Harsdorf is 4th GOP senator facing recall Story Discussion Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Harsdorf is 4th GOP senator facing recall
JASON SMATHERS | Associated Press madison.com | (46) Comments | Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2011 11:25 am
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Wisconsin Democrats filed a petition Tuesday to recall a fourth GOP state senator for her vote to curtail collective bargaining rights for public employees.
Nan Lambert, a volunteer for the committee to recall Sen. Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls, filed more than 23,000 signatures with the Government Accountability Board. If at least 15,744 signatures are valid, the board would certify the petition. A recall election would be held six weeks after the date of certification. The board is expected to ask a court for an extension of its 31-day review period.
Lambert said she decided to join the recall effort soon after the Senate passed Gov. Scott Walker's bill curtailing collective bargaining rights for most of the state's public workers.
"I cannot comprehend trying to balance the budget on the backs of people who can least afford it, while giving billions of dollars to wealthy people," Lambert said. "It just doesn't make sense to me, I can't comprehend it. And it would appear that this is our only recourse."
Harsdorf said in a statement Tuesday that the recalls only represent a minority of her district's population and that she is "committed to getting our state's fiscal house in order."
"Reports have shown that out-of-state and out-of-district interests are behind the spending and organization of the recall campaign," Harsdorf said. "We cannot have these special interests dictate spending levels that would crush job creation and lead our state into bankruptcy."
While Harsdorf was targeted along with seven other Republicans, she was not seen as particularly vulnerable to a recall. Harsdorf won her 2008 election with more than 56 percent of the vote. However, spring campaign finance reports showed recall organizers spent more than $67,000 on the signature collection for Harsdorf — more than any other state recall effort.
Democrats in recent weeks have filed recall petitions against Republican Sens. Luther Olsen of Ripon, Randy Hopper of Fond du Lac and Dan Kapanke of La Crosse. Hopper and Kapanke's campaigns are challenging the signatures. The Harsdorf campaign said it will review the signatures before deciding whether to file a challenge.
Four other Republicans and eight Democrats are also being targeted by recall groups for their support or opposition to the collective bargaining bill. Walker signed the bill into law on March 10, but a judge has blocked its implementation.
Organizers for at least two groups targeting Democrats have said they intend to file their petitions later this week.
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