We are WISCONSIN

In February, when Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker readied the National Guard to stave off public outrage at his plan to end collective bargaining rights for public sector employees, it tipped off a firestorm of protests in that state, as well other states where republican governors and legislatures had similar plans.

Protests and an occupation of the Wisconsin statehouse grew to more than 100,000 people at the height of the demonstrations.

Wisconsin state Democrats fled the state in support of unionized workers and stayed in Illinois, preventing the quorum needed to proceed with the vote. Late in the night as protestors watched, Walker changed the rules and passed the vote, without the quorum, stripping public sector workers of their right to bargain.

So nurses, teachers, police, firefighters and the entire labor movement hit the doors and began a massive recall effort, filing recall petitions against eight Republican senators. If the recall efforts are successful for just three of the eight senators, Democrats can regain control of the Wisconsin Senate.

As of late April, petitions to recall five Republican state senators had been filed. In all cases, volunteers collected – in record time – an excess of the number of signatures need to trigger the recall.

In early April, a petition was filed against state Sen. Dan Kapanke, with more than 20,000 signatures (145 percent of the required number of signatures) being filed in just half of the 60-day window for collection. In a recent Survey USA poll of voters in the districts of the senators facing recall, only 41 percent in Kapanke’s district of LaCross said they would vote for him if the election was held then.

A second recall petition filed with more than 150 percent of the required signatures targeted Republican state Sen. Randy Hopper from Fon du Lac. Hopper won his last election by just 184 votes. In the Survey USA poll, only 43 percent of voters said they would vote for Hopper if a recall election were held.

A third petition was filed against state Sen. Luther Olsen of Portage, who at first claimed Walker’s plan was “pretty radical” but then voted to support it. The fourth was filed against Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, with petitioners submitting more than 23,000 signatures — nearly 150 percent of the 15,744 required.

And a fifth petition was filed against Alberta Darling who represents the northern Milwaukee suburbs. Activists collected 30,000 signatures – nearly 150 percent of the 20,343 required.

It’s clear from the dedication of volunteers, they are determined to bring fairness back to Wisconsin politics.