The budget office projects total OT cost for 2007 to be around $18.3 million. The city budgeted $13.4 million for 2007. Nonetheless, city Budget Director Mark Nicolini wrote Ald. Michael Murphy in July that there was a "low probability that the MPD will need additional funds transferred into the salary account," while later writing that "it is evident that the MPD will likely exceed its overtime budget for 2007."

Nicolini noted in his letter that the increase in overtime is also due in part to pay increases under a new police contract and not that the number of hours has increased dramatically. Part of the increase is also due to the Neighborhood Safety Initiative, which uses saturation patrols in high-crime neighborhoods.

Rhetoric Rocks Contraception Debate: A bill that would require hospitals to have someone on staff that could administer emergency contraception to rape victims drew its share of dramatic comments at an Assembly hearing last week.

The chamber heard some testimony from opponents that claimed hospital rooms would have to close because smaller hospitals in the state couldn't afford to have such a doctor on staff. They also argued that the bill would require Catholic hospitals to go against their doctrines on the abortion issue as well as force doctors to question their conscience clause, which allows them not to distribute condoms and other birth control if they don't feel like it.

Under the measure, hospitals would be required to provide sexual assault victims with oral and written information about emergency contraception, let them know they have the option of receiving it and provide it to them immediately upon request.

Emergency contraception, known as the morning-after pill or by the brand name Plan B, is a higher dose of regular hormonal contraceptives. Taking it within the first 72 hours after having unprotected sex can reduce the chances of pregnancy.

State Rep. Leah Vukmir (R-Wauwatosa), a former nurse, called it "politicizing the tragedy of rape." Rep. Terry Musser, a Republican co-sponsor of the bill, simply said to the opponents, "Give me a break. ... You can side with the hospitals or you can side with the rape victims."

Rhetoric aside, the Assembly passed the bill, 65-31, but then opponents refused the customary procedure of immediately sending it onto the Senate. Instead, the bill must wait a few weeks, which, as the session nears an end, brings it closer to delaying passage permanently. Opponents also successfully stalled a vote in December.

"You roll over to a special interest group who wants to impose their theology on the rest of society," responded a rather irate Marlin Schneider (D-Wisconsin Rapids). "Compassionate Republicans is an oxymoron."

Rep. Jon Richards (D-Milwaukee) said Assembly Republicans "seem to put their political agenda ahead of rape victims."

One For the Anti-war Crowd: The Bill Camplin Band, Jahmes Finlayson and One Drum, and Ceol Cairde "Music of Friends" will share the bill at a concert to benefit the Iraq Moratorium on 7 p.m. Thursday at Shank Hall, 1434 N. Farwell Ave.

Madison's Raging Grannies, who have won a following for their animated and amusing performances of well-known songs with new anti-war lyrics, will be special guests.

The Iraq Moratorium is a loosely knit grassroots movement uniting people and groups who act on the third Friday of every month to call for an end to the war in Iraq. More info can be found at the group's Web site -- www.IraqMoratorium.org.

Camplin is a singer-songwriter who has held a prominent place in the Wisconsin music scene for decades, and who plays and hosts musicians at Fort Atkinson's Café Carpe, which he and his wife operate. Finlayson and One Drum perform music rooted in the cultures of Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, the Middle East and the Americas. Ceol Cairde, Gaelic for "The Music of Friends," performs traditional Irish and other Celtic music.

Joel McNally, columnist, activist and co-host of the Morning Magazine on WMCS Radio (1290 AM), will emcee this smoke-free event. The suggested donation is $10.