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State Senate To Consider Recall Election Restrictions

Proposed Constitutional Amendment Allows Recalls Only For Crimes, Ethics Violations

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Above, protesters rally for Gov. Scott Walker's recall in March of 2011 in Milwaukee. Photo: marctasman (CC-BY-SA)

A proposed constitutional amendment that would restrict the right of Wisconsin voters to petition for a recall election has already passed the state Assembly, and got a hearing in a state Senate committee this week.

The amendment passed the Assembly in November on a party-line vote with only one Republican voting against it. It would allow recall elections only in cases where a state-elected official has committed a crime or has violated the code ethics.

The Senate sponsor of the bill, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, R-River Falls, said without such a restriction, recalls will multiply in the state and elected officials will be less likely to make difficult policy decisions that could anger the voters.

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“We’re dealing with tough issues at every level of government – there’s emotion and there’s differences of opinion, which is good,” said Harsdorf. “But if there’s going to be a fear that there’s going to be another election every time that there’s a difference of opinion, it is does not encourage those tough decisions to be made.”

Opponents of the change say the current recall rules come from a long Wisconsin tradition dating back to former Gov. Bob La Follette.

State Sen. Mark Miller, D-Monona, said the proposed amendment is part of a larger Republican strategy that includes drawing districts that insure a Republican majority.

“We have had in Wisconsin a high voter turnout, but I fear that this going to diminish over time as people feel that their vote means less and less,” said Miller. “We are well served when there is an active and participating citizenry.”

Wisconsin is one of 19 states that allow recall elections. Eight of them place restrictions on recalls similar to those being proposed in this constitutional amendment.