The Hill News

House Democrats are planning a hearing Tuesday to boost labor forces in their protracted battle with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) over collective bargaining rights in that state.

The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee will summon workers and experts to Capitol Hill for an informal hearing on the battle over collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin and other states.

{mosads}The hearing, billed as examining "The State-by-State and Congressional Assaults on Workers’ Rights and the Middle Class," is the first hearing of its type on the Wisconsin dispute, demonstrations over which stretched Monday into their 21st day.

The Democrats' hearing, hosted by Reps. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), is largely a political move meant to boost organized labor in the protracted battle. The witness list isn't set, but will almost certainly include union representatives and other supporters of labor.

Other congre! ssional leaders haven't been reluctant to weigh in. On the Republican side, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and other GOP leaders have weighed in on behalf of Walker, whose proposal would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public employees, and force increased contributions by workers to pension and benefit programs.

This hearing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and comes amid signs that the standoff in Wisconsin could be nearing an end.

Both The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported on Monday t! hat the state Senate's Democrats, who fled Wisconsin to block ! a vote o n Walker's bill, could soon return to the state. (One Democratic state senator has denied that they're considering returning soon.)

In the meanwhile, Walker's approval rating has declined during the battle, giving Democrats hope that the new GOP governor has been politically weakened by the extended fight.