MADISON, Wis. (SPECTRUM NEWS) – Lawmakers in the State Assembly debated rule changes and accommodations for a disabled lawmaker Thursday.

Earlier this year, State Rep. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg), who is paralyzed, asked for the ability to call into meetings when he is unable to attend in person.

Republicans denied that request because Assembly rules did not allow it.

Anderson got an attorney who sent a letter restating his demands, giving Republican leaders an October 1 deadline to respond.

GOP leaders did come forward with changes mostly meeting what Anderson requested. However, Democrats were upset because Anderson was not consulted in the process and the accommodation changes were lumped with other rule changes, including a provision to allow unlimited attempts to override a veto by Democratic Governor Tony Evers.

Republicans have a 63-36 majority in the Assembly, meaning it would take 66 votes to override a veto if all 99 members are present.

Veto overrides are rare in Wisconsin and require two-thirds of members in both the Assembly and Senate.

The last successful override of a partial budget veto happened in 1985 and currently, Republicans do not have enough votes to override a veto without Democratic votes.

After hours of debate about a resolution to accommodate him, Anderson requested a rare call of the house so all of his colleagues would be seated in the chamber to hear his plea to separate the vote on rule changes from the proposal to accommodate him.

Back in 2010, Anderson lost his parents and brother in an accident that left him paralyzed.

“A drunk driver ran a stop sign at 60-miles-an-hour when I was on my way to celebrate my birthday with my family,” Anderson told the chamber.

During his emotion plea, Anderson explained with graphic detail what it is like to be a quadriplegic.

“And so here we are, having to have this uncomfortable conversation because I couldn't get the simple dignity and respect that I would hope you would show to someone that you cared about.”

Anderson says not meeting at reasonable times has taken a toll on him physically.

“During the lame-duck session, I developed what is called pressure ulcers,” Anderson said. “That's because I had to be in this chair for too long. Those pressure ulcer got infected, down to the bone. That meant that I had to go in for an emergency surgery.”

Anderson feels his colleagues on the opposite side of the aisle have not given him the same respect he has shown them.

“I've spent tens of thousands of dollars more than I make in this job to do this job, but I do so happily,” Anderson said. “It's a sacrifice I love to make. I love coming to this building and working with you all.”

The representative from Fitchburg, a neighboring suburb of Madison, says he can only do the job if accommodations are made for him, but Republicans left him out of the process.

“They did not ask me, the one person who is most likely to benefit from this accommodation, they left me in the dark,” Anderson said. “They did not ask for my participation.”

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) says he met with Anderson on Wednesday and offered a separate vote on the veto override provision.

“We made the offer to take it out and separate it,” Steineke said. “Vote on it separate, so you could vote on the accommodations on one said, vote against the veto override, as crazy as an idea as that is. Undemocratic, apparently, to have elected representatives voting on issues.”

Democrats declined that offer because of other rule changes that could limit their ability to force a debate on their bills which Republicans oppose.

“How does allowing for unlimited overrides have anything to do with the Americans With Disabilities Act? You guys can have 50 people here, 'hey let's meet on this day, great,'” Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) said. “I mean is that really the way you want to do things?”

Democrats worry Republicans would sneak in a veto override vote when they are absent, similar to what happened in North Carolina earlier this year.

Anderson hoped he ultimately would not have to vote against a resolution that would benefit him.

“For what purpose are we not providing me the opportunity, the thing that I have been fighting for from the very beginning, to be able to vote on it as its own piece of a resolution,” Anderson said. “There's no reason other than to be spiteful, than to be cruel, to be petty.”

Anderson did end up voting against the resolution benefiting him because of additional rule changes lumped with the proposal which Democrats say will limit the power of the minority party.

The Assembly ultimately passed a rule change allowing Anderson to phone into meetings as he requested nearly a year ago. The vote Thursday afternoon split along party lines with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against.