MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Democratic lawmakers want to virtually eliminate the use of cash bail, clashing with Republicans who support a proposed constitutional amendment to make it harder for people to get out of jail on bail. Democrats unveiled plans to introduce an alternative to that amendment Thursday, but they are unlikely to succeed in the Republican-controlled Legislature. If the Republican-backed amendment is approved by a majority of voters in the statewide April election, it will allow judges to consider the criminal histories of people accused of violent crimes. The Senate judiciary committee approved a bill Thursday that would go into effect with the amendment and define which offenses are considered violent crimes.
