Wisconsin senators challenge recall petitions

February 14, 2012

By: Greg Janetka

Four Republican senators targeted for recall
Scott Fitzgerald Van Wanggaard Terry Moulton Pam Galloway

MADISON, Wisconsin: Last Saturday marked the one year anniversary of Gov. Scott Walker's (R) announcement of a proposed budget bill that restricts collective bargaining for public workers. The legislation was the catalyst that led to last year's senate recalls as well as the current round. While those opposed to the law met the anniversary with protests, four embattled Republican senators spent the week filing official challenges with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board against the recall petitions targeting them.

While all four - Van Wanggaard, Scott Fitzgerald, Terry Moulton and Pam Galloway - submitted challenges, only Fitzgerald challenged enough individual signatures that, if they were found to be invalid, would end the recall threat. The main argument for the senators, however, rests on a challenge to the size and shape of their districts. Through the once-a-decade redistricting process, the Republican majority drew up and quickly passed new districts last year. Under the legislation, the maps do not take effect until this fall, but Republicans are now arguing that the recalls should take place in the new districts.

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board previously rejected the argument and a federal trial regarding the matter is scheduled to begin on February 21. If it is decided that the recalls should take place in the new districts, then, according to Republicans, enough of the signatures would be thrown out as to end all the recalls as they came from residents who live in the old districts but not the new ones.

GAB has until March 19 to schedule recall elections. Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R) are also facing potential recalls. As they received copies of the petitions against them on different dates, they have until February 27 and March 5, respectively, to file challenges.

See also

• Timeline of events of the recall of Wisconsin State Senators in 2012
• Scott Walker recall, Wisconsin (2012)
• Rebecca Kleefisch recall, Wisconsin (2012)
• Recall of Wisconsin State Senators (2011)
• Scott Fitzgerald recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2012)
• Van Wanggaard recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2012)
• Terry Moulton recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2012)
• Pam Galloway recall, Wisconsin State Senate (2012)
• Wisconsin Government Accountability Board

External links

• Challenges and rebuttals on GAB's website

Footnotes