MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker donned a white apron to man the grill at a bipartisan picnic he is hosting just a week after winning a recall election. A bipartisan group of nearly 100 state lawmakers attended the Tuesday cookout at the governor's mansion. Walker dubbed it a brat (braht) summit after the type of sausages popular in Wisconsin that were being served. Republicans and Democrats who attended the event say it was a positive first step to begin to heal some of the wounds of the past 18 months, when a fight over union rights culminated in Walker's recall. But Democrats also say they are waiting to see more substantive signs that Walker is serious about working across party lines.
Walker grills for lawmakers as helicopter circles
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FILE - In this June 7, 2012, file photo, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, center right, poses for a photo during a visit to Bauman Construction Company at Chippewa Falls, Wis. A week after the Republican fought off a Democratic-led attempt to recall him from office, Walker is trying to mend some fences by inviting state lawmakers from both parties to the governor's residence for a brat summit. A spokesman said Monday, June 11, 2012, that Tuesday's event will not be open to media. (AP Photo/Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Steve Kinderman, File)
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker poses for a picture with a bottle of beer while manning the grill as he hosts a Brat Summit at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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Legislators and other guests, including Wisconsin Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette), facing, right, wait to enter the Brat Summit hosted by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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A man carries two bottles of Sprecher root beer with custom labels specially-produced for the event outside of the Brat Summit hosted by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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A United States flag and Wisconsin state flag fly over the front lawn as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker hosts a Brat Summit at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, top center, and state Rep. Peter Barca (D-Kenosha) talk as Walker hosts a Brat Summit at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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Legislators, staff and other guests attend a Brat Summit hosted by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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Legislators and other guests wait to enter the Brat Summit hosted by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, left, poses for a picture with Brandon Strand as Walker hosts a Brat Summit at the Executive Residence in the Village of Maple Bluff, Wis., Tuesday, June 12, 2012. Walker, just a week removed from his win in a recall election spurred by his taking on public sector unions, did not allow media into the cookout. He billed the bipartisan gathering as a way to heal political wounds following his first 18 months in office that has spurred massive protests and culminated with the unsuccessful recall attempt. (AP Photo/Wisconsin State Journal, M.P. King)
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