E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
AP
Kevin Kennedy, director and general counsel for Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board discusses the recount process related to the State's too-close-to-call Supreme Court election with members of the media at the group's office in Madison on Wednesday.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "A recount is all but certain in the race for state Supreme Court, which would pose a host of legal questions, raise the political stakes in efforts to recall state senators, ignite a new bout of political fundraising and further fuel Wisconsin's ongoing battle over union bargaining. On Wednesday, nearly 20 hours after the polls closed, Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg claimed victory over Justice David Prosser after an unofficial tally showed her holding the thinnest of leads. According to an unofficial tally by The Associated Press, she was up 204 votes out of nearly 1.5 million cast - a margin of 1/100th of a percent."
The paper also details the recount rules: "Once official numbers are in, either candidate - but no one else - can request a recount once the votes officially have been canvassed. If the margin between the candidates is less than 0.5% the state charges nothing to conduct the recount. If the margin is between 0.5% and 2%, the candidate asking for the recount must pay $5 per ward."
By the way, Democrats are announcing today that they are delivering the required signatures to force a recall election against a second GOP state senator, Randy Hopper.
Leave a Comment:
Eat you hearts out Koch Brothers. Karma has dealt you a rendezvous.
Your troops are losing the class warfare. Retreat!!!
Pay back time.........evil begets evil.
The entire Republican party has jumped the shark, local, state and national. They will go the way of McCarthy and Goldwater- too extreme to stay in power. Donald Trump? Bring him on!
Beverly,
You may not have heard the news yet, but Prosser is now up by thousands of votes. So far, every county recount (except one) has put him up over the original tallies -- not to mention the fact that an entire city where he received nearly 80 percent of the vote was missed in the original tally. And although we'd all like to cry foul, the vice chair of the democratic party for that county was a part of the press conference certifying the recount and acknowledging that there was no funny business going on.
It's becoming very clear that people are not on the side of the union and would actually prefer a balanced budget like the press would like us to believe. I think even my union might have been involved in buying some of those recent opinion polls that have come out. Oh well. It sounds like we're going to have to take some benefit cuts like everyone else.
Maine doesn't have a path to repeal our Governor at this time. I heard a Democratic strategist say on the local news that he is against the online petition to create a law that would enable voters to repeal LePage, because repeal elections are expensive and time consuming, as we can see in Wisconsin.
At least, by our suffering through a Tea Party administration, we give the nation a look at those policies in practice. Since the Republicans took over our state, they have tried to weaken environmental laws, increased the amount public workers and teachers pay into their retirement fund, while decreasing the amount the state pays in, and cutting taxes for the wealthiest by $2,700. That's just in the first three months. (I'll spar you the litany of gaffes, insults and negative publicity generated by our governor, who I truly believe suffers from a personality disorder, and should be pitied more than disliked.)
The problem with the recall process in WI is there basically doesn't need to be any reason other that "we just don't like him" to prompt a recall. In the past, this wasn't really a big issue, we've had relatively few recall races and when they happened, there was some pretty sound justification for it. This current spate is nothing more than political revenge and it's ridiculous. While personally I see a bit more justification on the recalls for the democrats who left rather than face a vote, in the big picture, it still boils down to nonsense. These folks were all elected to a certain length term and our chance to oust them happens when that term expires. Recalls should be reserved for situations where an elected officials actions are directly contrary to the state or federal constitution or the official's oath of office, not because you don't like a vote they cast in the legislature.
"not because you don't like a vote they cast in the legislature." I'm going to say that the vote they cast in the legislature is the most important thing that they do.
Suzy, when ever you make a mistake wouldn't you like to be able to correct it? Well that's what the people of Wi. are trying to do with this recall, and it will work, as much as you dislike it.
I agree that voting is their primary function, but I see it as a complete bastardization of our electoral process if you start a recall petition for every vote you don't like. At that, nearly half the country would have tried to recall President Obama last March when PPACA passed. The other half would probably have tried to recall him in December when he signed the bill continuing the current tax rates. If it motivates you to "Rock The Vote" during the next regular election, great, that's how our system is supposed to work, but throwing a tantrum because someone did something that, while perfectly legal, is not what you feel was best is just silly. It costs time and money the tax payers shouldn't need to spend
How about if in 4 months the Governor has shown himself to be completely dishonest. How about telling the voters he wants to mind the purse strings and get the best deal for the money that he can for the citizens of Wisconsin. Then he hires (off the street) a 27 year old convicted drunk, college dropout, with no related experience over two current employees (one with a PHD and one with a chemical engineering degree) to be the top man in charge of a Wisconsin State Department. Whats next a lighted match in charge of the dynamite Scott. How about the Governors Koch habit?
Grump, while I'd respectfully disagree with your position on Walker, I must ask, what, exactly, has he done that hasn't been done by darn near every politician ever to take office in my lifetime? Everyone who gets elected gives cushy jobs to his buddies, buddies kids, big donors, etc (and incidentally, I don't believe Walker actually did the hiring, he was NOT the one who recommended the kid for the promotion, but he did do the demoting a couple of days ago, not that it will sway your mind, but still worth noting as far as I'm concerned) and I've yet to see a politician campaign with absolute honesty. From where I sit, the only supposed dishonesty in Walker's campaign was that he didn't outright say he'd work to curb collective bargaining rights. He campaigned on all the steps involved though, as well as on not raising taxes in order to pay for past or current spending. While it may not be true for everyone who voted for him, quite a lot of us are still strongly in support of his work product so far.
Keep Fighting For Workers' Rights!
We've created a workers' rally song "Down On The Line" in support of
the hardworking middle class brothers & sisters nationwide.
You can listen & download it free here:
Fight on! The Joe Hill Heartlanders
Joe Hill. "...I never died, said he..."
Amen.
Does anyone else enjoy the "home alone" version of Morning Joe as much as I do? It is so nice to have the guests be able to make their comments without Joe hollering look at me!look at me! I know everything!
Love that Joe's not there. Willie is nice & polite.
I hope people in other states see this as a sign that it CAN be done. But in all probability, it must be done quickly, before the inevitable inertia to such things sets in.
Democracy is hard work.
Workers rights? Unions, Public and Private make up about 10% of American workers. So 90% of workers are paying for the outrageous benefits most public workers get. 4 out 5 public union workers get defined pension plans. 1 out of 5 non union workers get these expensive benefits for retirement. Seems like its the American Working Class, non union, that is getting screwed.
You non union workers have been getting screwed for years, but not by union workers, your employer screws you maybe, some of you like it that way. Unions help protect individual workers who alone would often be powerless to defend himself from the whims of his employer. Join a union, get organized. Contrary to all the myths flying around you will not get rich, and you will have to show up and work hard everyday. However you will have representation, a grivence procedure, and typically you will pay about 3% in union dues and make about 18% more than your non union counterpart. Thats not exactly the gold mine you might have thought it was, but it is better than being non union.
You have no idea how ignorant you really are, do you? No one owes anyone a damn thing. Work hard,, get an education and make yourself a success. If you have to keep trying, then try again. If you quit or settle, tough on you. You made your bed, so sleep on it. I may choose to help you, but I should NEVER be forced to help you or anyone else. That used to be Un-American and will be again....soon!
What really burns the Corpotate Fat cats is "1 man 1 vote". Men and women are beginning to wake up and stop voting against their own best interest. They can buy a ton of lies and a boatload of politicians but we still have our vote.
Listen carefully to what he said he is exactly right! They can spend and spin, but all you have to do is vote and it cancels the wealth and power working against you. The middle class should take a cue from Wisconsin and get out and vote.
WE in Wisconsin are the ones who are losing. The thousands of public jobs are going to be cut that did not need to be cut if the union would comprimise on benifits. They said they would, but has anyone seen where they are doing it. Twenty five percent of the school districts hurried a contract through before the law was to take affect. We have union workers or their allies negotiating there own contracts for the state. This deficit is only going to get worse and kicking the can down the road will only cost more jobs down that same road. The budget passed by refinacing which means we just pushed ahead. No comprimise from the 14 and no comprimise from the unions. Very soon we in the private sector will not be able to afford to live in WI and unfortunatly we are going to have to follow our employers to another state.
Mike, Please leave the state very soon, we'll take care of it, don't worry!
Mike, I wish you well in whatever job and place you decide to live in. Once you move with your employer, you may see that the things you have enjoyed about Wisconsin (due to the high level of public commitment) don't exist elsewhere, and you will either be thrilled you've made the move, or you'll realize that what you enjoyed about Wisconsin was the result of work to make prosperity shared. Public parks, public access at lakes, good use of natural resources: maybe your new state will deliver these things, maybe not. Quality education, quality educators, good infrastructure. Great agricultural products. Maybe other states do more with less, maybe they don't. Maybe you will notice a big change in the amount of taxes you pay, maybe you will get tired of all the "fees" for doing things in another state. You can be the judge. If employers are leaving the state of Wisconsin, you can be sure they are doing it to maximize profit. They obviously don't value the Wisconsin worker and work ethic if they think workers are all alike. Hopefully, if your employer IS moving, they will give you a raise or a "bonus" for following them. Hopefully you will be able to afford a home that is better than what you currently have, with schools for your family that are an improvement on what you have.
Mike, I'm with you man, but I'm pretty sure we could ask your questions until we're blue in the face and the only answer we're going to get is "I got mine, screw you, now get to work to pay your taxes so I can keep it". I hope to God Walker and our republican legislators continue the course they're on, placing sanity ahead of reelection. Doing what's right doesn't always mean doing what's popular.
First they should place sanity over ideaolgy.
Sorry Suzy, their not doing what's right (no matter how many times they tell you that's what their doing) their doing what the Koch brothers are telling them to do.
Mo, the funny thing is, the ONLY place I've ever heard mention of the Koch brothers is on the newsvine boards. In all the times the paper companies in WI have changed hands lately, etc, never once heard the name. While it's entirely possible that's because I just wasn't paying attention (as long as the plants stay open and the jobs stay in the state I figure we're better than if they left) but it strikes me as amusing that it's only since the Koch Brothers became the rallying cry of the left that I've heard them mentioned at all.
And if curbing bargaining rights to reign in labor costs isn't a correct move to help balance the states budget, what is? I'm not intending for that to sound flippant, I'm genuinely curious what you think the answer to a $3.6B budget shortfall is. I've heard a lot of people comment on that "wrong" way to do it but very little on alternative solutions.
Yes! Mike go to Mississippi or South Carolina with the rest of your Tea-baggers!
Sheila Harsdorf & Alberta Darling will be the next in-line to be recalled!! They have almost finished collecting names for these two Republican in Wisconsin!! Way to go! YES WE CAN!!!
WE have the same type of 'TEA BAGGERS'(tea party) down here in FL as well. OOOPS, I gave Tea Bagger a bad name.