The Hill News

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has adopted the posture of a dictator by refusing to negotiate on a labor reform, a leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus said Wednesday.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the co-chairman of the CPC, said Walker was "is basically taking up the posture of a dictator" in his standoff with state Senate Democrats over legislation limiting most collective bargaining for public employees.

Ellison and Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the other CPC co-chairman, framed the battle in Wisconsin as one that could predict the outcome of similar labor battles in other Midwestern states.

"If we win this battle for middle-class workers in Wisconsin, we will win everywhere else in this country," Grijalva said in a call organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC).

The liberal leaders sought to bolster Democrats in the state Senate who are locked in an extended standoff with Walker over his ! labor reform bill. They're hiding out in Illinois, beyond the jurisdiction of state troopers, which has the effect of preventing the Senate from being able to convene and pass the bill.

The Wisconsin battle has become increasingly nationalized, as labor groups and Democrats have expressed support for the public employees unions, and Republicans (and allied groups) have weighed in on behalf of Walker.

"This is a great place for us to have this battle. We absolutely must win; there is no other option," Ellison said.

Both Grijalva and Ellison said they were grateful for President Obama's decision to weigh in on behalf of workers in Wisconsin, but Grijalva also urged the president to use his "bully pulpit" a bit more forcefully on the issue. (Obama's political arm within the Democratic National Committee had helped organize demonstrations against the bill in Wisconsin, but has shied away from taking too much credit for the protests.)
"I don't think you can turn the cheek on this one," Grijalv! a said.