Walker calls Democrat’s offer to negotiate ‘ridiculous’

[postulater]

Source: BizTimes.com

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker today called Sen. Minority Leader Mark Miller’s letter asking to meet and compromise over the budget repair bill stalemate “ridiculous” and accused the Monona Democratic lawmaker of obstructing the state’s path forward.
Walker held a press conference with Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R-Horicon) to again chastise Miller and the 13 other Senate Democrats who fled to Illinois to avoid voting on the bill.
Earlier today, Miller sent a letter to Walker and Scott Fitzgerald, offering to meet with them near the Illinois border to negotiate a compromise. Walker said that meeting will not happen.
Walker said representatives from his office met with Miller at a McDonald’s restaurant in Kenosha last week and thought they had negotiated an agreement for the Democrats to return.
“People talk about negotiate … We’ve been doing it for days,” Walker said. “We have a path home for at least some of those (Democratic) Senators.”
However, Walker and Scott Fitzgerald have said they will not negotiate the bill that revokes the collective bargaining rights of public employees.
Some of the Democratic Senator say they will not return until the Republicans agree to restore collective bargaining rights for the employees.
“The problem is that Sen. Miller is not in charge of the caucus,” Scott Fitzgerald said.
Jeff Fitzgerald said, “To simply be out there and keep saying that Republicans and the governor are unwilling to budge on this issue isn’t true.”
Walker speculated labor leaders “got on the phone and told Sen. Miller, ‘You cannot budge.’”
Walker called on “reasonable” Democratic Senators to return to the state.
Polls have indicated most Wisconsin residents believe Walker should compromise on the bill.

UPDATE:

Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch of Poplar today dened Republican suggestions that he and fellow Democratic Se. tim Cullen had reached tentative deals with Republicans, only to have them undercut by Miller. "Never, Never has there been a suggestion that Tim Cullen and I would somehow abandon the other 12 for the sake of cutting a deal," Jauch told WisPolitics.com. "That's just an outrageous lie."



Read more: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2011/3/7/#walker-calls-democrats-offer-to-negotiate-ridiculous

[AC_Mem]

1. The 14 need to get on television

and call them out as liars if that's the case. If Walker and Fitzgerald are holding press conferences telling boldfaced lies, the democrats need to stand UNITED and call them out on it.

Annette

[Plucketeer]

10. You are SO RIGHT!!!

There needs to be air time showing Walker denying that he'd ever MET Koch, followed by the video of him THANKING Koch for his help and saying how it would be appreciated in the future as well! My GOD! Where do they find these ignorant assholes? :crazy:

[AC_Mem]

15. Looks like Big Ed was thinking the same thing

The 14 are on his show right now!

Speak Truth to Power!

Annette

[MadMaddie]

16. They were just on Big Ed

This is further proof the Repugs are in it for keeps and have no plan on backing down.

[louis-t]

2. "Ridiculous" because he has no intention of negotiating.

Walker and his band of thugs are just bullies.

[Blue Owl]

3. Now let me get back to my phone conversation with David Koch

n/t

[thereismore]

4. What a fucking little despot. nt

[w4rma]

5. "the" path "forward". (nt)

[savalez]

6. What did he say about the 8000+ emails he lied about?

[savalez]

7. What did he say about the Koch phone call investigation?

[LupinSansei72]

8. This guy needs to be recalled YESTERDAY

I realize that the good people of Wisconsin will have to wait another 11 months before recalling this jerkoff Governor, which is really bad since the fool has NO intention of backing down. Walker should be nicknamed Goosestep Walker, since he's clearly following the old Nazi playbook :nuke:

[blackspade]

9. Liar, Liar, pants on Fire!

How WI voters elected this idiot I have no idea.
Tragically, the same idiots in my state that elected Rand Paul.....

[okieinpain]

11. nah, the dems just need to return so they can complete their rape

of wisconsin. it's what the repugs wanted, and the dems that didn't vote because president obama didn't deliver the unicorn deserve what they voted for.

not an president obama fan just speaking the truth. I had a lady in oklahoma tell me I was a fool for wasting time voting because nothing is going to change.

[davidthegnome]

13. What about all of those dems that DID vote?

They don't deserve this.

[okieinpain]

18. that's true, I sure don't deserve mary fallen. n/t.

[JoeyT]

17. So we can count on you to oppose

the attacks on teachers, public schools, and unions going on at the federal level?
And to openly oppose more free trade agreements?

Or is the difference "It's ok when my guy does it!"?

[okieinpain]

19. nope, I just believe people need to vote. dems/indies didn't

and repugs did. so to the victor goes the spoils. I think that's right anyways maybe people will take the time next time. can you imagine if mccain/palin were in office.

[L. Coyote]

12. Scott "He's No Hosni" Walker is going to jail anyway.

[Demeter]

14. I Agree With the Gov

He's the one that should be crying "Uncle!"

Not the Democrats.

[underpants]

20. HE *IS* NEGOTIATING -- another LBN post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4761512