The Capitol Times in Madison published an editorial today in which they released the full text of a letter that Senator Minority Leader Mark Miller (D, obviously) wrote to the Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, as well as Fitzgerald's response back to Miller. While they are worth reading if you have the time, I can summarize.
Miller requests a meeting at the Illinois border to negotiate on the budget bill. His letter respectfully acknowledges the need to compromise, despite the differences between the agenda of the parties.
"I assure you that Democratic state senators, despite our differences and the vigorous debate we have had,
remain ready and willing to find a reasonable compromise."
He indicates his understanding of how this issue has affected his fellow Wisconsinites.
"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."
He ends the letter by expressing his desire to find a bipartisan compromise.
Miller's letter is respectful, thoughtful, and considerate. Fitzgerald's whining, bullying response, however, is not. He starts it off by calling Miller's proposal "bizarre," then proceeds to question Miller's sanity - twice. He calls the Democrats flight to Illinois a "media stunt" and states
"Your grasp of reality, and control of your caucus as minority leader, continues to amaze me."
He calls Senator Miller's "stubbornness...shameful" and finishes with a taunt more fitting for a middle schooler:
"I hope you are enjoying your vacation, and your vacation from reality."
However, my favorite part of the letter is his admonishment to the Democrats in general that their "opportunity to compromise and amend the bill was on the floor of the state Senate." If this is like the same "opportunity" that the Assembly Democrats had to argue the bill, where every single one of the amendments they proposed was voted down, and then the voting on the bill itself happened at a secret, pre-arranged time known only to the Republicans, and closed within seconds, then Fitzgerald has an odd understanding of the democratic process.
It is clear from these two letters who is interested in moving forward in a manner that has the best interests of Wisconsinites at heart, and who is just a big bully.