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发帖数: 29846 | 1 By SCOTT BAUER
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Meet the new boss, says Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker,
pledging to make peace with Democrats after his historic recall victory.
But it will take more than a promised meeting with lawmakers over beer and
brats to ease tensions. Walker's wounded adversaries will want proof that
the triumphant governor isn't the same as the old boss.
"A lot of what the governor had to say he said last year in his inauguration
address," a skeptical Democratic state Sen. Jon Erpenbach said Wednesday. "
It didn't take him but five minutes not to follow through on that."
Walker and his recall challenger, Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett,
sought to strike conciliatory tones after the votes had been counted. They
urged both sides to renew efforts to work together.
Still, their remarks fly in the face of how Republicans and Democrats have
actually behaved over the last 18 months, since Walker made it clear he
intended to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most public employees
. The move fueled intense partisan bitterness, all but halted the wheels of
the Legislature and led to weeks of massive protests.
The acrimony extended throughout the state. A poll released last month by
the Marquette University Law School showed that 29 percent of people stopped
talking to someone about politics because of disagreements over the recall.
A Tuesday exit poll showed a deeply divided electorate, with almost no
crossover voting.
Walker's talk of mending fences will be tough for families and friends torn
apart over politics to accept, Erpenbach said.
"People have lost more than most politicians realize," he said.
Proof of Walker's earnestness, and that of Democrats, will be in how their
words translate into actions.
The best place to start would be changing state law to allow a recall
challenge only when an elected official has committed a crime or malfeasance
, said Republican state Rep. Robin Vos, the presumptive new speaker of the
Assembly.
"I actually hope this is the thing we can come together on," Vos said.
Walker and Democrats could also look for agreement on a stalled proposal to
open a new iron ore mine in northern Wisconsin. Republicans who controlled
the Legislature last year couldn't reach a deal with Democrats or moderate
GOP Sen. Dale Schultz, who opposed the plan supported by Walker and the
mining company.
During the recall campaign, Walker said talks were ongoing with the company
and that he would call the Legislature back for a special session this year
to pass a deal, if one could be struck.
With the end of the recall campaign, he expressed hope that "we'll get there
." He also promised that an "unbelievable" number of jobs would be created
around the state in coming weeks. He did not elaborate.
In other matters, lawmakers have been trying to find agreement on a proposal
that would make more venture capital available for businesses, an idea both
sides embrace as a way to create jobs. But the measure has gone nowhere,
largely because there's no money available.
Striking a deal on that would help Walker show he's sincere in working with
Democrats, said state Rep. Brett Hulsey, a Madison Democrat.
Walker received a hero's welcome Wednesday from his cabinet, which gave him
a 3 1/2-minute standing ovation as Walker hugged each member. The governor
said he spoke with Democratic leaders and "there's a sense people are ready
to move on from this."
"We're just talking about the next step," Walker said. "We're not gloating
in the victory."
During the battle over union rights, Walker refused to compromise with
Democrats, who responded to the collective bargaining plan in the Senate by
packing up and leaving the state for three weeks.
Assembly Democrats held court over a three-day filibuster that ended with
them shouting "Shame!" at Republicans after they forced a vote in the middle
of the night. One Democratic lawmaker was so enraged he shouted "You're (
expletive) dead!" at a Republican.
Then recall campaigns last summer targeted six Republican and three
Democratic state senators, which kept the pot boiling. If there was ever any
thought that tensions would die down, it was dashed with the launch of the
Walker recall in November.
Needless to say, feelings are a little raw around Madison. And healing them
won't be as simple as having lawmakers over for brats and beers, as Walker
said he wants to do.
The biggest test will come whenever lawmakers reconvene for their next
session.
It appears Democrats may take control of the Senate by one vote, based on
preliminary results from Tuesday's recalls. They would have control at least
through the end of this year, with November elections determining who is at
the helm starting in 2013.
No matter who is in charge, finding a way to pass significant legislation
will certainly require compromise - something that's been in short supply
around the Capitol.
For months, Walker has said that he regretted not making his case for the
union proposal publically before taking action. And in his comments Tuesday
night, he stressed the desire to reconcile with political foes.
"It's time to put our differences aside and find ways to work together to
move Wisconsin forward," Walker said. "The first step is just bringing
people together and figuring out some way if we can thaw the ice." |
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