By Lynda Jones
As Wisconsin residents who are opposed to the Walker Administration’s method of conducting business and governance for the state prepare for the recall of Governor Scott Walker, a boost to this movement was given with this week’s voting results in Ohio.
In a historic vote for workers’ rights, over two million Ohioans turned out in record numbers to show Governor John Kasich and his extreme agenda by voting 62 percent to 39 percent to defeat Issue 2 and reject Senate Bill 5.
Like Gov. Scott Walker, Gov. John Kasich thought he could get away with stripping workers of their rights, but last night John Kasich learned the hard way that ignoring the voice of the middle class is a perilous, unsustainable way to govern.
Mike Tate, chair, Democratic Party of Wisconsin stated, “Last night’s victory in the Buckeye state proves that a people-powered grassroots movement can defeat extreme Republicans who favor powerful corporate special interests at the expense of working, middle-class families.”
Now the battle returns to Wisconsin, where on Nov. 15, 2011 grassroots activists all across the state will begin collecting signatures to recall Scott Walker for his refusal to listen to the voice of Wisconsin’s middle class.
Recently, former U.S. Representative David Obey, a 42- year veteran of Congress from Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, welcomed members of the Milwaukee media for a roundtable discussion at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County to discuss the importance of recalling Walker.
Obey has traveled the state listening to Wisconsin residents on the effects of Walker’s extreme policies.
“Out of everything that this administration and Walker has done, I think the worst of it has been the new voter ID laws and restrictions.” Obey stated.
At this moment in Wisconsin political history, Obey shared the feedback that he has received from across the state, and he says that approximately 37 percent of union workers voted for Walker, and those voters feel betrayed. In a recall election, Walker cannot count on those votes returning.
Another move that the Walker administration and the Republican legislature have made is the redrawing of legislative districts that overwhelmingly favor republicans. Obey says that when he was in the legislature they had bipartisan cooperation with redistricting. He also shared that during his political days, legislators on Continued from page 1 opposite sides could debate passionately on the floor for hours, and later leave and have coffee together.
Obey joins others who have observed that Wisconsin has never been as polarized as it is today. He believes that Gov. Walker can be successfully recalled, and voted out of office.