The top GOP leader in the state Senate backtracked Tuesday, saying Republicans would lift fines and a contempt finding against Democrats – a move that will allow Democrats to vote in committee and may begin to heal wounds between the two parties…
“The name of the game is moving this state forward, putting this stuff behind us,” [Senate President Mike] Ellis [(R-Neenah)] said. “Let’s get on with the people’s business. Let’s stop all the bickering.”…
“It was essential for us to move forward,” said Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D-Monona). “We needed to be able to return to some sense of normalcy in our day-to-day operations.”…
[I]n a sign of how delicate the situation is, the two Democrats on the committee – Miller and Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay – were not allowed to vote on rescinding the sanctions.
Three theories about the sudden Republican reversal. One: Like I said last night, with recall fee-vah already burning on the left, maybe the GOP thought better of adding extra fuel to it. Two: If you tell Dems they can’t vote, they’re apt to skedaddle again, which is a big problem when there are still budgetary measures to pass. Better to waive the punishments and deny them any further pretext for victimhood so that you can get something done. Three: Maybe Cullen’s anti-fleebagging amendment restored some goodwill between the two sides? Democrats did kinda sorta promise GOP majority leader Scott Fitzgerald today that they wouldn’t run away again — at least this term — but fleebagger-in-chief Mark Miller refused to rule it out categorically. Quote: “You don’t know for sure what’s going to happen in the future.” So there’s the state of “healing” for you.
Elsewhere, while protesters hound one Republican senator by demonstrating outside her house, others are inside the Capitol singing songs. Of freedom. Click the image to watch.
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