Wisconsin Assembly passes campus free speech bill

The Journal Sentinel reports that the Wisconsin Assembly passed legislation to help restore free speech on campus:

Lawmakers late Wednesday voted to crack down on University of Wisconsin System students who disrupt other people's speeches and events, pitting one set of free speech concerns against another.

Republicans who control the state Legislature are pushing Assembly Bill 299 to protect conservative voices on campus. The Assembly sent the bill to the state Senate on a 61-36 vote Wednesday night, with Republican Rep. Bob Gannon of West Bend joining all Democrats in opposing the bill.

"Today we are ensuring that simply because you are a young adult on a college campus, your constitutional rights do not go away," lead sponsor Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) said. "Around the country we've had situations that have gotten to the point of demonstration shout downs and we do not want to get to that point in Wisconsin."