Republicans and Democrats in Wisconsin can't agree on much — including why they can't agree.
Democrats say Republicans spoiled chances for bipartisanship with a lame-duck session that peeled power away from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul even before they were seated.
Republicans say Evers packed so much liberal policy into the state budget he introduced in February that he left no room for compromise.
The roots of the problem date to the election, when Evers edged out two-term Republican Gov. Scott Walker.
The next day, Evers received dozens of congratulatory phone calls — including one from Walker — but he didn't hear from the Republican leaders of the Legislature, who kept firm grips on the state Senate and Assembly.
Instead, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester were busy working on the legislation to clip the new governor's wings before he took office.
