Blood ties unite Wis. brothers in union bill fight

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20110417/AP09/304179966

Published Sunday April 17, 2011

By SCOTT BAUER

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - When Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker needed help twisting arms to get his polarizing bill eliminating most public employees' union rights through the Legislature, he turned to Scott and Jeff Fitzgerald. The Irish Catholic brothers hold the top two legislative posts in the state, and they said their success was due to blood as much as political skill.

"If Jeff and I were not brothers, and if we didn't have the personal relationship that we have, I don't know if it would have worked or not," said Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who is known as "Big Fitz" even though he is shorter than his younger brother, the Assembly speaker. "We were all on the same page in just about everything we did," he added.

The two took over the leadership positions this year after Republicans won control of the Senate and Assembly in the 2010 midterm elections. They are a unique family dynasty. There are no known cases, either now or in the past, where brothers held the two highest positions at the same time in a state Legislature, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

They also have forged a close relationship with Walker. The three have a standing weekly meeting, and sometimes, as in the heat of the union fight, they meet daily. They say the struggle to get the law passed in the wake of a walkout by Democratic senators and protests that drew as many as 85,000 people to the Capitol only strengthened their relationship and resolve.

Critics say their actions have torn the state apart. Efforts to recall 16 senators are under way, and a recent state Supreme Court election that turned into a referendum on the law showed a nearly 50-50 split among voters.

One Democrat has gone to so far to say Wisconsin has turned into "Fitzwalkerstan," where minority opinions and political compromise are not allowed.

"It seemed we were becoming a third world junta," said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison.

FULL story at link.