Signs, banners removed from inside Wis. Capitol

Protests continue
William Thibodeau, center, protests in the capitol rotunda as a round-the-clock protest over the proposed Budget Repair bill continues on February 27, 2011 in Madison, Wisconsin. All of the signs, banners and papers that had been taped to the walls of the Capitol for three weeks have been removed.
Scott Olson/Getty Images

All of the signs, banners and papers that had been taped to the walls of the Wisconsin state Capitol for three weeks to voice opposition to an anti-union bill have been removed.

The state Department of Administration said Sunday that prior to being taken down most were photographed by the Wisconsin Historical Society and preserved.

The statement says the signs will be evaluated for historical content by both the Smithsonian and the historical society.

There will also be a process for returning signs to people who wanted them back.

The state had said cleaning up the Capitol following the protests would cost $7.5 million, but then backed down from that number and said Friday it may only cost $350,000.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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