Inside Politics: Songs of protest still continue at Wisconsin Capitol

MADISON, Wis. — Most of the demonstrations against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ended a long time ago. But every weekday at noon, a few dozen people still gather inside the state Capitol and sing protest songs for an hour.

The 50 or so singers don’t have a clear goal. They say they’re upset about Mr. Walker’s efforts to strip public workers of union rights. And even though the governor survived a recall election, they still keep coming.

Singer Brandon Barwick of Madison says his colleagues are fighting for better political leadership.

Democratic state Sen. Fred Risser supports their cause but says the singing won’t prompt lawmakers to change their minds. Republican state Rep. Stephen Nass says it’s long past time for the singers to stop disrupting activity in the Capitol.

GOP

Republicans taking hard look at Jeb Bush for 2016

After a year in which Republicans had precious little for which to be thankful, perhaps it’s not surprising that party leaders and the faithful spent a good chunk of the long Thanksgiving weekend obsessing instead over 2016 — specifically the possibility of a presidential run by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

After The New York Times reported Thursday that a Bush bid was a possibility, Republicans and conservatives have been buzzing over the news on Internet news sites and talking up the pros and cons of such a run.

Mr. Bush, the son and brother of the past two Republican presidents, is “weighing financial and family considerations,” according to people close to the former governor, the Times reported.

CALIFORNIA

Gay marriage case possible for SCOTUS

SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco couple are waiting to find out if the U.S. Supreme Court will take their case challenging the 1996 law that prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages.

Karen Golinski and Amy Cunninghis got married during the brief window in 2008 when gay couples could tie the knot in California.

Ms. Golinski immediately tried to add her wife to her employer-sponsored health care plan. But because she is married to another woman and works for the U.S. government, her otherwise routine request was denied.

A federal judge earlier this year ordered the government to process Ms. Golinski’s application for benefits, ruling that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional.

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