Scott Walker Will Officially Face a Recall Election
- Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:10pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
- Print »
- Email »

AP
MADISON, Wis. (The Blaze/AP) — Embattled first-term Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will face a recall this spring after an election was ordered Friday following the collection of more than 900,000 signatures in the wake of his push against union bargaining rights.
The Government Accountability Board voted 5-0 to order the recall, a move that has been expected for weeks given the large number of signatures gathered between November and January. It took 540,208 signatures to trigger a recall.
According to Green Bay Fox affiliate WLUK-TV, the elections board threw out about 30,000 signatures, including 4,000 that were duplicates and others that signed fake names.
(Related: Wis. Election Board: Mickey Mouse, Hitler Won’t Automatically Be Struck From Recall Petitions)
Assuming a Democratic primary is necessary, it will be in just 39 days on May 8. The actual recall vote then will be June 5, just 67 days away. Three Democrats already have announced they are running and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, whom Walker defeated in 2010, has said he would announce his intentions before Tuesday. A spokesman for Barrett did not return messages seeking comment Friday.
Walker, who has repeatedly stood by all the collective bargaining changes he championed, said Thursday that he looked forward to making his argument for keeping his job during the recall campaign.
“It gives us a great opportunity to tell our story, to tell that we’re turning things around, how we’re heading in the right direction, how we’re moving Wisconsin forward,” Walker said after a news conference in Milwaukee. “But we’ve got a lot more to do.”
There have been only two successful gubernatorial recalls in U.S. history, against California Gov. Gray Davis in 2003 and North Dakota Gov. Lynn Frazier in 1921.
Walker was targeted for recall after he pushed through a law last year that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most state workers. It also forced the workers to contribute more to their pension and health care costs, which amounted to a cut in pay.
Walker argued the changes were needed to help balance the state’s budget, while Democrats and other opponents said the true intention was to weaken the power of unions, which have traditionally opposed Republicans.
A passionate fight ensued in Wisconsin, the first state to enact a comprehensive collective bargaining law in 1959 and the birthplace of the national union representing all non-federal public employees. Protests raged for weeks and grew as large as 100,000 people. But Walker and Republicans who controlled the Legislature never wavered and they passed the law even though all 14 Senate Democrats fled to Illinois in a failed attempt to block it.
The elections board also voted Friday to order a recall against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, after nearly 809,000 signatures were gathered on recall petitions against her.
“This is no great cause for celebration, mainly because the reasons for the recall are so grave,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate. “Wisconsin deserves an honest discussion about her future. Today’s actions ensure that this judgment will now be in the hands of the people.”
Four Republican state senators also have been targeted for recall, one of which subsequently resigned. All six elections will be on either May 8 or June 5, depending on whether there are primaries.
Two Republican state senators lost their seats in a previous round of recalls last year. The Senate is currently evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans control the Assembly 59-39-1.
The recall elections promise to be bare-knuckle expensive affairs, with millions of dollars coming into Wisconsin from out-of-state special interests. Walker already had raised more than $12 million by mid-January and he has traveled across the country getting checks as large as $250,000 from high-powered conservative backers.
He casts the election as a fight between him and powerful unions. One of his Democratic challengers, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, already has won the endorsement of the statewide teachers union and the state workers union after she pledged to veto any state budget that doesn’t restore collective bargaining.
“The people are ready for change,” Falk said shortly after the recall was ordered.
An outside group supported by unions has run ads supporting Falk. Walker has been on the air since mid-November and the Republican Governors Association started ads earlier this month attacking both Falk and Barrett, even though he’s not yet in the race. And the RGA launched two new ads Friday, one against Barrett and one against Falk.
Other Democrats running are longtime Secretary of State Doug La Follette and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, of Alma.
At least three Democrats also have announced their plans to run for lieutenant governor. They are Madison firefighter and union leader Mahlon Mitchell, Milwaukee private investigator Ira Robins and Marinette truck driver Bruce Berman.
Candidates wishing to run in any of the recalls have until April 10 to file nomination papers.



















Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (103)
Juniemoon
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:26pmMake him VP.
Report Post »disgustedwdems
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:52pmNice idea, but the progressive-communist-socialist-anti-American-left cannot win in WI.
Hopefully the election will PROVE that the recall petitions were PHONY.
Report Post »gbfreak
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:25pmunion thugs..Nice way to waste your members money and the taxes of the people. Burn in helll….SEIU!!! They are waiting for you and your socialist pukes!!!
Report Post »football lady
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:01pmWhat do they care about wasting money? They only want what’s good for them. Thugs!
Report Post »Listen_then_think
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:25pmJust another state, if they recall Walker, added to the list of loser commie states I will never live in or visit or pay any kind of money to. Commiefornia, NewYork, Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington. I agree with Scott Walker he fixed many problems and those idiot people are too freaking stupid to realize it.
Report Post »heatseeker
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:03pmyou sir, are exactly right.
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:35am“if they recall Walker”
Don’t discount us yet, we’re not all libs. If common sence does not prevail though, I will be moving west to MT, or WY.
Report Post »moussiagilda
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:53pmScott Walker is sublime. He isn’t “embattled.” He’s a shoo-in.
People of Wisconsin. Now that a certain flashy trembling milquetoast sometimes-hero from Janesville has endorsed Romney, for seriously no reason anyone can fathom, except that he thinks its his duty to seem rather phony and cowardly sometimes for-the-good-of-the-party,
Vote Newt! Vote Newt. It‘s so weird how it seems there’s absolutely no campaigning going on in Wisconsin now — Santorum is campaigning in California! But Newt ain’t no phony. Sure he’s got no money, but he’s got sincere fans, like infamous, unbannable me. Vote Newt!!!
Vote Newt. End the chorus of bleary weeping he’s-not-so-bad miserable all-right over Romney. Vote Newt.
Report Post »waggie
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:38pmThis is union thuggery at its finest. I live about 25 miles from Green Bay. Wisconsin’s budget is balanced, and my property taxes actually went down $200 in 2011! So the state employees have to contribute to their pension and insurance, well welcome to the real world baby! This is not a big deal, unless you are the union and know that your days are numbered. Then you fight as if you are dying (which they are). I STAND WITH WALKER!
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:04amI’m praying for Walker and Wisconsin……………..
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:46amState employees health insurance went up by “x” per cent.
Report Post »Now, instead of paying $5.00 a week they pay $7.50.
Yup, welcome to life….
Tankertony
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:20pmstate Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate. “Wisconsin deserves an honest discussion about her future.
This will be the fun part. An honest discussion? Do they REALLY want an honest discussion on the inner workings of how the majority of psu’s operate as the extortion-racket slush fund for the democrat party? Their tactics literally exthort the taxpayer.
Unions are in the precarious state they’re in because during the past 40 years more and more people have learned the TRUTH about them. (know this, most union members are decent people, its the big bosses who are, well, the big bosses)
Let us pray that the truth is clearly articulated to the people of WI in the next months. Unions use tactics that literally exthort the taxpayer.
Report Post »Chesterton
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:20pmYou can bet the union thugs will find a way to silence Walker if he survives the terrorism they have perpetrated on him and the taxpayers in Wisconsin.
Report Post »AnAmerican111
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:19pmThis will be an important test as to the will of America’s versus a takeover of this Country by Union operatives!
Understand what’s at stake Wisconsin! You are a critical battleground to the survival of this Country versus the complete destruction brought on by Obama and his gang of criminals!
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:57amMany of us get it. I pray the intelligent outweigh the ignorant. In both Wisconsin, and the nation.
Report Post »maryann72961
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:18pmIf by some chance Scott Walker should lose in the re-call election, I know of a job he would be suited for. How about jumping into the presidential race.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:31pm@maryann72961
A failed Governor wouldn’t exactly be the best Presidential candidate. Just ask Sarah “I quit my job to go be a reality star” Palin.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:36pm! ! ! there is tie before the convention…
Report Post »football lady
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 10:04pmGood idea, Maryann! For the good people of Wisconsin, I hope he wins the election. They really need him. Decent hard working people with pride and ethics certainly want him.
Report Post »GrayPanther
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:11pmCan we help Governor Walker beat back the union thugs? Will enough Wisconsin citizens be awake and see the light Walker has brought to the issue of Democ-rats and unions? Our government is a representative republic which requires us to PARTICIPATE! Don’t just read and blog here; get off your a** and work or donate to save our country!
Report Post »Robert999
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:29pmRecalls should only be used against Commie/Democrats and liberals like Grey Davis in California. They should Never be used against Republicans.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:47pmWill Black Panther troops be asked to check each of the over 900,000 names to verify authenticity?
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:05pmLet‘s hope the Black Panthers aren’t counting the votes….
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:37pm@Robert999
I can‘t tell if you’re for real or if you’re being sarcastic. If it’s the latter, nice touch. If it’s the former, get help from a mental health professional fast.
Report Post »Tankertony
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:51pm@ barber
black panthers can’t count. They emote.
Report Post »Dr. Joel Fleischman
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:21pmVanceuppercunt aka Encinom
He’s for real, doofus.
Report Post »sickofthelies
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:04pmHow much evidence do you need to see to believe the distortion and destruction caused by these union socialists? You Badgers need to support Scott Walker and put an end to this cancer in your state. Unions have no business in the government workplace….period.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:20pmA million registered voters in Wisconsin want this weasel out.
Report Post »whereareyourbrains
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:23pmThis election will not be fair. It will have dead people voting. Double votes. Etc.
Report Post »CruisingGranny
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:23pmyou are absolutely right. since when do union thugs run this country? where will the money come from that these thugs want everyone to get. there are only so many taxpayers. now there are almost as many people on the dole as people to support them. what happens then
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:38pmJust more of the ACORN people bused into bankers’ neighborhoods, union people bused into Wisconsin, Democrat legislators running away to Illinois, Occupiers hogging public space at tax payers’ expense……. Just more of the bullying, intimidating, and thug behavior of our Alinsky-insipred radicals who now control the New Marxist Democrat Party. Can not wait to run them out of Washington and to reclaim our country….
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:05pm@barber2
“Just more of the ACORN people bused into bankers’ neighborhoods”
Again, ACORN no longer exists.
“Alinsky-insipred radicals”
Yeah, he taught people to fight back against slumlords. What an a-hole.
“New Marxist Democrat Party”
If you can refer to the Democratic party as that, may I refer to the Republican party as the Imperial Ku Klux Republican Klan?
“reclaim our country….”
Report Post »To parrot a conservative catchphrase, if you don’t like how America is being run, then get out!
Warm In The Desert
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:09amPerhaps a million communist weasels were intended.
Report Post »Dr. Joel Fleischman
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:24pmVanceuppercunt aka Encinom
Awww.. did he hurt your widdle feelings douchebag?
Report Post »Dr. Joel Fleischman
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:28pmI don’t even think Vancie boy is even from Wisconsin (Kalifornia?), just another Encinom mole making an ass of himself as usual.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:54pmHere is hoping weasel face loses big time.
Report Post »whereareyourbrains
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:21pmYou are part of the reason why America is going to the garbage dump. You belong in another country. Shame on what you plan to do to America. Union people are dangerous. We need to stand together and stop them now. THere are about 14 million all over. We outnumber them……………….time to stand our ground.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:41pm‘Union people’ are fellow Americans who negotiate for wages and benefits collectively.
If we ngotiated individually, employers could easily lock us out and set an artificially low wage.
Why do you hate your fellow Americans? :)
Report Post »barber2
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:03pmBecause I know that weasel face knows more about running a successful economy than the union bosses who are destroying it.
Report Post »Baerlin
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:20pmHaving been a member of a union for 17 years and then learned the error of my ways, unions are nothing more than parasites. They are huge corporations that survive off of the dues of their members and only the few elite really profit. Or why is it that unions now have so many Obamacare waivers?
Report Post »Chesterton
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:26pmUnions have no place in public sector employment as taxpayers pay their salaries and benefits. Their bosses are nothing more than Mafioso thugs who earn a living off the hard work and productivity of their members who are all forced to contribute to the Democratic Party, intent on making everyone slaves to the state.
Report Post »mrt1424
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:16pmPlease explain what an ‘artificially low wage’ is. There is no such thing. The government has established a floor for what our ‘fellow Americans’ can work for…. it’s called a minimum wage. Employers wouldn‘t ’lock you out’ if you negotiated individually. That is what happens when you are part of a union. If you are an individual who doesn’t find the compensation package worth it, you don’t work for that company (like a majority of your fellow Americans decide every day). If you are a group of employees who say we won’t work anymore unless you compensate us X amount, and the employer doesn’t agree to those terms, then you either get locked out by the employer or you decide to go on strike.
Don’t worry though, us ‘fellow Americans’ will continue to bail out your companies so you can get paid 18 dollars an hour to do a job that a fellow American would be glad to do for 11.
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:30pmThe communist pig union thugs will never stop their assault on business so the people have to fight the union pigs every step of the way,never quit and don‘t allow any union stooge in government because they’re like cockroaches,very hard to get rid of.
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:36pmWalker had a good point with unions. I thought he made a great move and then the tape of him sucking up to the Koch heads showed up. Off with his head! He’s filthy and corrupt and deserves the worse the voters can give him. Time to water the tree of liberty.
Report Post »RobMac68
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:33pmThe people of Wisconsin already spoke when they elected him. Now lets spend millions of dollars to let the people speak again. What a waste. I hope the outcome is the same, but the unions have a passionate stake in this so you know they will all be out to vote. I hope the Walker supporters don‘t stay home thinking their vote won’t count.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:56pmCome 2 Fl. if that state stays wacky. Bunch of idiots with greed problems there.
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:30amThe Walker supporters are outraged at the waste. We will all vote to defeat the leftwing agenda of his ( now 5 ) opponents.
Report Post »NCREPUB
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:33pmTRANQUILITY
Just in case you are having a rough day, here’s a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is that it really does work and will make you smile.
1. Picture yourself lying on your belly on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream.
2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water.
3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air.
4. No one knows your secret place.
5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world.
6. The soothing sound of a gentle waterfall fills the air with a cascade of serenity.
7. The water is so clear that you can easily make out the face of Obama you’re holding underwater.
There!! See? It really does work. You’re smiling already.
Report Post »karen162
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:42pmROFLMAO! That was great! I was imagining everything and quite peaceful when I got to #7, then the water I was drinking came out my nose. LOL!
Report Post »RobMac68
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:43pmI am almost ashamed I laughed…..almost….LOL…..although I am sure some troll will want you to seek help, call you violent, a racist or something like that.
Report Post »CruisingGranny
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:24pmi love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Chesterton
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 7:28pmLove it!
Report Post »NancyBee
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:12amMan…you’re right…it works….I’m smiling …
Report Post »Maxim Crux
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:29pmI guess I will have to work a little more overtime so I can send some money to his campaign.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:29pmPray for the good guys, our country needs them. Wish I could vote there.
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:04amIf you were a Dem, you could… a dozen times ;)
Report Post »I SPY
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:28pmF the unions.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:58pmUnions boom yeah
Report Post »Matrix22
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:27pmI pray that the people of Wisconsin see what great things he’s done by helping to move the state in the right direction without cow-towing to all the Unions. I hope he wins, because if not, it‘ll just be one more state I’ll never live in voluntarily.
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:12pm@Matrix22
I’m sure Wisconsin will weep for your absence.
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:44amDon’t be a smart a??
Report Post »Many of us feel this way…
Dr. Joel Fleischman
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:26pmHey Vance, shouldn’t you have an OWS meeting to attend? Bye douche.
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:21pm“collective bargaining rights”
Collective bargaining is not a right.
I hope conservatives will donate what they can to help Gov. Walker fight off this monstrosity. Walker is doing the hard work that we have asked our politicians to do for a long time. He needs our support:
https://scottwalker.ezcontribution.com/scottwalker-for-governor
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:21pmBefore they have a recall election they should verify all those signatures. The Demoncrats will stop at nothing to get him out of office. Especially the UNIONS will do what they have to in order to get this recall done.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:45pm@heavyduty
Report Post »Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:21pm
‘Before they have a recall election they should verify all those signatures’
*********************
They did, this is why it has taken this long.
bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:00amBaikonur,
It has become increasingly obvious that you are not from Wisconsin, and have no clue what you are talking about. You may go away now, don’t you have an occupy appointment somewhere?
Report Post »HKS
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:16pmThe people of Wisconsin are going to have to show their metal to put the thugs in their place. Start by watching the polls like a hawk with a mob if necessary and cut off the bus loads of illegal votes.
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:25pmI just hope we get enough people voting to keep Walker in office, or our property taxes and other expenses will once again rise to pay for already overpriced union workers who aren‘t worth a tinker’s damn for the most part.
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 1:51amjhrusky
Amen, brother/sister.
Report Post »MONICNE
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:16pmGray Davis gave his seat to Arnold and now it’s time for musical chairs in Wisconsin.
TEA
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 6:52pmYou know, at the time, I was a Republican, and also super in love with Terminator2, so I never gave it a second thought.
Then I grew up and also watched the movie about energy manipulation for profit in California, and how the recall tied in with that.
And I was ashamed of my ignorance. Deeply ashamed.
People can change.
I hope Blazers can change as I did.
Report Post »Therightsofbilly
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 12:20amMonicne
How come when I click on your name to see your past posts, the web address in my browser shows up as “sleazy hippo”?
@Baiknour,
Why would any rational thinking person want to change in to anything resembling you?
Especially when considering that you wrote the following…………
Baikonur
Report Post »Posted on August 30, 2011 at 12:29pm
“Blazers, especially the female contingent, wake up and smell the roses–Nancy Pelosi is an accomplished, wonderful, intelligent woman. She was the highest ranking woman in politics ever. She is a sucessfull businesswoman and a champion of women’s rights. She is Italian-American, a mother of five children and a grandmother of eight.
Glenn Beck is a washed up ex-alcie shock jock who had a flash in the pan career on Fox, which is over.
Who would you prefer as a role model for your daughters and granddaughters?”
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:14pmAmazing is it not what the union thugs are allowed to get away with; how many of their own members had to be forced by threats and intimidation to ‘sign’ these petitions, how many are forgeries and how many were bought for cash?
It is far past time for the unions to go into the night.
Report Post »TXMamaGrizzley
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 5:42pmand go quietly
Report Post »VanceUppercut
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 8:10pm“It is far past time for the unions to go into the night.”
Are you referring to the same unions that created a middle-class in this country, helped usher in the 40 hour work week and the minimum wage, and put an end to the era when workers were nothing more than serfs indebted to the companies they worked for?
Report Post »TerryDo
Posted on March 30, 2012 at 9:08pmWell this is a perfect occasion, for forced union members to voice their discontent and objection with the unions, by going to the voting polls and re-elect Governor Scott Walker.
Report Post »bobmcgus
Posted on March 31, 2012 at 2:13amVanceUppercut
Yup, those are the unions being talked about. But now those things are standard in workplaces, if not by law.
Report Post »So, why are we forced to pay for something that was awarded 70 years ago??
answer appreciated… thanks!