Senators targeted for recall submit challenges
Four Republican senators on Thursday challenged thousands of signatures submitted on petitions seeking recall elections, but it's unclear if it will be enough to stop those elections from occurring.
It's now up to the Government Accountability Board to determine by March 19 how many of the signatures will count.
The board has only posted estimates of how many signatures were collected by recall organizers. Because of that, it's not clear if the number of signatures being questioned by the four senators is enough to prevent the elections.
The senators are also making broader arguments related to the area that signatures were collected in and the time period they were collected that could result in thousands more being disqualified.
In part, the senators argue that new legislative boundaries should have been in effect for the recall process. However, the GAB has said it believes the old boundaries are in effect for the recalls. The issue is also at play in three separate lawsuits related to the redistricting process.
Excluding signatures that the senators want tossed under that argument, there would still be enough valid ones to order recall elections for Sens. Pam Galloway of Wausau and Van Wanggaard of Racine.
The margin would be within just dozens of signatures for Sen. Terry Moulton of Racine. There would not be enough signatures to order a recall election of Sen. Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau, the Senate majority leader.
Not counting the signatures at question under the redistricting argument, Galloway was contesting 3,817 signatures, but she needed around 5,400 to be tossed. Wanggaard was contesting 7,491 but he needed roughly 8,700 to be invalidated.
Fitzgerald is contesting 5,045 and he only needs roughly 3,900 to be thrown out. And Moulton is contesting 6,112 and he needs about 6,000 to be disqualified.
A spokesman for the committee working to elect Democrats in the Senate had no immediate comment.
Petitions were also submitted last month to force recall elections for Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Walker's deadline for challenging signatures is Feb. 27 and Kleefisch's is March 5.
Petition circulators have until Tuesday to respond and the lawmakers would then get a chance to counter those arguments.
Fitzgerald said in a release that he found numerous problems including more than 750 signatures from people living outside his district, nearly 100 incorrect or made up addresses, about 1,500 signatures that had been manipulated, more than 250 duplicates, and 200 signatures with similar or identical handwriting.
"The recallers are trying to undo the will of more than 44,000 voters in 2010, so the least they can do is follow the rules and be honest with their signatures," Fitzgerald said.
The recall drives, which have been spearheaded by the Democratic Party, organized labor and concerned citizens, were largely motivated by anger over the Walker-proposed law the Republican-led Legislature pushed through last year that stripped most public workers of collective bargaining rights.
Walker and Republicans argued the changes, which also increase in the amount public workers had to pay for health insurance and pension contributions, were necessary to deal with a $3.6 billion budget. But opponents said the law was intended to cripple the unions, which overwhelmingly back the Democrats.
Nine recall drives were launched last year against six Republican and three Democratic members of the Senate. Two Republicans were ousted, leaving the GOP with a 17-16 majority.
That means Democrats need to pick up only one seat in the four potential recalls this year to take over control. However, any election will occur after the Senate has adjourned for the year and elections in November will determine the makeup of the Senate for 2013.
Supporters of the recall say capturing the majority before those elections will make it easier for Democrats to maintain it going into 2013.
Democratic challengers have emerged for three of the senators.
State Rep. Donna Seidel of Wausau said she would take on Galloway. Former state Rep. Kristin Dexter of Eau Claire will challenge Moulton and former Sen. John Lehman of Racine will run against Wanggaard.
Lori Compas, the woman who organized the recall drive against Fitzgerald, has said she is considering challenging him.
Feb 15, 2012 at 2:34 p.m.
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TTV sent out some very interesting reports today. 10-15% of the recall signatures in recall efforts against senators were inadmissible by current law. If the GAB does not consider this information, they themselves will be held legally responsible. Thousands upon thousands of inadmissible signatures shows the level of fraud perpetuated by a sick democratic mind. At some point someone has to speak out against this fraud that inherently will destroy our nation left unchecked.
Feb 11, 2012 at 2:14 p.m.
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mad..you seriously need to get a life outside the classroom! And watch your language. Class dismissed. This old granny (who once was also a teacher and taught with some really bad teachers annd some really great ones!) has a Zumba class to go to.
Feb 11, 2012 at 9:48 a.m.
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1. I don't begrudge MPS teachers generous pay and benefits. Having taught in MPS I can you you it is quite literally combat pay. There are many outstanding teachers there and it is a tough (and often dangerous) job teaching students in abject poverty. They earn every penny.
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2. Check the Legislative schedule online and add up how many days they are actually in session. It's not that different than they 190 days a teacher works.
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3. Horror stories are just that - stories that get bigger and worse with every person that retells them. Can you tell me of a case in Wisconsin where a teacher molested a child and wasn't immediately removed? Please share if you can. Teachers can and do get non-renewed. I've seen many in my career. If enough aren't being fired for your taste, don't blame the teachers or the unions; blame the principals and administraors that give them good evaluations on a regular basis and are too lazy to go through the non-renewal process and/or spend the time and effort with these teachers to improve their skills.
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4. Just because you didn't like a teacher you or your children had or didn't connect with them doesn't make them a bad teacher.
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5. Mouse and spark seem to be in a never ending p*ssing match. I don't ever read either of their posts.
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6. I didn't really mean to talk down to you on my post as it seems I was as I re-read my own post. Sorry if I offended you with my lesson plan. Have a nice day.
Feb 11, 2012 at 6:14 a.m.
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madcity...class dismissed and you go stand in the corner with a dunce hat on!
Feb 11, 2012 at 5:51 a.m.
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Mad...you need to re- read the post. My point was its kind of funny that yada objects to a state senator's salary and benefits when you compare that amount to the high salary and generous benefits an average Milw teacher gets. I didn't say he brought it up. And NOBODY has more days off than teachers! (Sorry for the caps) And yes, tenure is protection to only fire a teacher for cause. Ever hear the horror stories of trying to get an inept teacher fired? I'm sure you had some bad teachers when you went to school, as did everyone, along with the great ones. But they never get fired unless they molest a child and sometimes not even then.
To be fair, you should criticize mouse for all his/ her caps too. Oh that's right, he's your buddy.
Feb 10, 2012 at 7:33 p.m.
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P.S. - I think you should stay home tomorrow - judging by your use of CAPS LOCK it appears you have EYESTER-ITIS. Don't worry - you CAN get a sick note for that.
Feb 10, 2012 at 7:30 p.m.
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donnaw, time for your reading comprehension lesson. First re-reaed yad's post:"Fitzgerald is a joke and knows his political days are near the end. He will be recalled and is only delaying his fall from power. This is the guy that claims he is concerned about taxpayer money. Recently I read that he was named the mos expensive legislator in the state of Wisconsin. His SALARY is $49,943 PLUS PER DIEM with a tremendous benefits package. He has collected the most per diem money of $18,128 in 2011. This is interesting because he lives maybe an hour from the State Cap. His benefits package is the super Cadillac type that most of us will never have."
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No where in there does he compare to a teacher? (answer:he doesn't). You were the one to make that comparision.
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And I'll bet his bennies are far better than the average teacher.
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To make it more fair, let's divide salary + bennies by the number of days worked. I'll bet Fitz comes out way ahead.
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Lesson 2: Tenure for a public school teacher means you can't be fired without cause - nothing more.
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Now for your homework, re-read your own post and find where you say you think the teacher's bennies are better than fitz. (answer - you didn't).
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Class dismissed.
Feb 10, 2012 at 4:01 p.m.
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Does anyone know if VA nGalder cancelled any of the bus runs to Rockford tonight due to the weather??
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Back in the - Back in the - Backen the W.E.A.C.
Feb 10, 2012 at 3:36 p.m.
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Madcity....i said what I said: yada was upset that a state senator makes $50,000 PLUS BENEFITS but the average teacher SALARY AND BENEFIT PACKAGE in Milw is over $100,000. I made it clear that the $50,000 did not INCLUDE benefits and don't think a state senator's benefits match that of the Milw teacher. And yes, I know what tenure is, do you?
Feb 10, 2012 at 3:30 p.m.
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RECALL SCOTT AND GANG........WISCONSIN MIGHT BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, BUT NOT TO BE GIVEN AWAY OR SOLD.
RECALL SCOTT AND SCOTT AND THE GANG.
Feb 10, 2012 at 2:27 p.m.
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fitz will be voted out with the rest of his GOONS
Feb 10, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
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I know! He is funny as a falk - I mean Hawk.
sorry gazette.
Feb 10, 2012 at 1:29 p.m.
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Kaysbrew...... your not as funny as Fedup.
Sorry!!!!
I guess you need to get your own material.
Feb 10, 2012 at 1:20 p.m.
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Falkouse
Feb 10, 2012 at 1:17 p.m.
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Fedup..... I think you need to go and get some air. Come up with a fresh approach and get on topic.
You seem like your very upset...... that I can understand , what with the Fitzgerald situation. Then to compound that with the corruption surrounding Walker camp.
... Maybe with Fitzgerald gone and Walker bound up, things will get better for you.
Feb 10, 2012 at 12:56 p.m.
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Yes mouses I bet it is difficult trying to remember which post you made as whom.
Feb 10, 2012 at 12:50 p.m.
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Kaysbrew....... now you know a mouse does not have hands.
If you mean you need to insult people by name calling,for personal gratification go ahead.
You broke the rules in very poor taste..... but then you have little to say without such technique.
.........RECALL SCOTT ... RECALL THE GANG.
Feb 10, 2012 at 12:11 p.m.
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Wislady, yaya has to be the mouthpiece for mouse now because she tied her own hands and must follow the rules. I will call it the Falk rule.
Feb 10, 2012 at 12:10 p.m.
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yada
I know I am on the right track when I irritate you. Again, true to liberal form, you proceed to tell everyone how stupid they are.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:51 a.m.
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Sorry Fedup....... things are moving fast right now, don't have time for your games today.
...... RECALL SCOTT...... AND GANG.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:48 a.m.
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I suppose you could call this Fitzgerald's
Mickey Mouse Moment........
Aface only his mother could love..........
http://www.aol.com/social/renn724/scott-...
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:47 a.m.
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mouses - you got to quick buying your meds through that Canadian Mail Order firm.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:41 a.m.
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http://www.uppitywis.org/blogarticle/kle...
I ran across the keyboard, and this came up on screen. Seems Kleefisch needs to define her words on the constitution.
.... RECALL SCOTT....... KLEEFISCH....... AND THE GANG.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:34 a.m.
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mouse you are a complete immature and vile individual and should be removed from this site.
This is the post I forward to the Gazette on many occasion after reading posts by mouse with a few results. Mouse is often stepping outside the rules.
I'm in for 7 posts.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:34 a.m.
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http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2012/...
Look at him throwing his weight around on the voters.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:30 a.m.
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Midnight Ride - I will take your bet and give you 5 posts. Mouse will not be able to help her/him self. Never has before.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:27 a.m.
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Fedup.... I was their
By the way, RECALL FITZGERALD.... KLEEFISCH...
SCOTT... THE GANG.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:27 a.m.
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Nice try at manipulating the numbers donnaw, but it falls short. You give 100k as salary + bennies for the teacher, then give 50K as Fitz's salary alone to compare. Let's add his per diem to make 68k, then add his bennies to that to copmare apples to apples.
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So until you have numbers for his benefits, we can't really compare the two. I'll bet Fitz comes out ahead.
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Do you even know what "tenure" means?????
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:21 a.m.
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I see mouse is of quick wit today or has she been Knitting. Either way good to have you back after yesterdays MIA.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:13 a.m.
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Midnight, so I take it you too are thinking Fritz is on his last political legs?
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:06 a.m.
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breaks the rules. I'm in for 2 posts before mouse breaks the rules.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11:05 a.m.
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Tick tock - how long will it be before mouse bring the rules? He has a hard time keeping a civil tongue. I'm in for 2 posts.
Feb 10, 2012 at 11 a.m.
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Fitz is hoping that the redistricting they did will help him with the signatures. Even though they don't take effect until November. This is why they are turing in thousands of out of district signatures. Even though the GAB told the recall organizers to use the old maps.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:58 a.m.
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Again I would like to thank the Gazette for making this site better for everyone.... I think your rules are simple to follow, if a person does not sway.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:53 a.m.
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Good morning Mid night and Fedup..... seems a
mere mouse controled your keyboards.
Lets hope you stay on task today..... but then look at Fitz and the others, they too are going down.
Like I said before sticks and stones....... and you throw so many, but with wet brown bags
not so many.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:46 a.m.
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I find the comments by WISnotLADY & KAYSBREWski - to be very entertaining. You always know exactly what they are going to say for every issue. I am always so happy (cough, cough)to read such intellectual posts by them, but it is sad that they live in our small area because they are depriving a larger city somewhere of an idiot.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:45 a.m.
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chad_vader
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:02 a.m.
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Feduptaxpayer - keep drinking the kool-aid. The biggest crooks in this country are the ones you elected into office. They might as well call us "little Illinois" with all the corruption the Republicant's brought into our political system."
Chad Vader
BTW, what state is Obama from?
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:24 a.m.
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Silly me....I guess I assumed they had some connection since they have links to this.
ALL THINGS CONSIDERED SEGMENT HIGHLIGHTS FROM NPR
All Things Considered Website
States Hope For Relief With 'No Child' Waivers
February 9, 2012 | NPR · Six months ago, President Obama directed his secretary of education to give waivers to states seeking much-needed relief from the federal education mandates prescribed under No Child Left Behind. On Thursday, they granted them to ten. But how much flexibility is the president really willing to give and what is he asking in return?
Study: Young People Hardest Hit By Poor Job Market
February 9, 2012 | NPR · Audie Cornish speaks with Kim Parker, Associate Director with Pew Social & Demographic Trends and lead study author about the new Pew report on record high youth unemployment statistics. The study found that negative trends in the labor market have hit 18-34-year-olds the hardest.
City of Chicago Clerk's Office
Gang Signs And A Sticker: Chicago Pulls Teen's Design
February 9, 2012 | NPR · The city of Chicago is scrapping a teenager's winning design for a new city vehicle sticker. Some say the art contains symbols that resemble those of a notorious street gang.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:20 a.m.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:11 a.m.
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wislady what does NPR have to do with anything.
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:02 a.m.
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DEFUND NPR
Feb 10, 2012 at 10:01 a.m.
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Feduptaxpayer
The Saul Alinsky playbook was indeed adopted by the unions:
Degrade, destroy, reduce, or damage your opponent but never engage them in debate
Did you notice how hard mouse took the Falk talk yesterday. boo hoo.
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:43 a.m.
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People call in and lie all the time. Don't beleive everthing you read or hear. If you do, let me know as I have some pure gold I will sell you for say 100 bucks a T/O. Just sayin.
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:40 a.m.
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No_fascist
Doyle stole more than that from the medical malpractice fund.
Court strikes down raid on malpractice fund
Returning $200 million to malpractice fund will add to state budget crunch
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/9...
If Walker had done the same, he would be in jail....as Doyle should have been!
Scott Walker PAID back Doyle/dems debt.
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:28 a.m.
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A woman called to The Joy Cardin show. She stated the Scott Fitgerald sent her a postcard telling her, her name was on the recall petition, and asking her to contact their campaign if she did not sign it her self. The conversation is not to far into the show. The use of petitions for mailings by a campaign is not legal.
http://www.wpr.org/cardin/index.cfm?strD...
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:21 a.m.
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"If you like living under a fascist regime then I suppose you are right. If they are doing so well why does the state now have a $143M dollar short fall?"
As opposed to this?
State deficit forecast rises to $5.4 billion by mid-2011
Nov. 20, 2008
Madison - Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday that state government faces a budget deficit of nearly $5.4 billion through mid-2011, $400 million more than he estimated only days ago.
Doyle said he was taking immediate steps to start to shore up the budget by selling 500 vehicles, leaving 2,800 jobs vacant and not filling 700 openings expected through retirements and other attrition, ending the practice of giving some workers bonuses and canceling up to $30 million in grants.
Those cuts are a down payment on the $346 million deficit that state government faces by June 30. Doyle and legislators could fix that separately with a second budget-repair bill in a year or include those changes in the budget he will propose early next year. The two-year budget that begins July 1 is off by more than $5 billion.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepoliti...
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:17 a.m.
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opps hit send to fast. Did YADA in his post BRING UP Sanitation workers? I think he did and gets the prize.
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:11 a.m.
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yada - yada - yada - Union play script - abuse, degrade - abuse, degrade. If it is not the union way it is no-way. NOT
Feb 10, 2012 at 9:04 a.m.
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Wake up DONNA - I never said that. I am not comparing to a teacher - you are. I listed his salary and noted his PER DIEM is LEADING ALL. Next we will have some idiot bringing up sanitation workers and salary. DONNA & MONTEREY - I would AGREE with you but then we would all be wrong. Thank you Monterey and Donna for your information - it is nice to have you share things here that you know nothing about and to embarrass yourself in public.
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:39 a.m.
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The Falk article yesterday was fun for a change and thanks to the Gazette for that. That is until Poobah put the PooBash on it by whining. Wah Wah Wah.
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:37 a.m.
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No_fascist
Wisconsin would be in much better shape if the process was allowed to work. But liberals at every turn have attempted to halt any foward movement to prosperity.
All at taxpayer's expense. I would encourage the GOP groups out there to remind the voting public of this before elections.
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:33 a.m.
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And the Wisconsin taxpayer's liberal tantrum bill keeps getting higher and higher.
Liberals are so very good at spending other people's money.
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:29 a.m.
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You leftie union puppeteers keep telling yourselves that and just maybe you will someday really believe it.
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:04 a.m.
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Feduptaxpayer do you work for the Republican Caucus?
Feb 10, 2012 at 8:02 a.m.
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Feduptaxpayer - keep drinking the kool-aid. The biggest crooks in this country are the ones you elected into office. They might as well call us "little Illinois" with all the corruption the Republicant's brought into our political system.
Feb 10, 2012 at 7:34 a.m.
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This recall process going on is a total sham. The Unions promoted the fraud because they know that have the GAB in their back pocket. This is how Progressives work, the line the power base with their own and then slowly but surely they steal away our rights our freedom and our money. We took back Wisconsin in 2010 and it is time to KEEP IT.
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Feb 10, 2012 at 7:33 a.m.
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"Walker and the rest of the legislation is doing great for Wisconsin"
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If you like living under a fascist regime then I suppose you are right. If they are doing so well why does the state now have a $143M dollar short fall?
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http://www.channel3000.com/politics/3041...
Feb 10, 2012 at 7:27 a.m.
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what happened to the claim that 100% of recall signatures are valid. United Wisconsin where are you (waits for echo). If there are barely enough signatures to trigger the recall, how will there be votes. Walker and the rest of the legislation is doing great for Wisconsin (except for those who are bought by the unions). Time for people to wake up and smell the coffee, for the first time in MANY years, Wisconsin is headed in the right direction.
Feb 10, 2012 at 7:07 a.m.
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Hey yada,$68k isn't that much for a legislator?? Some Milwaukee sanitation workers make twice that? What's your beef besides just hating the guy.Move your argument up the ladder and talk issues.
Feb 10, 2012 at 6:53 a.m.
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donnaw - Since when are our elected representatives supposed to get rich off us? I thought serving the people as their representative was it's own reward?
You wish to compare that Milwaukee teacher to Fitzgerald, but conveniently forget that teacher is at the high end of the salary structure, has continuing education credits they must earn, a degree and state license they must have, and live in a higher cost-of-living area. Fitzgerald has no qualifications to meet other than being elected and a resident of the state, he doesn't even have to have a high school diploma.
Feb 10, 2012 at 6:51 a.m.
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If the signatures are indeed invalid...throw them out. If not, get on with the recall.
Feb 10, 2012 at 6:22 a.m.
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Yada, it's funny you think a state senator making a salary of $50,000 plus benefits is way over the top but the average teacher salary plus benefits in Milw is over $100,000. Plus the teacher has tenure.
Feb 10, 2012 at 5:59 a.m.
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Fitzgerald is a joke and knows his political days are near the end. He will be recalled and is only delaying his fall from power. This is the guy that claims he is concerned about taxpayer money. Recently I read that he was named the mos expensive legislator in the state of Wisconsin. His SALARY is $49,943 PLUS PER DIEM with a tremendous benefits package. He has collected the most per diem money of $18,128 in 2011. This is interesting because he lives maybe an hour from the State Cap. His benefits package is the super Cadillac type that most of us will never have.
Feb 10, 2012 at 5:45 a.m.
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Lori Campas for state senate
Out with fitz
Feb 10, 2012 at 5:15 a.m.
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Yea, Lets give it back to the Unions-the real job creators. When they return to power they can hire back the office staff they fired last year. The middle class will be back again-Hoo ray
Feb 10, 2012 at 4:50 a.m.
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Is Fitz worried that maybe the will of the people has changed in 2012.. Time to take the state back for these corporate shills.
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