Updated at 7 p.m. edt
Apparently the two state Senate seats Democrats picked up in recall elections in Wisconsin this month have far-reaching ramifications as word comes now that Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich is ready to make a deal with unions to avoid a similar repeal vote in November.
Like Wisconsin, the GOP-controlled state legislature in Ohio passed a union-busting law banning strikes and limiting rights for more than 350,000 teachers, police officers and other public workers. Unions successfully launched an effort to repeal the law by bringing the issue before the voters of Ohio in November.
With polls showing the majority of Ohioans want the law to be repealed, and seeing how close Democrats came to winning control of the Wisconsin Senate in recall elections, Kasich said today he and other top GOP lawmakers want to sit down tomorrow with unions to work out a deal to avoid a referendum showdown in his state, according to the Associated Press.
About 56% of Ohio voters want the collective bargaining law to be repealed, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll, and the unions have loaded up their war chest with about $7 million for the repeal fight.
The same poll shows public support for Kasich slipping.
end update
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The Wisconsin recall election season, triggered by GOP Gov. Scott Walker's anti-worker law, is finally over, leaving Republicans with only a one-seat majority in the state Senate.
Two Wisconsin Democratic state senators easily held on to their seats yesterday in the last two of nine recall elections this summer.
The Democrats now have their sights set on Walker, the ultra-conseravtive governor who stripped most public employees in Wisconsin of their collective bargaining rights. They may try to recall Walker early next year, but first need to collect more than 500,000 signatures.
"Democrats won more races, recalled two Republican senators, protected every Democratic incumbent, shifted the balance of power in the state Senate away from conservatives, and forced Walker and the GOP to pay public lip service to moderation and bipartisanship for the first time since they took power in January," Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said.
"All of these facts show that voters gave Democrats the overall victory in this summer’s historic senate recall elections," he added.
The GOP has to be concerned about the newly enlisted rural voters that joined the Democratic ranks as a result of the recalls. Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, a tough-talking hardliner not known for either eloquence or compromise, is already begging for a truce.
"The problems facing our state are too serious for these political games, and the Democrats' permanent campaign cycle," Fitzgerald said in a statement. "The Democrats need to start working with the other side of the aisle, not just moving on to their next recall target."
Six Republicans and three Democrats were challenged in the recall races that together cost close to $40 million in money spent by outside unions and corporate-backed right-wing groups.
First-term Sen. Jim Holperin was believed to be the most vulnerable Democratic target of the three who were challenged this summer by Republicans, but he coasted to victory yesterday over Tea Party activist Kim Simac.
Holperin knows about recall elections. He was challenged in a recall in 1990 while in the Wisconsin Assembly after he backed tribal spearfishing rights. Holperin won that race.
In the other race, Democratic Sen. Bob Wirch had a cake walk win over GOP political neophyte and corporate lawyer Jonathan Steitz.
There have only been about 20 legislative recall election nationwide since the early 20th century. There have never been as many recalls in one state over a one-month period.
Showing posts with label recall election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recall election. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Dems Pick Up Two Seats in Wisconsin Recalls, But Fall One Short of Goal
The pro-worker campaign in Wisconsin to put a halt to Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting programs fell just one race short overnight when the recall election bid came down to late-night vote-counting by the most notorious county clerk in America.
Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus arguably may be the most incompetent ballot tally-taker in America, but state Democrats indicated at this point they will not go after the woman who twice this year saw key elections come down to her suspect skills.
"We will not pursue questions of irregularities," said state Democratic Chairman Mike Tate, who in an earlier in a heated moment during the final, delayed vote-counting in six recall races accused her of "tampering with the results of a consequential election."
"The race to determine control of the Wisconsin Senate has fallen in the hands of the Waukesha County clerk, who has already distinguished herself as incompetent, if not worse," Tate said in a prepared statement.
In April, Nickolaus reversed the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to favor incumbent Republican Justice David Prosser, when she announced a late-night vote-counting mistake in which omitted the results of the town of Brookfield.
In 2005, Nickolaus passed out sample ballot in a special election that included a mark showing a vote for the Republican candidate.
In 2002, as a staffer in the state Republican Caucus Nickolaus was at the center of a scheme in which officials from both major parties convicted of illegally using state equipment in elections. She escaped jail time when she flipped on her colleagues and was given immunity in exchange for fingering others in the scandal.
Nickolaus raised eyes last year when it became known she keeps vote tallies on her personal computer instead of county equipment.
When the dust cleared in the controversial suburban Milwaukee race, GOP state Sen. Alberta Darling defeated Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch, and Republicans won the fourth out of six races yesterday to maintain control of the state Senate.
Despite the setback, Democrats picked up two seats, but must defend two others in recall elections next week.
The next focal point will be the Tea Party- and big-money backed GOP governor. Recall organizers say they still will go ahead later this year with plans to collect the more than 500,000 signatures needed in order to trigger a recall election to remove the Walker
“I think the recall efforts will go forward. Maybe not with as much momentum as they would have had, had they regained control (of the Senate), but it was enough of a victory for the Democrats that they, I think, will still go ahead,” University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist David Canon told public radio.
Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus arguably may be the most incompetent ballot tally-taker in America, but state Democrats indicated at this point they will not go after the woman who twice this year saw key elections come down to her suspect skills.
"We will not pursue questions of irregularities," said state Democratic Chairman Mike Tate, who in an earlier in a heated moment during the final, delayed vote-counting in six recall races accused her of "tampering with the results of a consequential election."
"The race to determine control of the Wisconsin Senate has fallen in the hands of the Waukesha County clerk, who has already distinguished herself as incompetent, if not worse," Tate said in a prepared statement.
In April, Nickolaus reversed the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race to favor incumbent Republican Justice David Prosser, when she announced a late-night vote-counting mistake in which omitted the results of the town of Brookfield.
In 2005, Nickolaus passed out sample ballot in a special election that included a mark showing a vote for the Republican candidate.
In 2002, as a staffer in the state Republican Caucus Nickolaus was at the center of a scheme in which officials from both major parties convicted of illegally using state equipment in elections. She escaped jail time when she flipped on her colleagues and was given immunity in exchange for fingering others in the scandal.
Nickolaus raised eyes last year when it became known she keeps vote tallies on her personal computer instead of county equipment.
When the dust cleared in the controversial suburban Milwaukee race, GOP state Sen. Alberta Darling defeated Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch, and Republicans won the fourth out of six races yesterday to maintain control of the state Senate.
Despite the setback, Democrats picked up two seats, but must defend two others in recall elections next week.
The next focal point will be the Tea Party- and big-money backed GOP governor. Recall organizers say they still will go ahead later this year with plans to collect the more than 500,000 signatures needed in order to trigger a recall election to remove the Walker
“I think the recall efforts will go forward. Maybe not with as much momentum as they would have had, had they regained control (of the Senate), but it was enough of a victory for the Democrats that they, I think, will still go ahead,” University of Wisconsin-Madison political scientist David Canon told public radio.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Walker Blowback: Six Wisconsin Recall Elections On Tap Today
A half-dozen recall elections today in Wisconsin will be the first real political test for Republican lawmakers who support the Tea Party's anti-public worker agenda.
Tens of millions of dollars from around the country have flowed into Wisconsin, where six GOP state senators are facing recall elections in reaction to GOP Gov. Scott Walkers' politically charged decision to strip collective bargain rights away from from public employees and cut their retirement and health care benefits.
Two Democratic state senators face recalls next week. A third Democrat survived a recall challenge last month. Republicans have a 19-14 advantage in the Wisconsin state Senate, so Democrats need to win five of the remaining eight elections to gain control of the chamber and put a lid on Walker's anti-worker agenda.
In a clear example of just how much of a national event this has become, President Obama's re-election operation, Organizing for America, and the GOP-backed Tea Party Express have had people on the ground in Wisconsin running get out the vote efforts. The Repuiblican National Committee is also lending its support.
Spending may reach $40 million, tripling the total cost of all 115 Wisconsin state legislative races in 2010, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
A major backer of the Tea Party, the Washington-based Club for Growth, a right-wing group with a reputation for challenging mainstream Republicans, along with the anti-union organization Americans for Prosperity, another Tea Party sugar daddy funded by oil barons David and Charles Koch, are throwing the most money into the races on behalf of the Republicans.
Americans for Prosperity has directly supported and counseled Walker on his anti-worker agenda.
On the Democratic side, unions, from around the country led by the AFL-CIO, and the local progressive pro-worker organization Greater Wisconsin Committee, have pumped millions of dollars to their candidates. The Greater Wisconsin Committee gets money from around the country from unions and left-leaning fat-cat funders.
It is considered extraordinary to hold nine state legislative recall elections within a month, since only 20 have been conducted nationwide since the early 20th century, political historians have noted.
Tens of millions of dollars from around the country have flowed into Wisconsin, where six GOP state senators are facing recall elections in reaction to GOP Gov. Scott Walkers' politically charged decision to strip collective bargain rights away from from public employees and cut their retirement and health care benefits.
Two Democratic state senators face recalls next week. A third Democrat survived a recall challenge last month. Republicans have a 19-14 advantage in the Wisconsin state Senate, so Democrats need to win five of the remaining eight elections to gain control of the chamber and put a lid on Walker's anti-worker agenda.
In a clear example of just how much of a national event this has become, President Obama's re-election operation, Organizing for America, and the GOP-backed Tea Party Express have had people on the ground in Wisconsin running get out the vote efforts. The Repuiblican National Committee is also lending its support.
Spending may reach $40 million, tripling the total cost of all 115 Wisconsin state legislative races in 2010, according to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
A major backer of the Tea Party, the Washington-based Club for Growth, a right-wing group with a reputation for challenging mainstream Republicans, along with the anti-union organization Americans for Prosperity, another Tea Party sugar daddy funded by oil barons David and Charles Koch, are throwing the most money into the races on behalf of the Republicans.
Americans for Prosperity has directly supported and counseled Walker on his anti-worker agenda.
On the Democratic side, unions, from around the country led by the AFL-CIO, and the local progressive pro-worker organization Greater Wisconsin Committee, have pumped millions of dollars to their candidates. The Greater Wisconsin Committee gets money from around the country from unions and left-leaning fat-cat funders.
It is considered extraordinary to hold nine state legislative recall elections within a month, since only 20 have been conducted nationwide since the early 20th century, political historians have noted.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Wisconsin Dem Staves Off GOP Recall Challenge
One day, people in Wisconsin will say, "Do you recall the summer of 2011?"
But so far, if you are a Badger State Republican you may not want to remember the summer of the recalls.
The Democrats drew first blood in the recall elections touched off by GOP Gov. Scott Brown's anti-worker policies that cut into benefits for public employees. The Republican-controlled state Senate rubber-stamped Walker's notorious budget -- a move that painted a target on the foreheads of a half-dozen state GOP lawmakers.
After deflecting primary challenges last week by "fake" Democrats put up by the GOP to try to unseat the incumbent (and real) Democrats, the party of Obama and Pelosi appears to have the momentum.
Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay handily defeated Republican recall organizer David VanderLeest yesterday in the first of the recall general elections. Hansen claimed 66% of the vote to VendeLeests's 34%.
But in a lopsided buckraking battle, Hansen raised $318,000 compared to Vandereest's $2,000. It gave Hansen a huge advertising advantage.
Republicans will be beter financed and armed with ads in the next round of recalls.
Eight state Senate recall elections remain in Wisconsin: Six challenging Republicans and two against sittting Democrats. Those votes are set for next month.
"The people of Green Bay are sending a strong message to undemocratic leaders who are ramming through attacks on Wisconsin workers and communities," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt.
"Wisconsin will not stand for it. Today’s results show that momentum is continuing to build for working family candidates as we head into the August general elections and that voters are serious about turning this state around," Neuenfeldt added.
But so far, if you are a Badger State Republican you may not want to remember the summer of the recalls.
The Democrats drew first blood in the recall elections touched off by GOP Gov. Scott Brown's anti-worker policies that cut into benefits for public employees. The Republican-controlled state Senate rubber-stamped Walker's notorious budget -- a move that painted a target on the foreheads of a half-dozen state GOP lawmakers.
After deflecting primary challenges last week by "fake" Democrats put up by the GOP to try to unseat the incumbent (and real) Democrats, the party of Obama and Pelosi appears to have the momentum.
Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay handily defeated Republican recall organizer David VanderLeest yesterday in the first of the recall general elections. Hansen claimed 66% of the vote to VendeLeests's 34%.
But in a lopsided buckraking battle, Hansen raised $318,000 compared to Vandereest's $2,000. It gave Hansen a huge advertising advantage.
Republicans will be beter financed and armed with ads in the next round of recalls.
Eight state Senate recall elections remain in Wisconsin: Six challenging Republicans and two against sittting Democrats. Those votes are set for next month.
"The people of Green Bay are sending a strong message to undemocratic leaders who are ramming through attacks on Wisconsin workers and communities," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt.
"Wisconsin will not stand for it. Today’s results show that momentum is continuing to build for working family candidates as we head into the August general elections and that voters are serious about turning this state around," Neuenfeldt added.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
As Dems Prevail, GOP Urged to Pay for 'Fake' Wisconsin Primaries
Republicans cost Wisconsin nearly a half-million dollars to run six fake Democrats who were defeated in state senate recall primaries this week, prompting Badger State Democrats to call on the GOP to pay for the bogus balloting.
"It’s clear that Democrats have the momentum," said Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate of the half-dozen victories Democrats had over their faux opponent's in yesterday's primaries.
Those Wisconsin Democrats will face in recall elections Aug. 9 six GOP state senators who helped Gov. Scott Walker slam through a measure that stripped away benefits for state and local workers.
Unions and workers' rights advocates believe Walker's maneuver, under the guise of cost savings, was nothing more than union-busting on behalf of his corporate financiers, the notorious Koch brothers.
Republicans are also waging recall bids against three Democratic state senators targeted for fleeing the state to keep Walker from imposing his crackdown on public employees.
Republicans entered fake Democrats in all six primary races in an attempt to confuse voters and force an extra four weeks for the GOP incumbents to raise money before the Aug. 9 general election.
The episode in political hypocrisy, led by the purported budget-conscious Walker, may be one of the more questionable, if not immoral, expenses heaped on taxpayers since the fiscal crisis first struck the nation in the summer of 2008.
"The shameful and despicable GOP tactic to delay judgment day for the 'Walker 6' by running fake Democrats needlessly cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale.
"This GOP trickery fell flat. (Tuesday's) result proves the people of Wisconsin are serious. On Aug. 9, we will recall the senators who chose to stand with Scott Walker’s corporate backers at the expense of working families," she added.
Tate said today the GOP "abused the electoral process" and should repay the taxpayers of Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calculates the primaries came with a $475,000 price tag.
"It is time to officially call for Scott Walker and the Republican party to reimburse the taxpayers for the extra cost they were forced to bear yesterday for these fake candidates," Tate said.
But John Hogan, who is managing the GOP senators efforts to keep their jobs, fired back that Democrats and unions called for the recalls and should be paying the costs.
"This is all Mike Tate’s doing, so he should pay for the whole thing," Hogan told the Journal Sentinel.
So far it looks like the Democrats are out-raising the Republicans in the state senate races, according to Talking Points Memo.
"It’s clear that Democrats have the momentum," said Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate of the half-dozen victories Democrats had over their faux opponent's in yesterday's primaries.
Those Wisconsin Democrats will face in recall elections Aug. 9 six GOP state senators who helped Gov. Scott Walker slam through a measure that stripped away benefits for state and local workers.
Unions and workers' rights advocates believe Walker's maneuver, under the guise of cost savings, was nothing more than union-busting on behalf of his corporate financiers, the notorious Koch brothers.
Republicans are also waging recall bids against three Democratic state senators targeted for fleeing the state to keep Walker from imposing his crackdown on public employees.
Republicans entered fake Democrats in all six primary races in an attempt to confuse voters and force an extra four weeks for the GOP incumbents to raise money before the Aug. 9 general election.
The episode in political hypocrisy, led by the purported budget-conscious Walker, may be one of the more questionable, if not immoral, expenses heaped on taxpayers since the fiscal crisis first struck the nation in the summer of 2008.
"The shameful and despicable GOP tactic to delay judgment day for the 'Walker 6' by running fake Democrats needlessly cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars," said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Stephanie Bloomingdale.
"This GOP trickery fell flat. (Tuesday's) result proves the people of Wisconsin are serious. On Aug. 9, we will recall the senators who chose to stand with Scott Walker’s corporate backers at the expense of working families," she added.
Tate said today the GOP "abused the electoral process" and should repay the taxpayers of Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel calculates the primaries came with a $475,000 price tag.
"It is time to officially call for Scott Walker and the Republican party to reimburse the taxpayers for the extra cost they were forced to bear yesterday for these fake candidates," Tate said.
But John Hogan, who is managing the GOP senators efforts to keep their jobs, fired back that Democrats and unions called for the recalls and should be paying the costs.
"This is all Mike Tate’s doing, so he should pay for the whole thing," Hogan told the Journal Sentinel.
So far it looks like the Democrats are out-raising the Republicans in the state senate races, according to Talking Points Memo.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Recalls Are Workers Play in Wisconsin
Stunned workers and their supporters in Wisconsin asked the courts to reverse Gov. Scott Walker's union-busting law, but they admit that recall elections aimed at ousting state senate Republicans is their priority.
The law, written into the state budget, goes on the books this afternoon, seriously curtailing collective bargaining rights for about 175,000 state and local workers. It passed in the legislature on a procedural move, bypassing the 14 Democratic senators who fled to illinois to avoid having to vote on the bill.
"This is not over," said former SEIU President Andy Stern.
"It did not ends as perfectly as unions had hoped, but it's not over," Stern said on MSNBC today. "It's an American moment."
The workers and their allies have at least one case pending in the courts, but as the Courthouse News Service reports, it is long-shot challenge to Walker's law, at best.
The law, written into the state budget, goes on the books this afternoon, seriously curtailing collective bargaining rights for about 175,000 state and local workers. It passed in the legislature on a procedural move, bypassing the 14 Democratic senators who fled to illinois to avoid having to vote on the bill.
"This is not over," said former SEIU President Andy Stern.
"It did not ends as perfectly as unions had hoped, but it's not over," Stern said on MSNBC today. "It's an American moment."
The workers and their allies have at least one case pending in the courts, but as the Courthouse News Service reports, it is long-shot challenge to Walker's law, at best.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Recall Maneuvers Overtake Wisconsin Battle
The battle over collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin is escalating at warp speed.
A day after Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a belt-tightening, job-slashing budget, the state GOP and Democratic parties in Wisconsin are moving closer towards recall elections for state senators on each respective side of the labor dispute.
Wisconsin Democrats sent out a fundraising appeal today to help pay for their effort to recall Republican senators: "In 60 days we can take Wisconsin back by recalling the Republican Senators who have decided to push Scott Walker's divisive, partisan power grab that strips teachers and other workers of their rights and his disastrous budget that will cut millions from our schools and universities."
And according to The Hill newspaper, the GOP ATM machine in Washington will likely be tapped to help fund the Republican-sponsored recall effort. Republican State Leadership Committee President Chris Jankowski said his group will "do whatever it takes to protect our incumbents."
Another poll, meanwhile, shows most Americans think public employees should pay more into their retirement and health care plans, but those workers should not have their collective bargaining rights stripped away.
A day after Gov. Scott Walker unveiled a belt-tightening, job-slashing budget, the state GOP and Democratic parties in Wisconsin are moving closer towards recall elections for state senators on each respective side of the labor dispute.
Wisconsin Democrats sent out a fundraising appeal today to help pay for their effort to recall Republican senators: "In 60 days we can take Wisconsin back by recalling the Republican Senators who have decided to push Scott Walker's divisive, partisan power grab that strips teachers and other workers of their rights and his disastrous budget that will cut millions from our schools and universities."
And according to The Hill newspaper, the GOP ATM machine in Washington will likely be tapped to help fund the Republican-sponsored recall effort. Republican State Leadership Committee President Chris Jankowski said his group will "do whatever it takes to protect our incumbents."
Another poll, meanwhile, shows most Americans think public employees should pay more into their retirement and health care plans, but those workers should not have their collective bargaining rights stripped away.
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