Recall fever is about to overtake Wisconsin once again, as tomorrow (Nov. 15) marks the official launch of the joint United Wisconsin/Democratic Party of Wisconsin effort to collect enough signatures to trigger a recall of Gov. Scott Walker.
The campaign is aiming to collect nearly a million signatures in 60 days (Jan. 17) from Wisconsin residents who are eligible voters, and will then need the Government Accountability Board sign off on at least 540,208 of those in order to trigger the recall election.
Walker has come under heavy fire for his bill stripping most collective bargaining rights from public workers, cuts to education and health care, and various other controversial moves. The governor received a head-start in fundraising to combat the recall efforts when a supporter filed a dummy recall petition on Nov. 4, effectively allowing Walker's camp to begin raising unlimited donations.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen recently ruled that anyone wishing to recall both Gov. Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch would need to file separate petitions each, but Graeme Zielinski, spokesperson for the DPW, insisted that, "We will recall them both, using separate petitions. We knew this was going to be hard work, but this work is worth it to stop the assault on Wisconsin."
If the GAB certifies the results of the petition drive, a recall election would likely be scheduled for summer or fall of 2012.
After months of preparation, the groups and individuals involved in the recall effort are ready to go: Hawk's Bar on State Street is hosting a recall kick-off party tonight starting at 9 p.m. and culminating in signature gathering and petition circulation at midnight, and multiple other kick-off parties are being held statewide.
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Emily Mills is a current editor and contributing writer for dane101. She is also a freelance writer, photographer, actor, and musician (drummer and singer in local band Little Red Wolf). Originally from several states up and down the Midwest Emily has called Madison home since 2000. Contact her at emilymills@dane101.com