MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The Latest on Speaker Robin Vos calling fellow Republicans terrorists (all times local):
12:55 p.m.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is apologizing for calling three fellow Republicans “terrorists” over their negotiations on the state budget with Gov. Scott Walker.
Vos made the comment in an interview Sunday that aired on the WISN-TV show “”Up Front with Mike Gousha (GOO-shay).” He was referring to Republican Sens. Duey Stroebel, Steve Nass and Chris Kapenga.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald called the comment “beyond inappropriate” on Monday and demanded Vos apologize. Nass demanded an apology as well, noting he served in the Wisconsin Air National Guard for 33 years.
Vos issued a news release early Monday afternoon saying he regrets using the word terrorist and apologized. He says he has been working to restore civility to the Assembly and his comment goes against the guidelines he has set for the chamber.
But he went on to say Stroebel, Nass and Kapenga can’t work within their caucus and questioned whether legislative leaders will have to run everything by “a few rogue holdouts.”
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10 a.m.
Wisconsin Republicans were demanding an apology after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called three fellow Republicans “terrorists” for how they negotiated the state budget with Gov. Scott Walker.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says the comment is “beyond inappropriate” and he is calling on Vos to apologize.
Vos made the comment in an interview Sunday that aired on the WISN-TV show “Up Front with Mike Gousha (GOO-shay).
Vos was referring to Republican Sens. Duey Stroebel, Steve Nass and Chris Kapenga.
Nass on Monday says the comment was “beyond outrageous” and Vos should apologize.
Nass notes that he served in the Wisconsin Air National Guard for 33 years and “the people of Wisconsin have a sacred comprehension of the evils associated with terrorism since this country was attacked on September 11, 2001.”
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8:22 a.m.
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is calling three fellow Republicans “terrorists” over how they negotiated the state budget with Gov. Scott Walker.
Vos made the comment in an interview aired Sunday on the program “Up Front with Mike Gousha” aired on WISN-TV.
Vos was referring to a deal Walker cut with three Republican state senators to veto parts of the budget they objected to in order to win their support for the larger plan. Vos has been outspoken against the lawmakers’ tactics, previously saying they were holding the budget hostage.
Calling them terrorists elicited strong responses from Senate Republicans.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says the comment is “beyond inappropriate.” He is calling on Vos to apologize.
Vos did not immediately return messages seeking comment Monday.
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