Budget Battle Tracker: Wisconsin Protests Spread to Ohio

Protests in Wisconsin over public workers' collective-bargaining rights have spread to Ohio. 

An estimated 3,800 Ohio employees attended a committee hearing Friday to protest eliminating collective-bargaining rights. 

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker is proposing pay cuts and the elimination of collective bargaining rights for state union employees. The move is part of a "budget repair bill" that is working its way through the Republican-led Legislature.

Senate Democrats delayed the bill Thursday by walking out, leaving Republicans without a quorum.

More news from today's budget battle includes:   

• President Barack Obama and other national political leaders are paying attention to what's happening in Madison. 
• The J-S reports that, yes, the state does need to cut spending to pay off a project deficit this year. 
• Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan compared the protests in Madison to the uprising in Egypt on Thursday. 
• The Wall Street Journal reported on Senate Democrats leaving the State Capitol to avoid a vote on Walker's proposal. NY Times, too.
• UW-Whitewater students are protesting. 
• Bay Port students walked out of classes to protest. 
• Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett supports the Democrats boycotting the vote.
• The number of Milwaukee Public Schools teachers taking sick days was slightly above normal, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.
• Walker's proposal may drive workers away, experts tell the Racine Journal Times. 

And here is a summary of Patch's coverage on the Wisconsin protests: 

Caledonia: 

Caledonia:

Caledonia:

Fox Point-Bayside: 

Greendale: 

Greendale:

Greenfield: and

Hudson: 

Menomonee Falls:  

Muskego: 

Oak Creek: 

Oak Creek:

Port Washington-Saukville: 

Shorewood: 

Sussex:  

Waukesha:  

Waukesha:

Whitefish Bay: