Wisconsin Democrats Keep Their Senate Seats By The Associated Press | August 16, 2011 Excerpts: Two Democratic Wisconsin state senators targeted by Republicans survived their elections Tuesday, ending a tumultuous summer of recalls spurred by anger over how lawmakers reacted to Gov. Scott Walker's proposal curbing collective bargaining rights of public workers. Democrats picked up two seats through the nine recalls but were unable to wrest majority Senate control away from the GOP, which now holds a narrow 17-16 majority. Before the recalls, Republicans had a 19-14 edge in the chamber. The two senators facing recall Tuesday were among the 14 senators who fled the state in February in opposition to Walker's proposal which passed despite their absence and has been held up by the state Supreme Court. Democratic Sen. Bob Wirch of Pleasant Prairie defeated Kenosha attorney Jonathan Steitz, and Sen. Jim Holperin of Conover beat tea party Republican Kim Simac of Eagle River. A third Democrat won a recall election last month. Two Republicans were defeated in six recall elections last week. Even though they remain in the minority, Democrats were savoring Tuesday's victories. Wisconsin Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate said Democrats have "fundamentally changed the face of power in the Wisconsin Legislature" through the recalls. Even though Republicans remain in the majority, Tate said Democrats' picking up two seats and making gains in Republican districts sets the table for big wins next year. "It's really hard to go five for nine and not be pleased of the progress that we made," he said. Walker pledged last week to reach out to Democratic leaders to find proposals they could work on together, but his overtures were met with skepticism by the Democrats still stung by his pushing through of the collective bargaining bill without compromises. Holperin, who won with 54 percent of the vote based on unofficial results, said the election showed that not everyone disapproved of Democrats leaving the state during the heated collective bargaining debate. Holperin is the first state-level elected official in U.S. history to have faced two recall attempts. He survived one in 1990 as a member of the state Assembly after he was targeted for supporting tribal spearfishing rights. In that race, Holperin spent $56,000. So far this time he's spent at least $319,000 and combined with spending from outside groups and his tea party Republican opponent Kim Simac, total spending is estimated to be at least $4.5 million. It's estimated that total spending may break $40 million on the nine recall races combined. Wirch, who was first elected to the Assembly in 1992 and the Senate in 1996, won with 58 percent of the vote based on unofficial results. His district covers the city of Kenosha and surrounding area in southeast Wisconsin near the Illinois border. Robert Merton, 73, a retired firefighter from Pleasant Prairie, said he voted for Wirch on Tuesday because the senator has always stood up for unions and middle-class values. "He's done a good job," Merton said. "He's always been there for us." Holperin, who served 12 years in the Assembly between 1983 and 1995 before being elected to the Senate in 2008, defeated Simac of Eagle RiverThe rural district covers Wisconsin's sprawling north woods. Three Lakes resident Nicole Senter, 32, said she voted for Holperin because she's satisfied with the job he has done. "He's not as liberal as I'd like him to be," said Senter, a bank employee. "But for up here he's moderate enough to help everyone, not just the unions like some people seem to think. His interest is in the north woods." The nine recall elections in Wisconsin this year were the largest ever in the nation's history. Previously, in nearly 100 years there had been only 20 recall attempts, including Holperin's, with just 13 successful. With the ouster of two Republicans last week, of the 15 state-level office holders recalled nationwide, four of them have been from Wisconsin. Wisconsin Democratic party leaders say they are moving ahead with plans to mount an effort to recall Walker next year, even though Republicans retained their majority in the Senate. Read full article: http://www.npr.org/2011/08/16/139690968/wisconsin-democrats-keep-their-senate-seats A great success, as the people of Wisconsin bring back all three Democrats that were the subject of recall by republicans/T-baggers, again changing the face of the Wisconsin legislature under Gov. Walkers fraudulent regime. They are now looking forward to a much different session, as the GOP now holds a slim majority of 17-16. The Democrats are ecstatic over their new almost-majority. Two republicans/T-baggers were recalled in one day and a third narrowly escaped recall by a mere 1300 votes. Gov. Walker is the next big recall vote after being in office for one year, and has already promised to work with the new recall legislature, as well as the four that survived the recall. The most turbulent and successful elections in history have been a fantastic success for freedom loving Wisconsinians who look forward to the next election to gain a definite majority and bring back Democracy to its people. BOOLYEAH !!!
Majority of Wisconsinites disagreed with taking away Union rights/ Left, Right, and center. They were not fleeing their responsibilities. They were upholding them. Their responsibility is to the citizens of Wisconsin and that is what they did. If they felt that most Wisconsinites agreed with Walker they would not of left. They wanted the citizens to have the chance to see what Walker was trying to sneak pass them. There has been some dirty pollies before but Walker takes the cake. Slimmy, underhanded, backstabbing, against the majorities wishes pollie. Either side of the isle that is that underbellied should be tossed out on their behind. Walker you pink slip is a coming.!!! Even if another Repub, a decent Repub, took his spot as Governor, that would be fine by me. Just so long as Walker gets his walking papers. Many pollies, left right and center have seemed to have forgotten they are there to serve the will of the people, not the will of the ones with the most money. Left, right, and center, recall any of them that try to over ride the people for the sake of $$$$.
Thats nothing more than a lie. The oath they took and broke: SECTION 28. Members of the legislature, and all officers, executive and judicial, except such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall before they enter upon the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation to support the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, and faithfully to discharge the duties of their respective offices to the best of their ability. . They broke that oath but its no surprise liberals like yourself would defend it.
Hopefully when the disease and parasite of Liberalism is eradicated in 2012........the Union slobs will finally see the writing on the wall. . . . .
..... ...and what do you say about Abraham Lincoln (a republican) who jumped out of a second story window (and advising his fellow legislators to do the same) in order to stall a vote, and then went on to become president of the United States? It's wrong for Democrats, but ok for republicans? Sour grapes?
..... ...and hopefully when the parasite of cultist T-baggers is thrust from the republican party and banished to their home in Gestapoland, they will finally see the writing on the wall... America does not need, want, or desire this rag-tail, violence prone groupie, plus the remainders of the republican party that got ousted in 2008 want them gone after the T-baggers caused a decrease in the ratings of Congress and our nationalcredit ratings due to their frenetic display concerning the heretofore automatic raiseing of the debt ceiling fiasco. That strange silence you hear is the deep abiding anger of the American people who are getting ready for the 2012 elections. T-baggers presume to speak 'for the people'...but they will see on Nov.4, 2012 who actually speaks for the American people.
..... Think of it as the Democrats' answer to the republican filibuster. ...and Lincoln went on to free the slaves back in the day when republicans had a good name. texmaster, no matter how you try to spin it, it was a resounding victory for the Democrats, live with it. I promise that in 2012 it will get really bad for your 'spin' abilities.
Apparently Wisconsinites like their representatives enough to keep them around in a recall election and vote two more Democrats in to replace Republicans.
No, actually, we've had quite enough of the US House Republicans and Senate Republicans. Thank you very much.
The Tea Party is comprised of Producers.......The Democrat Party is comprised of Parasites. The Host Organism bids you farewell and good luck...... Please come back Nov. 5.....after Obama joins the unemployed and that ****stain Harry Reid returns to minority leader. . . .
That written oath says absolutely nothing about postponing a vote by the minority so the people have a chance to see what sneaky underbelly crap Walker was trying to pull. No oath was broken. The oath was upheld by doing what they did. To the best of their ability bein in the minority yet with the majority of citizens not wanting Walcoch's legislation to go through. Call it a filibuster. Dem's don't reload, we recall and WIN! Apparently the Wisconsinites agree as they maintained those exact same Dem's and added two more to replace Repub's that voted for Walker's bill.
