Wis. gov. says Democrats’ request for meeting is ridiculous

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker says a request from the leader of Senate Democrats to meet along the Illinois-Wisconsin border is ridiculous.

Walker said today that Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller has been standing in the way of progress on negotiations with other Democrats to end an impasse over a bill taking away collective bargaining rights from public workers.

Walker says he doesn’t know who is in charge of the 14 Democrats who fled to Illinois to block a vote on the measure.

Miller says Walker can talk with any Democrat he wants if he doesn’t want to deal with him.

Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach says it’s Walker’s administration that’s been in the way of striking a deal with Democrats. Erpenbach says Democrats continue to make offers.