitol say they've reached agreement on a supplemental budget that would spare the Basic Health Plan from closure but would cut some state workers' pay by 3% in April and also would cut money for schools. The deal includes a retroactive, $25 million cut in class-size-improvement money allocated last year to public school districts for use in the lower primary grades.

►  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Bill seeks to close $1 billion in exemptions -- A state House bill introduced by Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor) proposes to close $1 billion in tax exemptions annually and reroute the money to education. It would set up a four-step process to identify $1 billion worth of educational needs a year and then shut down enough tax exemptions to pay for those needs.

►  At WashingtonStateWire.com -- Former GOP Chair Luke Esser is back -- as SEIU 775 lobbyist -- Luke Esser, the former state Republican chairman who lost his position in an upset election last month, is back in Olympia as a lobbyist for SEIU Local 775, which represents some 40,000 home-care workers.

Local news:

National news: