Wisconsin Democrats are now going on the offense in the fight over Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal and its anti-public employee union provisions. An e-mail to the party’s supporter list, sent out Wednesday, seeks fundraising to mobilize recalls against Republican state senators — with the goal of taking a majority in the chamber.
The state’s 14 Democratic state senators have of course fled the state, in order to block the three-fifths quorum needed to vote on Walker’s budget proposal. Some Republican activists are trying to mobilize recalls against the Dems, where even one successful recall would give the GOP the three-fifths majority. But now the state Dems are officially playing the game, too.
Wisconsin state senators serve four-year terms, with half of them up every two years. Wisconsin does have a recall law, though, with the condition that a recall cannot begin until at least one year into a term. Under that stipulation, eight out of 19 of the GOP state senators would be eligible for a recall election, if the signature requirements were met (25 percent of the total votes in the district in the previous race for governor, collected within 60 days).
“Make no mistake, these Republican Senators are vulnerable to recall for their radical partisan overreach,” writes state Dem chair Mike Tate. “Senator Randy Hopper won his last election by just 184 votes. And Alberta Darling won her last race by only 1,007. By recalling just three of the eight Senators we are targeting, we can regain control of the Senate.”
As TPMDC reported yesterday, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee and Democracy For America are also mountaing a pro-recall campaign.
Fellow Democrat,
In 60 days you can take Wisconsin back. It’s that simple.
This morning citizens from around the state took the first steps by filing recall papers against key Republican Senators who have stood with Scott Walker and pushed his partisan power grab that will strip thousands of middle class teachers, nurses, librarians and other workers of their right to collective bargaining. And we learned just last night that their disastrous budget that will cut millions from our schools and universities.
In 60 days you can take Wisconsin back by recalling the Republican Senators who have decided to push Scott Walker’s divisive attack on the rights of workers and his assault on schools, universities and local communities. Can you contribute $60 today to support the Democratic Party’s recall efforts?
Make no mistake, these Republican Senators are vulnerable to recall for their radical partisan overreach. Senator Randy Hopper won his last election by just 184 votes. And Alberta Darling won her last race by only 1,007. By recalling just three of the eight Senators we are targeting, we can regain control of the Senate.
But we need your help today. The clock is ticking and we have just 60 days to collect the signatures we need to force a recall. Every day and every dollar counts.
Scott Walker’s Republican allies in the Senate have stood by for days while Walker has refused to negotiate on his partisan power grab disguised as a budget repair bill. Walker and his allies had no intention of listening to the people. That’s why Republicans unplugged the state legislative hotline for the first time in years.
Yesterday we saw the Republicans for who they are. A party so indebted to the Koch brothers and big business that they will raise taxes on our poorest families by $41 million dollars and push our schools and communities to the breaking point. Republican Senators have applauded even as Walker proposes to end the state’s decades old recycling program, showing that they will do anything in their power to harm our environment.
Please, contribute $60 to help us recall the Republican Senators who have decided to push Scott Walker’s extreme partisan agenda that has already put worker rights at risk and now is targeting our children, families and communities.
If we can recall at least three Senators and regain control of the Senate, we can end the ugly games Republicans in the legislature have played in the last few days — unplugging phone lines, bolting windows inside the Capitol shut, and withholding the paychecks of Democratic legislators.
By recalling Republican Senators in the next 60 days and retaking the Senate, Democrats will be able to push harder than ever for Wisconsin workers and families and fight back against Walker and his Republican allies.
Sincerely,
Mike Tate
Chair, Democratic Party of WisconsinP.S. — Republicans made it clear whose side they are on when they refused to lift a finger to save collective bargaining, even after workers offered all the financial concessions sought by Scott Walker. We have 60 days to turn this state around. Whether you have $60 or even $6, contribute and help us recall the Republican Senators and take Wisconsin back.
