Some lawmakers turn down Gov invite to ‘brat summit’

Gov. Scott Walker’s invitation to a bipartisan bratfest Tuesday got a partisan “no thanks” response from at least two lawmakers. So far, two state representatives – one Democrat, one Republican – have said they’re not ready to mend fences over a beer.

On the Democratic side, Rep. Mark Pocan says the governor owes the state an apology for telling a campaign donor he planned to divide and conquer the labor unions. But Pocan says there’s a more important reason he’ll skip the Beer and Brat party at the governor’s mansion this week. Pocan says he wants some serious policy discussions with the Republicans before he’ll join a toast to future bipartisanship:

“You know I am just kind of saying it’s been a long 16 months and a brat doesn’t quite cut it. But some substance would go really, really far and I’m more than willing to work on substance.”

“Substance,” Pocan says, means some assurances from the governor that he is committed to providing future funding for the SeniorCare program that provides affordable prescription drugs to senior citizens.

On the Republican side, state Rep. Steve Nass is turning down the invitation because of comments this weekend from State Democratic Party chair Mike Tate and Madison Democratic Sen. Fred Risser. Tate suggested the governor could end up in jail because of his alleged role in violating election laws when he was Milwaukee County executive. Risser called the governor “arrogant” in his remarks at the party convention. Nass says those comments signal continued legislative chaos and demands an apology.