MADISON, Wis. — The leader of the Wisconsin Democrats who fled the state nearly three weeks ago asked Gov. Scott Walker on Monday for an in-person meeting to discuss Walker's budget proposal that would strip most public employees of collective bargaining rights.
The Democrats also planned to meet among themselves Monday to discuss their next move and ways they could return to Madison.
"This is watershed week," said Sen. Chris Larson of Milwaukee, a member of the AWOL group. "I think we've had some pretty big victories. Obviously bringing the attention of what this legislation does to the state is pretty key."
The stalemate has drawn national attention and placed Wisconsin at the center of the debate over the future of union rights. Walker's proposal, which he says was designed to balance the state's budget, remains in limbo because without the 14 Democrats, the state Senate does not have enough members present for a quorum.
Democratic senators said Monday that pressure is mounting on Walker and Republicans to compromise after weeks of protests that have attracted tens of thousands of people to the Capitol. In addition, polls show substantial opposition to the governor and his plan, and recall efforts have been launched against Republican senators. Recall efforts have also been launched against the Democrats.
Walker's proposal would remove most collective bargaining rights for public employees, except over wage increases no greater than inflation. Police and fire departments would be the only exemptions. The legislation would also require state workers to start paying more for their pension and health care benefits starting in April, which amounts to an 8 percent pay cut on average.
The unions have agreed to the pay concessions as long as they can retain their bargaining rights. Rallies the past three weekends at the Capitol in opposition to the bill have grown as large as 80,000 people.
"We want to come back to the state of Wisconsin and stand with these hundreds of thousands of citizens who are now engaged," said Democratic Sen. Bob Jauch. "Every day I feel like I'm closer to getting back because there has to be a transition from us to the rest of us. This isn't our fight. This is the citizens' fight."
Since last week, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller has been talking about the importance of returning to oppose Walker's larger budget bill, which cuts about $1 billion from public schools and local governments to deal with a projected $3.6 billion shortfall.
"I don't think a lot of us have the stomach to stay away and watch our state plummet off a cliff," Larson said.
Miller sent a letter Monday to Walker and the Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald asking for an in-person meeting "as soon as possible to resume negotiations" on how to resolve the impasse over the bill.
Both sides had been talking last week, but negotiations broke down Thursday.
Walker and Fitzgerald did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"What we have been doing from the beginning is trying to reach out and find some sort of compromise," said Democratic Sen. Jon Erpenbach. "I think the pressure is really on them to find and forge some way to resolve this this week."
He and other Democrats said they were optimistic a deal could be reached soon.
"I don't think anyone expects us to stay here forever," Jauch said.
Among the 14 who fled the state is Sen. Julie Lassa, who is pregnant, and Sen. Fred Risser, who at 83 has been in the Legislature since 1956. He is the longest serving lawmaker in the country.
"There are some realities that have to be faced," Jauch said, referring to the fact that Lassa is now more than seven months' pregnant.
If Democrats return without meaningful concessions, the protests will only intensify, he said.
"It's very difficult because I realize even though we didn't plan it this way, people are resting their hopes on our decisions," Jauch said. "I know that at the point we return some people are going to be terribly let down. We have to communicate with them that we stand together."