Posted on 03/04/2011 11:01:22 AM PST by bigbob
Milroy says guv's rhetoric caused rising tensions
Rep. Nick Milroy says he's got no bruises or scrapes from being tackled last night by an officer trying to keep him from entering the Capitol.
While physically he's fine, Milroy told reporters this morning he's "disgusted" by the policies this week that he says led to the incident.
"My biggest frustration has been the lack of leadership from the governor," the Dem from South Range said.
Milroy said Walker has continued to escalate the tensions at the Capitol by refusing to sit down and negotiate a compromise to his plan to end collective bargaining for most state workers, and by threatening layoffs if the bill doesn't get passed.
"It's been snowballing due to the continuing poor decisions of the governor," he said.
After having dinner last night outside the building, Milroy attempted to return to the Capitol to retrieve some belongings.
Milroy said he showed his legislative ID to an officer standing near the pillars at the entrance. Though she told him he couldn't go in, he proceeded to the door, where he showed his ID to another officer who opened the door for him.
Milroy thought he was cleared to go inside.
But the first officer Milroy came in contact with, the one who said he couldn't enter, yelled to the officer holding the door that he wasn't allowed in. It was then that the officer, who Milroy said was from the Two Rivers Police Department, grabbed him and took him to the ground.
Milroy continued to try to identify himself and repeatedly show his ID. Eventually the officers realized who he was, and though they told him he still couldn't enter there, he could go around to a different entrance.
Milroy says he may have been too aggressive in trying to get in, and the officer may have been too aggressive in stopping him. But he said no harm was done.
Milroy the video of the incident looks violent, but it wasn't as bad as it appears.
"I was wearing a puffy coat," he said with a laugh.
Milroy says he doesn't think the officer should be reprimanded because he was following orders. But the orders given those officers have put them in a tough position, to the point where getting into the Capitol has been "like trying to go through TSA," he said.
Mllroy said he later talked to the officer and said there were no hard feelings. He chalked it up to the stressful atmosphere that has pervaded the Capitol the last few weeks, and he commended law enforcement for doing an outstanding job during the protests.
Tensions seemed to have ease a bit today after a court order called for the restrictions to be lifted. More protesters were in the building this morning than had been allowed in prior days this week, though those who come in are still subject to a scan from a metal-detecting wand.
"It's still not normal," Milroy said. "I have faith that it will return to a better situation. But even today the governor is threatening state workers with layoffs."
“Lack of leadership” ????
I guess that translates to “lack of doing exactly what *I* want done.”
From where I sit, the governor is more of a leader than 99.9% of all elected officials.
To paraphrase our illustrious WH bumbler: We won. We don’t have to compromise.
I guess no means no.
What a dope. It’s walkers leadership that caused this goon to go ape.
Hey Nick, What part of, "there's nothing to negotiate, there's nothing to compromise" don't you understand?
Your state is flat-ass broke and your governor is busting his chops to save government worker positions.
Jackass!
Hey Milroy, STFU.
If your buddies weren’t playing stupid moron games you wouldn’t have gotten tackled.
And guess what, what Walker is doing is what leadership looks like.
“Milroy says guv’s rhetoric caused rising tensions”
I’m sure the MA congressman’s that unions need to shed blood, the death threats on the Republican legislater in WI by the Democrat, the attack on the FNC reporter by the union supporter, or the bullets and carnage left by the union supporters in Madison aren’t contributing to the level of tension at all!
BULL
Heh.
Dork.
You just don't like the direction the Governer's leadership is taking you.
Can't I interpret that to mean that running away and hiding IS leadership.
The Governor's job is to run the State in a fiscally responsible fashion, not to accommodate spendthrift politicians or fools who try to get into buildings after hours. I think the Governor is showing bold and effective leadership.
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