Free Republic

A couple of years back, along Wisconsin’s borders, three words were added to the bottoms of the “Wisconsin Welcomes You” signs. “Open for business,” the additions announced. But is Wisconsin? Really? You wouldn’t have known it this week, not after the state’s Senate rejected mining legislation despite months of dealings and negotiations. Frustratingly, deliberations devolved into divisive, bitter debates along party lines. While politicians seemed to be doing little more than jockeying for credit while making sure the other party couldn’t score a victory, the state — and especially northern Wisconsin — was losing. We lost big. In the wake...

Wis. gov. rebuffs Democrats' request for meetingWalker calls request 'ridiculous,' says key Dem is 'in the way' By SCOTT BAUER The Associated Press updated 2 hours 48 minutes ago MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Democrats who fled the state nearly three weeks ago asked Monday for a meeting with Gov. Scott Walker to talk about changes to his plan to eliminate most public workers' union rights, a request the governor dismissed as "ridiculous." Walker said he and his administration have been in communication with at least a couple of the AWOL Senate Democrats about a deal that could bring them back,...

Senate Dems late tonight sought to downplay Minority Leader Mark Miller’s comments that they plan to return to the Capitol soon for a vote on the budget repair bill to put their GOP colleagues on record in the face of polls that show the legislation is not sitting well with the public. Miller told the Wall Street Journal that moving forward with a vote on the budget repair will would give Dems more leverage in seeking changes to the 2011-13 budget the guv released earlier this week. But a Miller spokesman and two of his Dem colleagues insisted nothing has...