A spokesman for Speaker Mike Sheridan said this morning that Assembly Democrats have enough votes to pass the conference report today and move the budget bill on to Gov. Jim Doyle.

The Democrats will caucus today at 1 p.m., and Republicans will caucus at noon. Both caucuses will receive briefings on the contents of the conference report.

Due to the Assembly's 24-hour rule that requires the conference report to be available to members for a full day before it can come to the floor, the Assembly session is expected to start at about 8:30 p.m. But the Assembly rules could be waived by unanimous consent of the body if the lawmakers decide to take the bill up earlier.

-- By Greg Bump