The Wisconsin Education Association Council is holding a vigil Tuesday night for members who couldn't make it out earlier in the day.

Senator: There Are Votes To Pass Bill

The president of the Wisconsin state Senate said that he believes there are enough votes among Republicans to pass Walker's plan.

Senate President Mike Ellis of Neenah told The Associated Press on Tuesday that there are the 17 votes needed in the 19-member Republican caucus to pass Walker's proposal.

Ellis said senators are worried that not passing the plan would lead to thousands of layoffs among state workers.

Ellis said he would have preferred to vote on a different version of the bill, but as it stands now, Walker has the votes to get what he wants.

Meanwhile, Republican state senators are keeping quiet about their talks over Walker's plan. They met behind closed doors on Monday in the Capitol to talk about the bill.

Several senators contacted early Tuesday morning didn't immediately return telephone messages seeking comment or their mailboxes were full.

AFT-Wisconsin lobbyist Scott Spector said he doesn't know what direction talks among Republican senators went on Monday. Spector said the union has meetings set with lawmakers on Tuesday.

State Sen. Robert Cowles, R-Green Bay, said lawmakers are still talking about Walker's bill. He wouldn't comment on whether there were enough votes for it to pass the Senate.