The first recall efforts are underway in the State of Wisconsin. The efforts are part of the rancor that still exists in the state following the passage of the law that took most collective bargaining rights away from state workers. Activists have promised a recall effort against Governor Scott Walker, but state law stipulates that an office holder must be in office for a year before a recall can be initiated. Walker took office in January.
Democrats and those on the left are now focusing on lawmakers who voted for the bill. Republicans and conservatives are starting to target members of the “Wisconsin 14.” This was a group of lawmakers who left the state to hold up passage of the bill, and whose absence helped focus media attention on the bill.
Recall Ready in Lacrosse Area
Lacrosse, Wisconsin is located in the southwest corner of the state, on the Mississippi. The target in that senatorial district is state Senator Dan Kapanke who voted for the bill. The signatures have been delivered to Madison where they must be certified before an election can be scheduled and held.
Organizers of the recall effort say the collection of signatures went very quickly. Rachelle Zimmerman says this local effort is part of the wider effort in the state to roll back this law. She told WKBT news, "People are still very much involved and want to be involved and so we're allowing them to still be involved in other efforts which is moving forward with the election as well as the potential recall of Governor Walker"
But Democrats are also the target of recall campaigns.
Recall Effort in Democratic Territory
One of the "Wisconsin 14" is also being targeted. State Senator, Julie Lassa. Lassa is from a central state county, Portage that almost always votes Democratic.
Nonetheless, a former city council from her district, Scott Noble, is working on her recall, along with a national group called American Patriot Recall Coalition. Lassa has won her elections by a wide margin. Noble told the Stevens Point Journal, he does not have a good read on his efforts, "I can't predict how it will go. I just know there are a lot of people who want to fire her."
Not only has Lassa held onto her seat, but there are a fair number of state employees n her district. Her district contains a state university and two two-year state school.
The upcoming election season in Wisconsin will be livened up by recall elections on what has been a divisive issue that has had national implications.
Sources:
- Paulson, N (March 31, 2011). Efforts to recall Lassa step up. Stevens Point Journal
- J (February 26, 2011) Labor protests continue in Wisconsin and other states. Suite 101
- Pike, J (March 18, 2011) Talk of boycott and recalls is being heard in Wisconsin. Suite 101
- Senator Kapanke petitions delivered in Madison (April 1, 2011). WKBT.com
Jon Pike - Pike is a Ph.D. in communication and writes about activism and popular culture topics for Suite101.
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