The officers can't arrest the senators, however.

The budget impasse continues in Wisconsin, and the Associated Press reports that "state patrol officers are being dispatched to the homes of multiple Democratic Wisconsin state senators in the hopes that will force them to come back in session."

But, the wire service adds, while Republican Gov. Scott Walker may hope that sending the troopers out will put some pressure on the Democrats to return to the state capital, "police can't arrest absent members" of the Senate.

Frank's been following the news from Wisconsin and other states where intense budget battles are underway over at It's All Politics.

Update at 8:50 a.m. ET: The Associated Press says that "Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach says all 14 [of the missing Democrats] are out of state and won't be returning Thursday."

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