Labor & Employment Law

Wis. 14 Offer to Meet with Walker to Discuss Bipartisan Solution

By James Parks

Wisconsin Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller this morning offered to meet in person with Gov. Scott Walker and Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald to discuss how to reach a ?bipartisan solution to our differences.” 

In a letter hand-delivered by Miller?s office to Walker and Fitzgerald, the Democratic leader said:

Over the past several weeks we have witnessed an unprecedented public debate in Wisconsin over the value of public workers and the importance of collective bargaining rights.

The working people of Wisconsin are deeply concerned about what the future holds for their families, and for the great state they call home. Now more than ever they are counting on us as leaders to work together to resolve our differences to move our state forward.

Fourteen Democratic state senators, including Miller, left Wisconsin for Illinois on Feb. 17 to prevent a quorum from considering Walker’s plan to eliminate bargaining rights for public employees. By leaving, the Democrats prevented Walker and Fitzgerald from ramming the bill through without working people having their voices heard.  

 Miller also pointed out that public workers have agreed to economic concessions that Walker had requested and Democrats have offered a number of proposals to try to reach a bipartisan resolution.

In his letter, Miller said Senate Democrats ?remain ready and willing to find a reasonable compromise.? He asked Walker, Fitzgerald or their authorized representative to agree to meet with the Democrats 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.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on March 07, 2011 (boomark / email).