There seems to be some confusion about WI Recalls...

[rasputin1952]

and yes, I got caught up in it as well. But recalls have already been initiated for some of the 8 R's that can be recalled at this point in time.

Let me set this up correctly, the issue was time, under WI law recall petitions can be initiated after the first year to which the individual was elected to. The eight that follow, are in the current term to which they were elected, not the current term facto.

Here's the law:

(a) The qualified electors of the state, of any county, city, village, or town, of any congressional, legislative, judicial, town sanitary, or school district, or of
any prosecutorial unit may petition for the recall of any incumbent elective official by filing a petition with the same official or agency with whom nomination
papers or declarations of candidacy for the office are filed demanding the recall of the officeholder.

(b) Except as provided in par. (c), a petition for recall of an officer shall be signed by electors equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of governor
at the last election within the same district or territory as that of the officeholder being recalled. . . .

(s) No petition for recall of an officer may be offered for filing prior to the expiration of one year after commencement of the term of office for which the officer
is elected.

The key is in paragraph (s), to wit: the term of office for which the officer is elected.


Here are the eight that can be subject recall:

* Robert Cowles elected to term 2008
* Alberta Darling elected to term 2008
* Sheila Harsdorf elected to term 2008 (recall petition initiated, 3-2-211))
* Luther Olsen elected to term 2008
* Randy Hopper elected to term 2009
* Glenn Grothman elected to term 2008
* Mary Lazich elected to term 2008
* Dan Kapanke elected to term 2008 (recall petition initiated, 3-2-2011)

Putting this all together, it is not the current session of the legislature, which began in January 2011, it is the term to which the individual was elected to that triggers the one year recall process. All of the above have been in their current terms since 2008, (except Hopper), this means the passed the line and can be subject to recall, (as two have had petitions drawn up as of 3-2.

To be sure, I've read this several times, and I got caught up in the January 2011 situation as well, but the point is, these individuals were already past the one year since they were elected to their specific term in office.


So...here's to those in WI that have taken on the R juggernaut, and I hope they get more than enough signatures to recall the above 8. Then, it will take 500,000+ signatures to toss Walker into the street. To be honest, I don't think the 5000,000+ will be much of a problem, and I suspect that next January, Walker will be unemployed and freezing in the WI winter.

[elocs]

1. Recall elections are just that: elections. If you don't show up to vote it's hard to win.

A sign I saw last Saturday in Madison:



To vote out Walker we will need to keep the current fire and passions burning for a year. It will require work. I am sure that in that year Walker will do even more things that will piss off many more Wisconsinites, including many who voted for him last November.

[rasputin1952]

3. Yes, Walker will take a year...

but there are currently 8 R's that are can be subject to recall because their current terms are over the one year limitation. If they are recalled, and D's take those seats, Walker is neutered. Just waiting to get rid of Walker is a dangerous tack, taking away his support in the legislature effectively stops him from further incursions.

There is Walker, and there are those that support his ideology, take away that support, he has nothing. Then, the wait until January is not so precarious.

[FreakinDJ]

2. They filed the recall petitions yesterday

Wis. Voters File Recall Petitions Against Anti-Worker Senators

This morning, voters from around Wisconsin took the first steps toward taking their state back by filing recall papers against eight Republican senators who have backed Gov. Scott Walker and pushed his partisan attempt to take away collective bargaining rights for thousands of teachers, nurses, librarians and other workers.

In a statement, Wisconsin workers said Walker and the Senate Republicans are not reflecting Wisconsin values. Instead, they are doing away with decades of bipartisan cooperation in government. Walker claims he wants to give our children the “tools they need,” but in reality, he has taken a baseball bat to their future. His budget is wrong for Wisconsin, the workers said.

“He is attacking education, seniors and working families by putting the budget burden on their backs. Meanwhile, he is asking for no shared sacrifice from the extremely wealthy and corporations who funded his campaign.”

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/03/02/wisc-citizens-file-recall-petitions-against-anti-worker-senators/

[rasputin1952]

4. I hadn't seen anything definitive about the other six...

Thanks.

The numbers will vary by district as to how many are needed for each one, but just starting this is important. I'm confident that most, if not all of the petions will get the necessary number to trigger a recall election.

Take away Walker's support in the legislature, and he has no power. The most likely scenario, if the recall petitions get the requisite number of signatures, and at least 3 of the 8 lose, Walker sits in the Governor's Mansion till January, and then he gets recalled as well.

[FreakinDJ]

5. to participate in the recall of any republican senators

to participate in the recall of any republican senators, call 608-255-5172. that is the number to the democratic party of WI and they are organizing the recalls.

[Myrina]

6. Walker won't be unemployed next January ...

... he'll have a nice fat contract with Faux. :puke:

[rasputin1952]

7. That is a distinct possibility, the seem to go after the worst of the worst...

it's like a disease.

[drm604]

8. So, figuring in the time to get signatures,

get them certified, and hold elections, what's the earliest we can replace these people?

Is it at all possible that the Democratic Senators can remain out of state that entire time?

[gkhouston]

9. 60 days for the signatures. The petition can then be challenged (invalid signatures,

not sure what other viable grounds for challenge there would be but expect them to try some bullshit excuses). After the challenge is settled, election would be scheduled six weeks later. So we're looking at 14 weeks minimum before recall election day.

on edit: google "overview of the election law in wisconsin"

[drm604]

10. And then there's some time to certify the election results

and maybe some statutory time before the seating of the new senators. We could be talking about 15 to 20 weeks. That would be pretty long for those Democratic Senators to sit it Illinois.

Maybe just the threat of losing a recall election may change some votes on that bill.

[rasputin1952]

11. That's what I saw as well...

but there's more to this than mere #'s and time, (I should add that I had a typo in the OP, it should read 500,000+, not *5000,000+*).

The serious threat alone should have some bearing on on how the legislators look at the viability to keep their seats. This could go either way, they could just knuckle down and in sheer desperation try to get this done before they might be tossed out. There's a huge situation though considering that Walker and the R's are claiming "mandate" and, "the people have spoken", using this tack, they've painted themselves into a corner that they cannot extricate themselves from easily, if at all. The very real pressure of a recall should change some minds, but there is no guarantee.

Since the video went viral when Grothman called protesters in the Capitol, "slobs" a new dimension was added. He sounded so self-righteous and cock-sure, he most likely signed his own political suicide note. Walker will almost certainly be recalled in January, a huge blow to Teabaggers and neo-cons...and the ripple effect will be felt in every other state that considered this.

This has become much larger than some people demanding Rights and Privileges, it's become a cause for workers nationwide. The WI R's had no idea this was going to happen, they expected some heat, but ignited a firestorm.

[gkhouston]

14. Yeah, but get this... because Walker accused the Dems of leaving WI to raise

campaign funds, an ethics board has ruled than they can in fact use their campaign funds for living expenses while out-of-state. :rofl:

Dammit, I can't find the link again. There was a tweet to one of the local Wisconsin papers with an article about this, but I don't remember which one now. I've been there before and it appeared to be a legitimate paper. I'll follow up when I find it, unless it shows up in LBN.

on edit (yet again): not sure this was the paper I first saw it in, but here's a link:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/2011/03/wisconsin-ethics-board-dems-can-use-campaign-funds-pay-life-lam

[rasputin1952]

15. That's good news...

bet that really got Walker's goat...:D

[Generic Other]

12. How many sigs needed to trigger a recall election?

Hoping this happens very quickly now.

[rasputin1952]

13. State wide, 1/4 of the votes cast...

but, it varies by district. In the district races it would depend on how many voted in that district. For Walker to be recalled, in January, there would have to be 500,000+,. However well over a million voted against him and that should make things pretty easy to garner the half million. Add to the situation that many who voted for him have abandoned him by now, and a galvanized electorate that would go to the polls if for nothing else than tossing this bum into the street and I'd put my wager on a very stiff beating in the ballot box.

[Generic Other]

16. hope they get Gray Davis'd the lot of 'em

They need to get slapped down hard on this crap.

[rasputin1952]

17. I think they will...

and with the WI Senate putting out an order today to "compel" the D's to return, using the WI SP. It is a sure sign of desperation and should put many more thousands of signatures on the recall petitions.