State Sen. Pat Testin, who’s leading the Senate GOP’s campaign effort this fall, told an event hosted by Grover Norquist that he’s pushing for another attempt to pass a $1.8 billion surplus package.

Testin, R-Stevens Point, confirmed to WisPolitics that he made the comments during yesterday’s event hosted by Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform and that he briefly spoke with Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, about taking another run at the package.

“From his standpoint, if the Senate Democrats can be reasonable to work with, then possibly there’s a chance,” Testin said. “But there would still have to be a broader discussion in our caucus.”

The compromise failed when all 15 of the chamber’s Dems and three Republicans voted against it.

Testin’s comments on the Norquist-hosted call are the latest sign of the push by some for a second shot at the package. That includes Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, telling WISN-TV’s “UpFront” that he wanted another vote.

Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein, D-Middleton, on Monday said LeMahieu told her a few days earlier that there was “no chance” of the Senate returning to vote on a new surplus deal.

Testin said in the phone interview with WisPolitics that he couldn’t speak for LeMahieu, but that wasn’t the impression he got from the majority leader. A LeMahieu spokesperson didn’t immediately return a call yesterday seeking comment.

During a stop in Waukesha Tuesday, Gov. Tony Evers told reporters Hesselbein has “got people wrapped around her finger by giving them jobs that they want” and if she wasn’t open to a new vote, there wasn’t a point in calling a new special session in an attempt to pass the deal. 

Hesselbein’s office declined comment on Testin’s comments, as well as Evers’ remarks.

Americans for Tax Reform said the events, such as yesterday’s, are considered off the record and no recording of Testin’s remarks was available.