UNDATED (WSAU) Congressional Democrats hammered Governor Scott Walker during his appearance in Washington yesterday. The Republican Walker told a House committee that his budget proposals are “truly progressive,” for the way they cut public employee compensation without layoffs and massive property tax increases.

But Democrats chided Walker for deeply dividing Wisconsinites, and not being upfront about his plans to scale back public union bargaining. Iowa Democrat Bruce Braley said Walker promised in one of his campaign ads to bring people together. And he facetiously asked, “How’s that working out for you?”

Virginia Democrat Gerald Connolly asked Walker why he didn’t talk during the campaign about his plans for the unions. Walker said nobody should have been surprised, because of the positions he took as Milwaukee County’s executive – and he did talk generally about getting concessions from state workers. House Republican Jim Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls said Walker is polarizing, but those who love him thank him for the job he’s done.

Democrats also grilled Walker about the promotion of a campaign donor’s son to an 81-thousand-dollar management job in the Commerce Department. Brian Deschane was promoted despite having no college degree, little management experience, and two drunk driving convictions. Braley asked if Walker was ready to apologize to Wisconsinites, saying quote, “That doesn’t sound like good government to me.”

Walker said it happened five levels below him, and he ordered Deschane’s demotion as soon as he learned about it. Deschane later left state government altogether.