Wisconsin Effort to Recall Gov. Scott Walker Moving Quickly, But Work Remains
EmailOn Monday night the United Wisconsin coalition, the committee organizing the effort to recall Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, announced that it had collected 300,000 signatures since the recall kicked off on Nov. 15.
The signature-gathering process has moved very quickly so far. In the first 96 hours of its recall effort, United Wisconsin reported that 105,000 individuals signed the petitions. Last week, volunteers for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin fanned out in shopping centers across the state in order to collect signatures from Black Friday shoppers.
Volunteers have even begun to set up drive-through stations, where citizens can pull pull up and sign a recall form, a tactic that will likely prove to be useful in the coming weeks as the temperature drops.
The group has circulated petitions around the state of Wisconsin, focusing not just on major urban areas, but also on suburban and rural counties. Organizers have collected signatures from counties considered to be Democratic strongholds, such as Columbia County, where organizers reported they’ve gathered 10,333 signatures. They’ve also expanded their efforts to counties considered to be more moderate, such as Portage County, where the organization says 8,540 residents have signed the recall petitions.
“With breathtaking speed, the people of Wisconsin are taking their state back from a Tea Party extremist who has acted as the cat’s paw of corporate special interests in attacking our values and institutions,” Graeme Zielinski, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, wrote in a statement to ABC News. “Extremists like Scott Walker acted without accountability and now, using democracy’s tools, is being brought to account.”
Meagan Mahaffey, executive director for United Wisconsin, told ABC News she believes the major contributing factor to the effort’s progress is “Scott Walker’s agenda and everything he’s done to the state.”
However, Wisconsin Republicans dismissed the recall movement as a “baseless power grab.”
Ben Sparks, the spokesman for the Republican Party of Wisconsin, issued a statement on Monday saying, “Despite the Democrats’ attempts to generate false momentum in their never ending effort to score political points, Wisconsin families are only interested in moving our state forward. We remain focused on Governor Walker’s common-sense reforms that have laid the ground work for economic growth, and our economy only continues to improve.”
United Wisconsin will need to collect 540,208 signatures by Jan. 17 in order to get a recall of Governor Walker on the ballot. Technically speaking, the group’s 300,000 signatures puts them over the halfway mark, and the committee hopes to collect upward of 600,000 to 700,000 signatures, as it is likely that some of the signatures collected will end up being thrown out by the state’s Government Accountability Board.
United Wisconsin’s Mahaffey praised the movements success so far and acknowledged that there’s more work to be done.
“This is clearly off to a great start,” she said. “We have more work ahead.”
UPDATE: A previous version of this post stated that 540,208 signatures was equal to 25% of the votes Governor Walker received in the 2010 Gubernatorial election. In fact, 540,208 represents 25% of the total number of votes cast in that contest.
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“United Wisconsin will need to collect 540,208 signatures by Jan. 17 in order to get a recall of Governor Walker on the ballot — 25% of the votes that Walker received in his 2010 Gubernatorial election.”
This is not right. It is 25% of the total votes CAST in the last gubernatorial election, so it would be the number Walker received plus his opponents. If it’d be 25% of the votes Walker solely received, the recall election could be ordered already as 25% of his 1,000,000-ish received in 2010 is less than 300,000.
Posted by: sr | November 29, 2011, 7:34 pm 7:34 pm
I signed the recall petitions (one each for Gov. Walker & Lt. Gov. Kleefisch) as soon as I could. Even in my more Republican part of the state, we’re getting a lot of signatures. If you want to know why, go back and read Ben Sparks’ quotes in the article. Complete misrepresentation of what’s going on.
Posted by: mike | November 29, 2011, 8:03 pm 8:03 pm
Why do we even have elections anymore? I don’t agree with everything he has done, but he was elected to a term if people don’t like what he has done than vote the republicans out in a proper election. Why should 5400000 people get to undo the votes of millions. I mean tom barret got over a million votes. I dont remember republicans recalling Doyle for the things he did. Enough of the recalls already can’t we have some time with out politics.
Posted by: Jim | November 30, 2011, 3:11 am 3:11 am
Just look at WHO is heading up the recall. Big business and Unions. I for one am tired of police, fire, government office workers and social workers having better job security a higher pay than that in the commercial market along with better retirement and medical benefits. On top of it all they have Unions and right to strike.
Originally, the exchange was lower pay and better medical for job security. Now the government workers demand the highest pay, best medical, AND job security at the expense of taxpayers. It is time to end the insanity of this ideology.
Posted by: Dirk | November 30, 2011, 10:42 am 10:42 am
I’m so glad I don’t live in Wisconsin
Posted by: dave | November 30, 2011, 5:18 pm 5:18 pm
Scott Walker is the perfect example of why we have recalls. So that if someone terrible gets elected and starts doing destructive things that were not mentioned in his campaign, the people can get rid of him before he causes too much harm, and without resorting to violence. Here, the people actually have a chance to stand up and make a difference, and it’s refreshing to see people doing something about corrupt politicians for a change.
Posted by: Fred | November 30, 2011, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
How many bogus names will be found on recall petitions. Just found out that Vicki McKenna’s name was signed by someone…NOT HER! Wonder if that will be investigated?
Posted by: Marjean | December 1, 2011, 8:34 am 8:34 am
To Jim Poster 11-30-11 Jim, the reason the public sector pays better, than the private sector lies right at the doorstep, of Republicans. These guys are Shills for the Multi-nationals. Remember who came up with 401ks, that was so their corporate sponsors didn;t have to pay pensions
Posted by: Mike | December 1, 2011, 2:13 pm 2:13 pm
Hmmm so before 401k plans govt required pensions? Fool.
Posted by: Michael | December 1, 2011, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
Gov. Walker is doing a good job as governor. I really like the way he came in strong at the start and is making common sense reforms. What really irritates me is the energy around this recall. He was elected by the majority of voters. Protesters should focus on more important items in Wisconsin such as our failing school system in Milwaukee.
Posted by: karen | December 5, 2011, 7:26 pm 7:26 pm
Taxpayers of Wisconsin should be grateful to Gov Walker for saving the state from bankrupcy.
Teachers and Unions are soo greedy, expecting middle class and poor to subsidize their retirement and health care. Do teachers want Wisconsin to go bankrupt and have all schools closed.?
Posted by: renie mccallister | December 6, 2011, 11:33 am 11:33 am
lol. walker is a blood sucker . what happen to the American way ! Like taking care of each other . you should be happy your in America . And remember we all have family that have died in wars . This world is becoming so cold . And how can people sit here and see some one doing evil things . Then say it,s ok ! You dont want no one to have anything because your well off . So the hell with the poor . And like they say most rich people kids are hardly called to war . And all i see is people fighting over who should be on ware fare . But if your smart you no we can not give every one in the world a job . So we have to have something . Or the children will starve . And who no mabie that will make some of these well off people happy . Rich people cry about there money . but when they leave this earth . you cant take even one dollar witch you . Come back to the America that made us great . We loved all men no matter if they were rich or poor . Thats why we were blessed . We had a good heart . And now were acting like some heartless blood suckers . There will be a price to pay . If we stay the good America we will make it threw . If we dont . we will be fighting in the street and we will end up going crazy like the rest of the world ?
Posted by: timothy scroggins | December 9, 2011, 10:27 pm 10:27 pm
Dirk, Karen, & Renie have it all wrong. Do you honestly believe all teachers and public sector workers are terrible money hungry people? They take care of your community. You don’t know one public worker that you respect. Public workers are the middle class. Big businesses are not funding the recall; most of it is funded by individual workers. Most big businesses support the Republican agenda. How many big businesses will pump millions into Walkers recall campaign. Unions represent both the middle class and the less fortunate worker. Each middle class worker doesn’t have millions; they just work together to better the middle class and working poor. Unions help set a bar for all workers including non-unioned. Just see what happens to all middle class and working poor wages as more and more unions are dismantled because of the Republican agenda. Walker turned the people of Wisconsin against each other with his radical agenda. Giving and taking on both ends would have prevented a recall. Wlalker wouldn’t have turned half of Wisconsin against him. The people have a right to recall. It’s written in the Wisconsin Constitution. Just ask Walker, who won from a recall election in Milwaukee. Let Demoncracy play out. I’m glad I live in a country that allows the people to have a say. This is why we support our troops in what they have done for this great country and what they continue to do.
Posted by: Matthew | December 12, 2011, 12:05 am 12:05 am
It is realey sick when you have kids in grammer and high school soliciting for signatures
on recalling GOV Walker, when they have no idea of what its for. I saw this in La Crosse on Losey Blv. on 12-13-11 You people need to get out of the moron world and realy see the good job gov Walker is doing and be happy you have a job if not then you are LAZY.. A thought to dwell on..
FRED Strigun
Posted by: Fred Strigun | December 13, 2011, 6:48 pm 6:48 pm
LAZY…Really?? People working for minimum wage or living below the poverty level are lazy? Don’t they have the right to stand-up for better. We live in the USA. We have the right and so do you. As for high school students soliciting signatures, many of them more know about what Walker stands for than most adults.
Posted by: Matthew | December 13, 2011, 10:36 pm 10:36 pm
LAZY…Really?? People that work for minimum wage or work for wages that still puts their family below the poverty level are lazy. We live in the USA. We have the right to fight for better and so do you. When Walker continues to cut programs that help these types of workers, how are they going to provide for their familys when they are already working HARD. And as for the high school students soliciting for signatures, many of them know more about what Walker stands for than most adults who support him do.
Posted by: Matthew | December 13, 2011, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
Stand up for democracy Wisconsin good for you.
Posted by: Jim Childers | December 20, 2011, 7:32 pm 7:32 pm
The issues in Wisconsin are issues we share throughout America. I have been interested in our political system for over 5 decades and I have learned a few things. Most people simply do not get involved and basically know little about our political system. The serious political actions that can and do effect our lives are upon us before we even know it. Our country has been taken over by money and manipulating rules and laws that benefit those who can afford it. The pressures and confusion intermingled with propaganda persuade misguided citizens to look the other way. People of Wisconsin are not looking the other way and I support their effort to correct a very bad wrong. I wish you victory in the strongest way. Maybe this old constitution still works after all, Jefferson would be proud.
Posted by: Jim Childers | December 20, 2011, 7:47 pm 7:47 pm
the govt wants the schools to fail so they go private so they can spend less on education as it is…and yes young teachers love this because they are getting jobs from the people that are basically getting screwed over…but they are just getting jobs because the market is dead and will take what they can get, once they get experience most will be gone to states where they do get the benefits that wisconsin teachers used to
Posted by: brian | January 11, 2012, 1:16 am 1:16 am