Scott Walker recall election set for June 5

Gov. Scott Walker.

/ AP Photo

Updated: 6:22 p.m. ET

Scott Walker, the embattled first-term Republican governor of Wisconsin, will face a recall election on June 5, the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board (GAB) ruled Friday. Walker's Lieutenant Governor, Rebecca Kleefisch, will also face a recall.

The board voted 5-0 in favor of a holding a recall election after finding that the recall ballots for both candidates garnered a sufficient number of valid signatures to proceed.

More than 900,900 valid signatures were collected in a petition to recall Walker, and more than 800,000 valid signatures were collected in a petition to recall Kleefisch. Only 540,208 signatures were required.

Walker became embroiled in controversy last spring after passing a controversial law that would essentially eliminate public workers' collective bargaining rights. Debate over the legislation sparked weeks of protests in the state, as well as a national conversation about the merits of collective bargaining rights for public sector workers.

Democratic lawmakers in Wisconsin were so vehement in their opposition to the law that they fled the state in an effort to stall a vote on the bill, but Republican legislators ultimately used a procedural maneuver to force the legislation through, and passed it without any debate on the floor and with no Democrats present in the room.

In a statement on Friday morning, the Walker campaign said it had anticipated that the recall election would move forward, and expressed confidence that voters would "stand with" the governor come June.

"We have long said that we anticipated the election process would move forward," said Ciara Matthews, the campaign's communications director, in the statement. "Now it is time for voters to examine the choice they will be faced with in June."

Matthews continued: "We believe a majority of Wisconsin voters will stand with Governor Walker's record of laying the foundation for a more successful Wisconsin while moving the state forward and against the Democrats' failed policies that would take Wisconsin back to the days of a $3.6 billion budget deficit. Voters are not prepared to reverse the tremendous progress the Governor has made by prematurely ending his term in this $9 million power grab by out-of-state special interests."

The AFL-CIO, on the other hand, said the ruling marked a "historic" day for Wisconsin.

"Today is another historic day in democracy for the state of Wisconsin," said Phil Neuenfeldt, President of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, in a statement.

Added Stephanie Bloomingdale, Secretary-Treasurer of the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO: "Despite the out-of-state dollars that are flooding into Gov. Walker's coffers in an attempt to silence the voices of working people, Wisconsinites will be heard and will reclaim Wisconsin this June."

Democratic primaries will take place on May 8.

So far, there are four Democrats in the running: Former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who has already secured the endorsements of a number of labor groups, elected officials, and liberal organizations, as well as Secretary of State Doug La Follette, state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who ran an unsuccessful bid against Walker in 2010.

[infantryman1968]

Scott Walker recall election set for June 5

LOL!

So when this doesent work how will the Obama Followers "Act Out" Next?

[fwd23515]

Sigh...
Infantryman, it's not about Obama. It's about a governor who poisoned his state's political process. A healthy democracy requires give-and-take, discussion, compromise, and respecting the views of citizens who disagree with you. Walker has done none of those things.

[fwd23515]

ConSense wrote:
Please stop. Please. Teachers don't create jobs. Firefighters don't create jobs. Social workers and nurses don't create jobs. Unions da*n SURE don't create jobs. Your liberal propaganda about "corporations" is just so much nonsense. You don't create jobs by driving the state to bankruptcy.
__________________________________

Correct, ConSense--teachers don't create jobs. They try to educate students--to teach them to read, write, and think clearly--so that they can contribute to our economy, participate in our democratic society, have a meaningful life, and help make the world a better place.

I feel truly sorry for you, if you have so little understanding of how hard your teachers worked to give you a better life.

[ConSense]

I understand very well that teachers have a difficult job. So do many others. I feel sorry for you if you don't understand that being anti-union is not being anti-teacher. Any attempt to claim otherwise is an outright lie.

[frankie2fing]

No consense your kock junk sucking teabagger, anti-union is ANTI-AMERICAN. Unions are the epitome of DEMOCRACY. Nothing can be done WITHOUT a majority vote. No union shop can be created with out a majority vote (and yes, your shop COULD go non-union with a majority vote to decertify a union). If you do not want to work union, there are MILLIONS of jobs you can get. Before you go to work at union shop, you can say NO TO THE JOB. But that is not what you scum want. You want someone to be able to get all the BENEFITS of a union shop but not pay for it. Why do you hate democracy? Anti-teacher? Maybe not. Anti-American, DEFINITLY.
What is next for you greedy basserd? Let's BUST the Union of the UNITED STATES! Oh wait, you dumbashes already tried that in the 1860's...

[irreverentasever]

If you are curious about Scott Walkers character look no further than one of his former top aides that is now going to trial for embezzling ten of thousands of dollars meant for veterans, spouses and their kids. His aide used the money for Carribean and Hawaiin vacations and had previously been fired for gross misconduct from another public position. Scott Walker gave this guy the candy jar of funds after taking it away from an American Legion Post that was doing and admirable job of administering it. Scott went out of his way time and time again to find this guy government positions.

[elliesamericana]

True, most of his aides in Milwaukee are facing criminal charges. I think some have already pleaded guilty. They really do hate Walker in Milwaukee. I picked up my "Recall Walker" yardsign there well before the actual petition drive started and they were not available elsewhere. He left Milwaukee in a real fiscal mess. You can tell a lot from the way his neighbors felt about him. They opened their doors to the petition drive volunteers when they were gathering signatures in Milwaukee. Our state has also spent a huge amount of money giving him police protection. Wherever he goes he needs mega-state trooper entourage at taxpayer expense. Surprisingly, he kept his kids in public school there. I have to give his kids' teachers credit. Never a mean word towards his kids despite the fact he destroyed their union, cut their pay, made them pay more for health insurance/retirement, gutted their school's funding. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.

[ConSense]

Obama's cabinet is made up of hoodlums and criminals, and it doesn't seem to bother you a bit. So, why is Walker's cabinet a problem for you? Double standard, much?

[occupy_cbs]

Yep, time to recall that koch head mouthpiece, walker, who has destroyed the Wisconsin economy with more tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, and has the worst record of job creation with about a year of nothing but job losses as the economy is improving elsewhere!

If Wisconsin wants to move forward, they need to send walker packing!

[elliesamericana]

He has done none of that Dan1846. Wisconsin remains in the cellar for job creation. Business does not want to come to a state that is in a condition of near Civil War/Class War. He cut state workers' salaries & benefits to give big tax breaks to the wealthy and his corporate friends. Wisconsin is moving forward. Walker has the Koch Brothers' millions behind him, but we have the people and this radical republican reign of terror is nearing its end. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.

[HappywithSarah]

Did Scott balance the budget?
Did Scot lower proper taxes?
Did Scott have unemployment go down?
Did Scott get me the option to opt out of the mandatory Union?
sScott is doing his job, Good Job Scott!!!!

[occupy_cbs]

RobAla: "In Alabama, the largest public sector union is the Alabama Education Association (teachers union). In my opinion, they are responsible for the low level of education in many parts of Alabama."



As usual, our resident conservatroll spews OPINION without any facts to back him up, in his incessant need to attack a teachers' union as we've seen republicans use the same scapegoats time after time.

Hey robbie -- how do you explain that South Carolina teachers are 100% Non-Union and it ranks last in student performance?

OPINIONS are like azzholes.......everyone has one! Try FACTS!


The Five States Where Teachers Unions Are Illegal Have The Lowest Test Scores In America

Only five states do not allow collective bargaining for educators, effectively banning teachers unions. Those states and their SAT/ACT rankings are as follows:

South Carolina -- 50th

North Carolina -- 49th

Georgia -- 48th

Texas -- 47th

Virginia -- 44th

Meanwhile ground zero of the union battle, Wisconsin, is ranked 2nd in the country.


BTW robbie -- your Alabama was ranked 25th -- middle of the road, so it seems as if having teachers' unions is helping! Try FACTS!

[occupy_cbs]

Mean SAT scores by state , 2010:

State.......Overall Score......National Rank

Wisconsin........1778............3rd
Virginia.........1521...........34th
North Carolina...1485...........38th
Texas............1462...........45th
Georgia..........1453...........48th
South Carolina...1447...........49th

[HappywithSarah]

Let get the unions out of all states, No to collective bargining!
Results based pay Only!
No results, no bonus over $30,000.00 base pay, should your students do well incremental bonus structure where you can double you pay based on results!
Should ou accept this missing our kids would be educated instead of indoctornated.

[RobAla]

As an outsider (i don't live in Wisconsin), it will be interesting to see whether the people of Wisconsin dump a Governor who is turning around a $3.6 billion state debt for Democrats and labor unions that helped cause the $3.6 billion mess.

In my opinions, private sector unions are OK if workers are not forced to join one to have a job. Public sector unions are a different story. When they go on strike, they are striking against the very citizens they are supposed to serve. I don't like the idea of public sector unions.

In Alabama, the largest public sector union is the Alabama Education Association (teachers union). In my opinion, they are responsible for the low level of education in many parts of Alabama. They are about the teachers, not the students.

[elliesamericana]

Most who comment here are outsiders. Please be advised that the governor did not turn around a $3.6 billion debt nor was it our public service unions that caused it. The governor has raised taxes on the poor & middle class while giving corporations and the wealthy huge tax breaks. Wisconsin led the way for unions. Our citizens died to give them to us. We owe them for our 40 hr work week, health insurance, sick leave, vacation, decent wages, the ability to have some say in our collective workplace. Wisconsin is in worse shape now, both socially & economically, since Walker took office. Take a look and listen to Walker's conversation with a fake Koch brother. He is groveling to what he thought was his monied corporate boss. He admitted he thought about sending paid thugs to the demonstration to cause violence and then blame the workers for it. I think this is easily found on the internet, likely on you tube. We used to have a wonderful progressive state where people worked together, solved problems, generally cared about each other. Now family members, friends, church members, etc. quit speaking to each other.

[occupy_cbs]

RobAla: "In Alabama, the largest public sector union is the Alabama Education Association (teachers union). In my opinion, they are responsible for the low level of education in many parts of Alabama."



As usual, our resident conservatroll spews OPINION without any facts to back him up, in his incessant need to attack a teachers' union as we've seen republicans use the same scapegoats time after time.

Hey robbie -- how do you explain that South Carolina teachers are 100% Non-Union and it ranks last in student performance?

OPINIONS are like azzholes.......everyone has one! Try FACTS!


The Five States Where Teachers Unions Are Illegal Have The Lowest Test Scores In America

Only five states do not allow collective bargaining for educators, effectively banning teachers unions. Those states and their SAT/ACT rankings are as follows:

South Carolina -- 50th

North Carolina -- 49th

Georgia -- 48th

Texas -- 47th

Virginia -- 44th

Meanwhile ground zero of the union battle, Wisconsin, is ranked 2nd in the country.


BTW robbie -- your Alabama was ranked 25th -- middle of the road, so it seems as if having teachers' unions is helping!

[Eco99]

Is the GOP going to cloud the issue again and run fake candidates again to gain time to flood the state with disinformation funded by the Koch borthers like they did during the recall on the Senators? The Dems taking off was bad to avoid a vote but the out right disinformation and confusion the GOP did during the recall in my mind was criminal.

[ConSense]

Are the DNC and the unions going to cloud the issue again by running disinformational ads claiming that Walker is "against the people" and "fighting for working families?" It'll be great to see the recall go down in flames.

[Eco99]

Making claims is one thing having fake candidates run to extend the campaign and sending out mailings to only registered democrats with the wrong absentee ballot and voting dates is something completely different. For a party so afraid of voter fraud they sure practice their own version alot

[TimeToEvolve]

Facts are facts: when you give huge tax breaks for corporations who don't create jobs and cut pay and benefits for the people who do (teachers, firefighters, social workers, nurses, other workers) you should not expect to keep your job. Got that Koch Brother Walker.

Facts are facts: Walker gave hundreds of millions to his corporate masters and WI is last in the nation in job creation. Works like a charm.

[ConSense]

Please stop. Please. Teachers don't create jobs. Firefighters don't create jobs. Social workers and nurses don't create jobs. Unions da*n SURE don't create jobs. Your liberal propaganda about "corporations" is just so much nonsense. You don't create jobs by driving the state to bankruptcy.

[Eco99]

Cutting revenue as in cutting taxes doesn't help either.

[TimeToEvolve]

I am proud to be a frequent financial supporter of the recall Koch Brothers, I mean Scott Walker. The Koch Brothers using their puppets are trying to demonize American workers when they are the ones raping and pillaging America. Libertarian Republicon brain mutants, that's what the Bros and Walker are.

[TJphoto]

BOTTOM LINE He's being recalled because people cannot understand that the money just isn't there. Bringing someone else won't change that fact. I too feel anger when I see what some of our government workers are being paid compared to the private sector pay scale.

[TimeToEvolve]

Are you talking about the millionaires and billionaires on Wall Street? Or the private sector workers the giant corporations are exploiting. Why are you blaming teachers and firefighters? Why don't you help go after the Top 1% and the Wall Street Banksters?

[ConSense]

Wall Street isn't IN Wisconsin. Parroting the liberal anti-capitalist trash doesn't do a thing to help Wisconsin out of its financial troubles.