Wisconsin Recalls

Recall Papers Officially Filed Against Scott Walker

Eric Kleefeld | November 15, 2011, 2:32PM

The Wisconsin recall drive (Part II), targeting Gov. Scott Walker and other Republican officials, is now in full swing.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the Dems kicked off the recall drive at midnight, as they had scheduled earlier, with a celebration of sorts:

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin hosted a petition pickup party Monday night, and more than 40 recall supporters wore party hats and blew kazoos as they counted down the final seconds before 12:01 a.m.

The first completed petition was then turned in at the Dem office, at 12:42 a.m. CT, and the recall committee itself was formally filed this morning:

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Wisconsin Recalls

Fitzgerald: Wisconsin Recalls Have Become A 'Referendum' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | August 8, 2011, 11:40AM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) appeared Monday morning on Fox News, ahead of Tuesday's recall elections targeting six GOP state Senators -- and cast the contest as a referendum on Gov. Scott Walker's policies rolling back collective bargaining for public employees, and whether other states would follow the same path.

Fox host Bill Hemmer asked whether Democrats, if successful in gaining control of the chamber, would be able to reverse the state's budget policies targeting public employee unions and their ability to collectively bargain.

"No, I mean, the Republican Assembly remains in place, as well as obviously Governor Walker," said Fitzgerald. "But I think, you know, what this has become is more of a referendum on whether or not what happened in Wisconsin in February and in March should be the way the state moves forward.

"We have a balanced budget, we certainly have had great success in eliminating the deficit, of which many other states throughout the nation are facing right now. And the unions are trying to send a signal that if they can recall this Republican state Senate, then this was the wrong direction for us.

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Wisconsin State Legislature

Wis. GOP Leader: Change The Recall Law!

Eric Kleefeld | June 21, 2011, 4:41PM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Wisconsin is now undergoing a novel summer election season for the state legislature, with six Republican and three Democratic state senators facing recall elections as a result of the political battle over Republican Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union legislation. Indeed, the Republican-controlled state Senate could potentially see a Democratic takeover, depending on how the elections turn out -- and after that, the Dems have vowed to wage a recall drive against Walker himself next year.

So in response, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) says he would like to introduce legislation later this year, making it harder to recall state officials.

To be clear, this could have no effect on the recalls that have already been certified to go. And what's more, the state GOP leaders would be unable to simply pass a bill to get rid of recalls in Wisconsin. The right of recall and the procedures involved are very clearly spelled out in the state constitution, and can only be changed via a long and slow amendment process -- which would require that the legislatures chosen in two consecutive election cycles both pass an amendment by simple majorities in both houses, and then submit the amendment to a statewide referendum.

But that doesn't mean that state GOP leaders wouldn't like to try. And they're even publicly speculating that they could get Dems on board for it, though a Democratic leader is saying quite the opposite.

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Wisconsin State Legislature

Wis. GOP Senate Leader: There's Nothing Cynical About Running Fake Candidates

Eric Kleefeld | June 7, 2011, 6:00PM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) is standing by the state GOP's new strategy of recruiting fake Democratic candidates for the state Senate recalls -- which have been launched as a Democratic counter-attack on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union legislation -- in order to force Dem primaries and delay the general elections. And furthermore, Fitzgerald said such a tactic would not create voter cynicism -- the recalls are the source of voter cynicism.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

"It gives us another month to campaign," said the Republican from Juneau.

...

Fitzgerald said he was not worried running fake Democrats would engender cynicism among voters.

"I think the cynicism comes from the recalls," Fitzgerald said. "Recalling senators for taking a tough vote is just wrong."

The key here is that recalls are now tentatively scheduled for July 12, under the state election officials' proposed timelines, targeting six Republicans. As of now, those Republicans are only facing one Democrat each. But if there were additional Democrats, the July 12 date would then become the primary, giving the incumbents more time to campaign for a general election in August.

Also, thanks to Wisconsin's open primary system in which anybody can vote in a party primary, it would force the Democrats to spend time, money and resources campaigning for their own nominations.

As the paper reports, Fitzgerald accused Democrats of launching this strategy first, in a state Assembly race in 2010. A conservative Democratic legislator, state Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer, changed his party affiliation to independent, and Republicans intended to support him and run no candidate in the general election. However, a fake Republican filed for the ballot, in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to split the vote and help the Democrats. The state Democratic Party has said that it had no role in recruiting that fake GOP candidate.

On Monday, after evidence of the strategy had been emerged across the state, state GOP executive director Stephan Thompson released a statement on the justifications:

"The upcoming recall elections are unprecedented not only in Wisconsin, but in our nation's history. Unlike the Democratic Senators who deserted their constituents for a trip to Illinois, six Republican state Senators face recall not for misconduct, but for doing the job they were elected to do: taking a stance on a tough issue that came before the legislature. Now, these Republican senators are again busy doing their jobs crafting a fiscally responsible state budget that promotes economic growth, which puts them at a distinct disadvantage with many of their challengers who have had sufficient time to campaign. Because of this disadvantage, and the outrageous nature of elected officials facing recall for standing up for a balanced budget, the Republican Party of Wisconsin has advocated that protest candidates run in Democratic primaries to ensure that Republican legislators have ample time to communicate with voters throughout their districts after the state budget is approved. The public deserves time to learn about the differences between the candidates and about the Republican plan to control government spending and boost economic growth vs. the Democrat alternative of job-killing tax hikes."

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Republicans Threaten End Run Around Courts If They Block Union Busting Law

Brian Beutler | May 4, 2011, 6:09PM

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R) and Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

The top two Republicans in the Wisconsin legislature say they'll make an end run around the judicial branch in early June if the courts haven't ruled on the legality of the anti-union law that put the state in the headlines earlier this year.

From the La Crosse Tribune:

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald both told The Associated Press that it would make the most sense for the committee to add the language into the budget before it comes up for debate before the full Legislature.

However, both Fitzgeralds are hoping the courts rule that the bill passed in March is legal and can take effect so further legislative action isn't necessary. The state Supreme Court has been asked to take the case, but it has not said if it will. Two lawsuits are pending in circuit court.

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Wisconsin

Wis. GOPers Could Dodge Court Challenge, Pass Anti-Union Law Again

Eric Kleefeld | April 28, 2011, 6:04PM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) and Gov. Scott Walker (R)

The saga of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) anti-public employee union legislation is far from over. With the law now blocked and tied up in the courts on procedural grounds, Republicans are publicly mulling the simple step of passing it again.

The Capital Times reports:

Andrew Welhouse, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said Thursday that while the "preferred avenue" for implementing the collective bargaining bill is still the state courts, there is a "possibility" the bill will be inserted into the 2011-2013 state budget.

"There is a possibility, and it has been informally discussed among Republican leadership, including the Joint Finance Committee co-chairs, that if the matter can't be fully decided on by the Supreme Court, then it will be inserted into the full budget," Welhouse told The Capital Times.

In addition, a labor source has told TPM that there is some expectation of action beginning this Tuesday, May 3, which according to the legislative schedule is the next scheduled day for the Joint Finance Committee.

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Wisconsin

Fitzgerald: 'No Cop In The State' Would Detain The Dems

Eric Kleefeld | April 4, 2011, 10:07AM

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

In a coda to the walkout by state Senate Democrats in Wisconsin, who fled the state in an attempt to block Gov. Scott Walker's (R) anti-public employee union bill, it's now been revealed that state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) had a hard time finding ways to force the Dems back -- and finding police officers who would enforce such an order for him.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports:

"The whole thing was a mess," Fitzgerald said. "You just can't compel a senator to come back to the chamber."

He said the reality was brought home when police agencies refused to carry out his March 3 order to forcibly detain the senators. Among them was Rock County Sheriff Robert Spoden, who said his department would not honor any order to bring in Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville.

Said Fitzgerald: "There was no cop in the state that would enforce it."

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Wisconsin

Judge Blocks Wisconsin Anti-Union Law (Again)

Eric Kleefeld | March 29, 2011, 6:34PM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) and Gov. Scott Walker (R)

Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi has just blocked -- again -- Gov. Scott Walker's (R-WI) new law curtailing public employee unions, after the state Republican leadership moved last Friday to circumvent her previous order that blocked the law on procedural grounds. But that's not the end of the discussion, as it appears the state will continue to defy the order.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:

"Further implementation of the act is enjoined," said Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi.

She noted her original restraining order issued earlier this month was clear in saying that the state should not proceed with implementing the law. The Walker administration did so after the bill was published Friday by a state agency not included in Sumi's earlier temporary restraining order.

"Apparently that language was either misunderstood or ignored, but what I said was the further implementation of Act 10 was enjoined. That is what I now want to make crystal clear," she said.

But minutes later, outside the court room, Assistant Attorney General Steven Means said the legislation "absolutely" is still in effect.

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Wisconsin

Wis. Republicans Publish Anti-Union Law -- In Apparent Defiance Of Court Order

Eric Kleefeld | March 25, 2011, 10:27PM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) and Gov. Scott Walker (R)

Yet another shoe has dropped in the battle over Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's (R) anti-public employee union law -- with state Republican leaders now apparently defying or attempting to circumvent a court order that temporarily blocked implementation of the law.

Last week, a judge in Dane County (Madison) blocked the law on procedural grounds, ruling that a key conference committee used to advance the bill -- and to get around the state Senate Dems' walkout from the state -- had violated the state open-meetings law by failing to give proper 24-hours notice.

The judge's order "restrain[ed] and enjoin[ed] the further implementation" of the law, including the prevention of Secretary of State Doug LaFollette (D) from publishing the act in the Wisconsin State Journal, which acts as the state's official newspaper for the purpose of giving the public official notice of new laws -- the final step for the law to take effect. That decision is now going through an appeals process, which remains up in the air.

But now, state Republicans have had the bill published through a different office -- the Legislative Reference Bureau, which handles drafting and research for the legislature -- according to the LRB's statutory requirement to publish legislation within ten days of enactment. Interestingly, the LRB itself says that this publication does not constitute action that would put the law into effect. But the state's Republican leaders disagree. Senate Majority Scott Fitzgerald (R) says the LRB publication constitutes official publication and the insists the law will take effect Saturday.

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Wisconsin

Wis. GOPers Restore Voting Rights To Senate Dems, Lift Fines

Eric Kleefeld | March 15, 2011, 3:27PM

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)

The Wisconsin state Senate Republicans backed away Tuesday afternoon from a controversial sanction they handed down against state Senate Democrats, who had fled the state in an attempt to block passage of Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals. As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Senate President Mike Ellis will not enforce the contempt declaration handed down against the Dems -- which, as Fitzgerald said Monday, stripped the Dems of the right to vote in committee proceedings.

In addition, Republicans will not enforce the fines, of $100 for each additional missed session day, that they handed down late during the Dems' absence,

"The name of the game is moving this state forward, putting this stuff behind us," Ellis said. "Let's get on with the people's business. Let's stop all the bickering."

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Wisconsin

Wis. GOPer Scott Fitzgerald: Dems In Contempt, Not Allowed To Vote In Committees

Eric Kleefeld | March 14, 2011, 6:41PM

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)

The saga of the "Wisconsin 14" -- the state Senate Democrats who fled the state in an attempt to block the three-fifths budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals -- isn't over just because Republicans used a parliamentary end run to pass the bill with a simple majority quorum last week, and the Dems have since come home.

As WisPolitics reports, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) sent a letter to his fellow Republicans, reminding them that they had previously found the Democrats to be in contempt of the chamber -- and as such, they are not to be allowed to vote on committees:

Please note that all 14 Democrat senators are still in contempt of the Senate. Therefore, when taking roll call votes on amendments and bills during executive sessions, Senate Democrats' votes will not be reflected in the Records of Committee Proceedings or the Senate Journal. They are free to attend hearings, listen to testimony, debate legislation, introduce amendments, and cast votes to signal their support/opposition, but those votes will not count, and will not be recorded.

Wisconsin

'FitzWalkerstan': The Republican Brothers And The Wisconsin Showdown

Eric Lach | March 12, 2011, 12:45PM

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald (R) and Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Before last year, it had been more than 70 years since a political party in Wisconsin took over both the State Senate and the State Assembly in the same election. That rare event produced an even rarer one: siblings at the helm of both chambers.

"I'm ready for it," Wisconsin State Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R) told The New York Times in November, shortly after he and his younger brother, State Rep. Jeff Fitzgerald (R), were chosen to be State Senate Majority Leader and State Assembly Speaker, respectively. "If we don't ruffle feathers this time, I think people are going to say we're not doing what we said we would do."

By that measure, Fitzgerald can rest easy. Gov. Scott Walker (R) has pushed through his controversial measure to strip most state employees of their collective bargaining rights, and feathers have been ruffled. Thousands have protested. Democratic State Senators left the state. Madison was compared to Cairo, and Capitol security to palace guards. And the Fitzgeralds have been at the center of all of it.

"Welcome to FitzWalkerstan," State Rep. Mark Pocan (D) wrote on his blog on Thursday.

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Wisconsin Protests

Wisconsin Justice Dept. Investigating Threat Sent To Senate GOPers

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 10, 2011, 3:28PM

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)

One hallmark of the protests in Wisconsin has been how, well, benign they've been. Other than a semi-serious discussion about tape residue left by the pro-union activists who filled the state capitol, there have been few arrests and even fewer reports of violence. Following the state Senate GOP's unilateral passage of the bill taking away collective bargaining rights from thousands of state workers, however, things may have taken a turn for the darker.

The AP reports the Wisconsin Dept. Of Justice "is investigating an e-mail threatening the lives" of several Republican lawmakers, including Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald. From the text of the emails first published by WTMJ-AM:

Please put your things in order because you will be killed and your familes [sic] will also be killed due to your actions in the last 8 weeks.

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Wisconsin

Wis. Senate: We Didn't Have To Provide Notice For Key Committee Meeting On Union Bill

Eric Kleefeld | March 10, 2011, 10:47AM

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)

Last night in Wisconsin, amidst the uproar over the state Senate's surprise passage of Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union bill, state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald's (R) office released a counter-argument to one particular Dem objection: That the sudden conference committee would have violated the state's open meetings laws.

At last night's conference committee (video below), Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D) strenuously argued that the conference committee violated the state's open meetings law, which requires at least 24 hours notice before a government meeting, unless there is good cause to act more quickly. Instead, only about two hours notice was supplied for this meeting. As the Capital Times reports, many opponents of the bill are already mobilizing challenge the bill on this basis, that a key meeting to pass the bill was illegal.

In response, as WisPolitics reported last night, Fitzgerald's office released a message from Chief Clerk Rob Marchant, saying that the conference was subject to different rules -- the ones governing special sessions of the legislature -- and that no advance notice is required at all.

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Wisconsin Protests

Report: Major DC Lobby Firm Throwing Fundraiser For Wisconsin GOP Leaders

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 9, 2011, 8:55PM

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

On the heels of their 18-1, Democratic Senator-free vote to roll back collective bargaining rights for thousands of state workers, Republican leaders of the Wisconsin state Senate will head to a high-price fundraiser in their honor in DC.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel key players in the Wisconsin GOP will gather at the downtown DC headquarters of lobbying firm BGR Group March 16 for an event that donors "are asked to give at least $1,000 to the state Republican Party's federal account" to attend.

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Wisconsin State Legislature

Wis. State Senate Passes Anti-Union Bill, In End-Run Around Dem Boycott

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2011, 7:50PM

Capping a dramatic turn of events, the Wisconsin state Senate on Wednesday night passed a new, stripped-down "budget repair bill" -- which now excludes all the fiscal elements of the original budget repair bill, and simply includes the original's provisions to roll back the collective bargaining and organizational rights of Wisconsin's public employee unions.

With all 14 Democrats absent, having fled the state weeks ago in order to block the three-fifths budget quorum, the bill passed by an 18-1 margin, with only moderate Republican Dale Schultz voting no.

Gov. Scott Walker (R) has released this statement:

"The Senate Democrats have had three weeks to debate this bill and were offered repeated opportunities to come home, which they refused. In order to move the state forward, I applaud the Legislature's action today to stand up to the status quo and take a step in the right direction to balance the budget and reform government. The action today will help ensure Wisconsin has a business climate that allows the private sector to create 250,000 new jobs."

Meanwhile, state Democratic Party chairman Mike Tate has released this statement, vowing to recall all those Republican state Senators who are eligible under the state's recall laws, which require at least one year of a term to be completed -- and to recall Walker next year:

"Using tactics that trample on the traditions of our Legislature, the Republican leadership has betrayed our state. Republicans have rubber-stamped the desire of the Koch Brothers and their godshead Scott Walker to cripple Wisconsin's middle class and lower benefits and wages for every single wage-earner in our state. The vote does nothing to create jobs, does nothing to strengthen our state, and shows finally and utterly that this never was about anything but raw political power. We now put our total focus on recalling the eligible Republican senators who voted for this heinous bill. And we also begin counting the days remaining before Scott Walker is himself eligible for recall."

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Peter Barca

Wisconsin Conference Committee Passes New, Stripped-Down Anti-Union Bill

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2011, 7:23PM

The special conference committee in Wisconsin -- convened in order to strip out the fiscal elements of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill, in order to pass the anti-public employee union proposals and avoid the state SenateDemocratic boycott of the three-fifths budget quorum -- just met for roughly five minutes and passed the bill.

Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D) attempted to make a motion to delay the meeting or make amendments -- and was not recognized for a motion by the chair, state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald. Barca argued, over Fitzgerald's attempts to say there would be no motions, that the conference committee violated the state's open meetings law, which requires at least 24 hours notice before a government meeting, unless there is good cause to act more quickly.

The bill then passed in committee on a 4-2, party-line margin -- and in a surreal sight, the online feed of the state equivalent of C-Span, Wisconsin Eye, faded out to tranquil music as the video was playing the shouting and ire of the meeting itself.

The bill to strip away most collective bargaining for public employee unions, and impose new limits on union organization, is now headed to the full chambers.

Late Update: Jessica Arp with the local CBS affiliate reports that the Senate has just passed the bill by a margin of 18-1 -- with only moderate Republican Dale Schultz voting no, in absence of the Democrats who had fled the state in order to block budget quorum.

Mary Spicuzza with the Wisconsin State Journal reports that the Assembly will move on the bill tomorrow.

Read our updated report on events in Wisconsin here.

Wisconsin

Reports: WI GOPers Making End Run Around Absent Dems On Anti-Union Bill

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2011, 6:53PM

Reports are coming in from Wisconsin that state Republicans could be on the verge of doing an end-run around state Senate Democrats -- who have fled the state in order to block the three-fifths budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill and its anti-public employee union provisions. The apparent solution: Convene a special conference committee this evening to strip out the fiscal elements of the budget repair bill -- and then pass the anti-union proposals with simple majority quorums.

Two weeks ago, state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) had ruled out such a tactic, but it appears things may have changed as tense negotiations have dragged on. If the bill now passes in this form, most collective bargaining rights of public employees in Wisconsin would be stripped, and new limitations on union organization would be imposed.

The Associated Press reports: "Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch says he thinks Republicans plan to 'ram through' parts of the bill that take away collective bargaining rights but that don't cost any money."

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach, who has been in exile in Chicago, expressed his outrage to the Wisconsin State Journal. "They have been saying all along that this is a fiscal item, we've been saying it is not," said Erpenbach. "They have been lying. Their goal is to bust up the unions."

If this maneuver goes through, it would have some enormous political ramifications in the state, as unions are an important base of the Democratic Party organization in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, the unions and Democrats have been actively organizing recalls of Republican state legislators -- leveraging the power of the tens of thousands of people who have protested the bill, and numerous opinion polls showing that Wisconsin voters oppose breaking the unions.

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Wisconsin

Megyn Kelly Grills WI GOPer On Claim White House Is Behind Recalls (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2011, 4:48PM

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) appeared Wednesday afternoon on Fox News -- and as it turned out, Megyn Kelly gave him something of a grilling on his claim that the Obama administration is behind the effort to recall members of his caucus in the battle over Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals.

Kelly expressed skepticism of the new claim about the recall campaigns. In response, Fitzgerald revealed what he said was evidence that the White House is connected to the recall, for what he described during the interview as an effort to strengthen the unions and regain partisan advantage in this key swing state.

"Specifically, one of the targeted senators, Alberta Darling, the individual that filed the petition in that seat is a former member of MoveOn.org, and also was very much involved in President Obama's last election cycle in Wisconsin," said Fitzgerald.

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Wisconsin

Wis. GOP Leader Scott Fitzgerald: 'Are Our Recall Statutes Legit?'

Eric Kleefeld | March 9, 2011, 10:41AM

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Wisconsin state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) expressed his frustration with the state's recall laws, during a press conference on Tuesday.

Fitzgerald's off-the-cuff comments sounded less like he was mulling any actual prospective efforts to change the law, but rather seemed more a show of irritation that a significant number of his caucus members -- those last elected in 2008 -- are being targeted for recalls by Democrats, in the battle over Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposal and its anti-public employee union provisions.

At one point, Fitzgerald was asked whether the wave of recall signature drives could lead to Republicans losing their newly-won majority. "No, I don't believe so," said Fitzgerald. "I mean, what I do believe is that we're taking those recalls seriously, and we're making sure that we have everything available to those senators to make their case.

"The ironic thing to me is that, you know, at this point we've got senators under recall that haven't even voted on anything and you know, we've got an assemblyman [Gordon Hintz (D)] that was arrested in Oshkosh (sic) for being at a massage parlor -- and he's not under recall. I mean, I think it really makes a case for, you know, are our recall statutes legit? And it really makes you wonder if they shouldn't be revisited at some point."

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Wisconsin

Walker And Fitzgerald Claim Key Dems Were Going To Come Back -- And Spark Sharp Denials

Eric Kleefeld | March 7, 2011, 4:03PM

Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI)

During Gov. Scott Walker's (R-WI) press conference on Monday -- held in response to state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller's (D-WI) letter calling for a meeting at the Illinois state line -- Walker and state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald both claimed that they were close to a deal with key Senate Dems to get them to return to the state. And in response, the Dems are saying no way, that didn't happen -- and that Walker and Fitzgerald's claims have only made it less likely.

During Walker's press conference, Fitzgerald told the press that he'd had other discussions with the lead negotiators, state Sens. Tim Cullen and Bob Jauch, about coming back.

"At no time did Sen. Miller become a part of those discussions. But what I really thought I was doing was negotiating with those two senators to come back on their own," said Fitzgerald, adding that they also believed the two could get a "magic number" of five others to come back with them, in order to provide full political cover.

"By Tuesday, a promise was given to me that that in fact was gonna happen," said Fitzgerald. "And on Wednesday, they didn't show up."

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Wisconsin

Wis. Dem Leader To Walker: Let's Meet At The State Line

Eric Kleefeld | March 7, 2011, 10:50AM

Wisconsin State Sen. Minority Leader Mark Miller (D)

Wisconsin state Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller, head of the 14 Democrats who have fled the state in order to block budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals, has now sent a letter to Walker and GOP Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald offering to meet in person for negotiations -- at the Illinois state line.

Sunday night, Miller and the Dems were knocking back a report in the Wall Street Journal that they were soon to return to the state and allow a vote on Walker's plan. Instead, Miller is now reaching out to Walker to continue negotiations at the Illinois border.

Key quote from the letter:

I assure you that Democratic State Senators, despite our differences and the vigorous debate we have had, remain ready and willing to find a reasonable compromise. To that end, I would ask that you or your authorized representatives agree to meet with us near the Wisconsin-Illinois border to formally resume serious discussions as soon as possible.

The people of Wisconsin are overwhelmingly supportive of us reaching a bipartisan, negotiated compromise. Senate Democrats stand ready to do just that, we ask that you do the same.

Wisconsin State Legislature

Fugitive Wis. Dem: I Told My Staff To 'Ignore' Reassignment To GOP Senator

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2011, 4:04PM

State Sen. Chris Larson (D-WI)

TPM spoke Thursday with Wisconsin state Sen. Chris Larson, one of the 14 Democrats who have fled the state in order to block the budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals, getting his reaction to another one of the Senate Republicans' efforts to pressure the Dems into coming back: Reassigning their staffers to work under GOP state senators.

State Senate Republicans passed the measure Wednesday, as another retaliatory move against the absentee Dems. WisPolitics reported: "Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the change is not intended to allow the Republican members to direct the activities of the Dem staffers. He said it is merely to give the staffers a point of contact with a senator who is in the building if concerns arise."

TPM got in touch with Dem. state Sen. Chris Larson, whose staff has been reassigned to Republican state Sen. Neal Kedzie. "Well it's a pretty dangerous thing that they're trying to do," said Larson, who has spent the last two weeks in Illinois. "They're basically putting different Senate districts that are independently elected by the constituents under the control of somebody who is not elected to represent that area. I don't know if it's that they're going on a binge with the power grab here or what. But they've already trampled on freedom of speech -- so why not take over people's districts?"

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Wisconsin State Legislature

AWOL Wisconsin Dem Beats The System, Gets His Paycheck Mailed To Him

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2011, 3:17PM

State Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-WI)

Wisconsin state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, one of the 14 Democrats who have fled the state in order to block budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals, has just beaten the Republicans in one of their key efforts to force Dems back to the state - by collecting his legislative pay.

Senate Republicans last week passed a rule suspending the direct-deposit of absent legislators' pay, requiring them to show up in person at the Capitol -- in effect, to provide a quorum -- in order to receive a check.

However, as WisPolitics reports, Erpenbach found a workaround: He granted power-of-attorney to two members of his staff, thus authorizing them to conduct many important personal decisions and financial actions on his behalf -- such as picking up his paycheck.

Ultimately, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) put the check in the mail, instead of giving it to the staffers. Fitzgerald spokesman Andrew Welhouse told WisPolitics: "We confirmed with our attorneys and with the chief clerk that was proper."

Wisconsin State Legislature

Wisconsin GOPers Threaten Contempt For Fugitive Dems

Eric Kleefeld | March 3, 2011, 1:53PM

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R)

Wisconsin Senate Republicans briefly convened the chamber on Thursday, in order to lay down yet another ultimatum to the 14 Democrats who have fled the state in order to block budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals: Return by 4 p.m. Central Time...or you're in contempt!

The state Senate has previously issued "calls of the house," under which the authorities could compel to the Dems to come to the chamber. This new resolution appears to be a slightly more severe wording of the same effort -- which didn't work the first time around, of course, because the Dems are out of state.

As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the resolution passed by the state Senate orders the Sergeant at Arms, if the Dems don't show up by 4 p.m., to "take any and all necessary steps, with or without force, and with or without the assistance of law enforcement officers, by warrant or other legal process, as he may deem necessary in order to bring that senator to the Senate chambers so that the Senate may convene with a quorum of no less than 20 senators."

Democratic state Sen. Chris Larson told TPM: "I keep joking that they're gonna be pushing more and more for a power grab. So I find it unfortunate -- they're already off the edge of the cliff, but they're finding new cliffs to jump off of in terms of divisiveness in our state."

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin GOPer And Fugitive Dem Meet At McDonald's In Kenosha

Eric Kleefeld | March 2, 2011, 11:14AM

Wisconsin State Sens. Scott Fitzgerald (R) and Tim Cullen (D)

Some semblance of negotiations are beginning in the standoff in Wisconsin, where state Senate Democrats have fled the state in order to block a budget quorum on Gov. Scott Walker's anti-public employee union proposals -- but only a semblance.

As the Wisconsin State Journal reports, GOP Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Democratic state Sen. Tim Cullen met on Monday in Wisconsin -- at a McDonald's in Kenosha, right near the Illinois state line.

Fitzgerald is taking the meeting as a sign that some Democrats could be itching to return home: ""There's six, seven, eight, nine of them that are starting to say, 'Listen, we're starting to look like we're out of touch with what's going on in Madison, and it's time to get back."

However, Cullen told the paper that a lone return will not happen. "No one will go back and be the 20th vote," said Cullen. "We'll go back as a group."

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Wisconsin Protests

For Nervous AWOL Dems In WI, The Pressure's Off...For Now

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 21, 2011, 3:05PM

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)

In a pair of new AP reports, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach's (D) fears that the GOP would make an end-runn the AWOL Democrats and destroy collective bargaining rights for millions of state workers law appear to have been alleviated. Republican Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald said the majority won't end collective bargaining while the Democrats are in town -- highlighting a potential weakness in Walker's GOP coalition.

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Wisconsin Protests

Wisconsin GOP Senate Leader: No Compromise

Eric Lach | February 21, 2011, 12:23PM

When asked by NPR today whether there was any room for compromise on Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to strip most state government workers of their collective bargaining rights, State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) said no.

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