Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has been inspiring protest with his policy which has limited the power of public employee unions. His measures have effectively compromised the rights for collective bargaining amount most state workers, leading to anti-Walker demonstrations that sometimes number as high as 100,000.
Kleefisch saw the situation as telling. “What happens in Wisconsin has potential to effect every state in this nation whether Wisconsin voters choose to go forward or backward, back to the failed policies of the past that got us in the budget crunch that we fixed in the first place.”
She refers to the $3.6 billion budget deficit which inspired Republicans to take drastic measures to fix the budge crisis without yet raising taxes.
“We asked our public sector employees to contribute 12.6 percent toward their healthcare, about the national average, 5.8 percent towards their pension, which is about half the national average, and we made some changes to collective bargaining, which was [a] financial [issue] to us.”
Nevertheless, she denied picking on unions, saying “No, no, absolutely not. In fact, we can’t have a class of haves and have nots based on whether you work in the public or the private sector here in Wisconsin. We’ve seen savings of $848 million between state and local governments and taxpayers come up to us every day and say thank you.”
Nevertheless, the critics have spoken, and there are up to 9 Democratic candidates prepared to bid for the Elections, which are scheduled for June 5, with primaries on May 8.
“Today, for the first time in Wisconsin history, a recall election was certified against a sitting governor,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate. “This is no great cause for celebration, mainly because the reasons for recall are so grave. … Wisconsin deserves an honest discussion about her future. Today’s actions ensure that this judgment will now be in the hands of the people.”
Strange language for a representative system, but perhaps what Wisconsin needs. The Friends of Scott Walker campaign responded saying:
“We have long said that we anticipated the election process would move forward. Now it is time for voters to examine the choice they will make in June. 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 progress the governor has made by prematurely ending his term in this $9 million power grab by the out-of-state special interested.”