E-mails released by Gov. Scott Walker show progress in the budget repair bill stalemate, although Republicans and Democrats still refuse to budge.
In an interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette, state Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Allouez, said there would have to be some compromise over collective bargaining rights, although he still intends to vote for the governor's bill as is.
""You have to be flexible because some way, somehow there will be an amendment modifying the collective bargaining,"" Cowles said. ""[The Democrats leaving] is an incredible situation that none of us ever thought would happen. So negotiations on this are critical to move past this and move on to the budget, which also has a number of dilemmas.""
The e-mails outline a possible compromise in which collective bargaining powers for unions would include workplace safety, eliminate inflation limitations and referendum requirements on bargaining over pay. Performance bonuses, hazardous duty pay and classroom size could be bargained over if employers and employees agreed to negotiate.
Any agreement reached could not last more than two years, and workers would have to vote every three years to keep the union active.
The compromise would force changes to the Medical Assistance program which is set to be approved by the Joint Committee on Finance after a public hearing.
State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, criticized Walker in a statement for discussing the negotiations in press conferences and said that discussions needed to remain private in order to make progress.
""Any serious leader does not negotiate contentious issues by press conference,"" Jauch said. ""His public announcement of what were supposed to be confidential discussions is a serious breach of faith.""
Public pressure appears to building, according to a poll by Wisconsin Policy Research Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank. Poll results found that 65 percent of Wisconsinites think Walker should compromise. Jauch said he talked to several senators who would have voted against curtailing collective bargaining rights, if not for pressure from Walker.
""Those conversations revealed that six or seven Republican senators hated the collective bargaining provisions but felt pressured by Gov. Walker to vote for the bill,"" Jauch said. ""The reality is that there is a strong majority of legislators who don't want to get rid of collective bargaining but voted against the wishes of the constituents because they were compelled to vote with Gov. Walker.""
The proposed compromise would not alter healthcare and pension contributions. Under the compromise, unions still could not take dues out of workers' paychecks, force workers to pay or kick out those who don't.
