Just , the group behind the move to recall Republican Gov. Scott Walker said Monday it has gathered more than 300,000 signatures — more than half the number needed to force a recall election.
Wisconsinites were signing the recall petition at the rate of 1,040 per hour, according to Wisconsin United, the main group behind the effort. In the first 96 hours of the recall effort, which began Nov. 15, more than 105,000 signatures were collected from all 72 counties in Wisconsin.
The group needs 540,208 valid signatures by Jan. 17 to force an election, and organizers say they hope to gather between 600,00 and 700,000 signatures.
County-by-county figures were not available, however, United Wisconsin said 10,033 residents signed petitions in Columbia County and 16,845 people living in Eau Claire and Chippewa counties signed petitions.
The state Republican Party on Monday evening said the Democrats released the numbers to keep the recall effort in the spotlight.
"The recall effort is a baseless, partisan power grab being pushed on Wisconsin families by liberal special interests," Republican Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Ben Sparks said. "Despite the Democrats' attempts to generate false momentum in their never-ending effort to score political points, Wisconsin families are only interested in moving our state forward.
"We remain focused on Governor Walker's common-sense reforms that have laid the ground work for economic growth, and our economy only continues to improve,"he added in a statement.
Recall efforts sparked after protests starting in March against Walker's budget-repair bill, which eliminates most collective bargaining rights for many public unions.
Protests on both sides of the bill kept Madison streets and Wisconsin cities busy for weeks, slowing passage of the bill. The Republicans removed certain fiscal items and passed the bill, which was then signed by the governor and is now being challenged in court.
Throughout the recall effort there will be no limit placed on donations made to Walker's campaign, and United Wisconsin blames extra cash for the recent and numerous TV and radio ads supporting Walker.
"Scott Walker has taken to the airwaves, supported by millions in corporate cash, to defend his record of job loss and full-scale assault on Wisconsin’s institutions and values,” United Wisconsin Executive Director Meagan Mahaffey said in a statement Monday. “But all over Wisconsin, the people are seeing through Walker’s deceptions and are moving to take our state back."
What you're left with is lean, mean, consumer products machine and, frankly, no one is too happy about working there these days - but they understand why it has to be the way it is. They, for the most part, understand that they have to perform to maintain their jobs. They understand that the days when they can take off to take care of grandma and there will be someone else there to fill in for them are gone. You do have a few who seem to think that the owner skipped town and left them holding the bag, but that's understandable. If you've never done what he did or been involved closely who's done something he did, you don't really understand the decision he had to make and the price he paid for doing so. That's the other side, Michael. Those are the guys who make the jobs that you, because you wanted to go the easy route, work for. They take the risks, they make the decisions, some of them treat their employees very well for as long as they can and, if and when the day comes that they can no longer afford to do that, have to make the tough decisions nobody is going to be happy about. That's the tradeoff for the freedom and the elimination of one level of subordination that you chose to avoid when you went to work for one or more of them.
I have fond memories of shopping on Mitchell Street where there were bakers, butchers, mens and ladies clothing shops, Sear where the car spotter on the fire escape with the microphone would call out the color, make and model of the vehicle and direct them to a parking spot. etc. But people were introduced to the Malls and left Mitchell Street to die. Choice. The People spoke with their feet and their money. It was not big business, the any evil brothers or the government, it was the People and their money. It is still the driving force, Big Box Store over Mom and Pop. The simple fact that people have become so polarized from reality, working as a unit to destroy a legally elected government demonstrates that like the "downtown" changing, the way we interact and communicate has changed also. Simply wishing to have a conversation on a sidewalk is not enough. You have to get out and find a place to have that conversation outside of your comfort zone. Then just maybe, you may learn something. So rather than lament, get out of your car and find the town center as it exist now, not in your memory.
The average percent job growth for the U.S. in 2011 through October was +1.1%; but at the end of Oct 11, WI ranked 43rd from the top in percent of job growth for the year, at +0.41%; and the only states with lower percent of job growth than WI in 2011 were SD, NC, AR, RI, DE, IN, and GA ("Job Growth by State for 2011", 11/26/11, http://mollysmiddleamerica.blogspot.com/2011/11/job-growth-by-state-for-2011-how-is.html). While the U.S. as a whole gained approximately 1.1% in jobs since Oct 10, WI is one of the states with the lowest job growth, or in some months actual job losses--as measured either month over month, over the past three months, 2011 to date, or over the past year. From Sept to Oct 11, WI lost more jobs in absolute numbers (-9,700) than any other state; from Sept to Oct 11, WI lost a greater percent of jobs (-0.35%) than any other state; over the last three months from July to Oct 11, WI lost the second greatest number of jobs (-21,000 in WI, compared to -22,400 in NY); over the last three months from July to Oct 11, WI lost the third greatest percent of jobs (-0.77% in WI, compared to -0.92% in WY and -1.69% in RI) ; and WI ranked 43rd for percent of job growth from Oct 10 to Oct 11 (+0.22%) ("Which States Were Job Winners or Losers in October 2011", 11/25/11, http://mollysmiddleamerica.blogspot.com/2011/11/which-states-were-job-winners-losers.html).
If a state has a lower unemployment rate to begin with, wouldn't it be expected that they have a lower job growth than states that have an unemployment rate that is higher than the national average?
"Authorities have investigated 89 threat cases against lawmakers of both parties, Gov. Scott Walker and others after the governor introduced his controversial anti-collective bargaining bill in February and Democratic senators fled the state to avoid voting on it, according to Department of Justice records . . . . The records cover 78 closed cases reviewed by the agency’s Division of Criminal Investigation between Feb. 19 and March 25 . . . . Not included in the 128 pages of documents were records of 11 investigations that are still under way. . . . The 78 cases were closed after agents determined that no further investigation was needed, the threats of violence were unlikely to be carried out or the perpetrator could not be identified. . . . The 78 closed cases involve: • 15 threats against Walker. • 30 threats targeting Democratic senators. • 12 threats against Republican senators and state representatives, including a one-line email sent to all 56 GOP Assembly members. • 21 threats targeting Capitol protesters, police, the Tea Party, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Dane County Board Chairman Scott McDonell and others." Read more: http://host.madison.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/more-than-threats-made-against-walker-lawmakers-and-others-records/article_884e3352-7cf4-11e0-98ed-001cc4c03286.html#ixzz1fOq95UvB
So, what do you do for a job?
Are you kidding me? Doyle = Stealing $$$ from doctors fund..........who's gonna pay that back shane? how much was it? 200 million + .... Wake up !
The highways and express ways come after the demand for them. Much like the transcontinental railroad came to improve travel conditions and travel time after the pioneers began moving west. Other than for the life and life style of the Indian that was a good thing from which you and many others benefit. From your own words it appears that your entire focus in life is political activity. You want to voice your opinion, speak your mind to the public, Go to the park with a soap box and do so. See how many people hand around to listen. Do it this winter out side, How about collecting signatures door to door as it has been done for years. But that is work out in the cold and rain.Then MDS you do not have to invade the private property and bushiness of those who create jobs and afford you a controlled environment market place with competition to keep prices in check. We are miles apart on this and you are so focus on such a narrow objective I will waste no more time trying to enlighten you or change your way of seeing what is right and what is wrong. Do not ever forget, your rights end where mine begin.
We will still get the needed signatures, so don’t worry about that. All I am suggesting is some reasonable accommodation to the new retail environment is made so that petitioners aren’t endangered, for example collecting signatures on busy street corners. Governments have long been able to use eminent domain to create a roadway, or enact laws requiring for example space be set aside for handicap shoppers. A similar space could be set aside for public access. I know you don’t want this for the Walker recall, but someday it may be a group you support that could use this. That you would suggest that petitioners go door to door (and that has been done) seems strange in conjunction with your concern for private property. You don’t want to be bothered at the mall, but it is OK for me to come to your front door? Especially with the Republican’s new “castle doctrine” I don’t really think that is a good alternative any more either.
As far as going door to door, I'm glad you guys have decided not to do so. After dealing with the numbskulls who came around during the attempt to oust Darling, the last thing I need is some argumentative idiot who doesn't understand the word "no" interrupting my dinner hour. And if it's because you're afraid of getting shot if you do so, all that does is confirm how irrational this whole effort and those who are involved in it really are.
May I suggest you read Massys (sp) book, The People Puzzle and also the collection The Glory and the Dream. Then come back and share your thoughts. The use of eminent domain for your purpose is so outlandish and incorrectly applied that it is sad that the thought entered your mind much less you articulated it. You obviously do not understand the castle doctrine or you would not talk so foolishly as have other here who share your perversion of the facts. The low hanging fruit has been picked and now your work will begin. I believe in the end you and your ilk will fail in your goal to displace the legally elected Governor. I collected signatures door to door for a nomination for judge for a friend of mine. I did it that way so I could answer questions and explain his position to prospective signers. That is the best way for all involved. You feel you are in danger of what when on the street? Are you afraid of traffic? You have no Right to force your way into the Mall or onto store property for political purposes and only the extreme left wing nut jobs would want it made a law that you could do so. This is it. Enough.