Compiled by Courier Staff
Governor Scott Walker took his oath of office in January, and once that oath was taken Wisconsin experienced a political upheaval that has left the state with extreme fallout. It has been clear that the Republican Party has set a national agenda, that many have viewed as an attack on working and middle class families.
The GOP have been quite uncompromising as witnessed in the national Debt Ceiling Debate, and they have shown that reaching across the aisle and working with Democrats is not part of their agenda, and especially in Wisconsin where they control both houses.
As many in the nation witnessed, Wisconsin Democratic senators found themselves being completely ignored and dismissed by this majority, and as a result they left the state to prolong a vote that eliminated collective bargaining, and approved a budget that made drastic cuts to payrolls, and programs that the majority of citizens need and depend on.
The turmoil in January has now led to what we have approaching us on Tuesday, August 9, 2011, the first of the recall elections. In all, eight incumbent state senators face recall elections – six Republicans on Aug. 9 and two Democrats on Aug. 16. One Democrat has already survived recall.
The one race that effects the Milwaukee area is the 8th District where Sen. Alberta Darling (R) is being challenged by Sandy Pasch, who is a democratic state representative. Darling has consistently refused to debate Pasch. Darling even refused to debate at the invitation of The Milwaukee Press Club, instead Sandy Pasch spoke on one day, and Darling spoke the following day.
On Tuesday, Aug. 9, for Milwaukeeans, 10 wards must vote that reside north Mill Road, from the Lake to 124th Street.
The recall elections are at this point the only opportunity to help rein in the state republicans and Governor Walker’s agenda. If the democrats are successful in these recall elections, then the republicans will be forced to at least engage in working and reaching across the aisle. With the existing majority that they have, they have demonstrated that they are not willing to do that.
You must vote if you want a voice. If you or someone that you know lives in the 8th Senate District or if you are not sure if you are in the district then you can call 414-286-3491 or visit www.milwaukee.gov for any questions or concerns. In addition to going to vote yourself, call and see if you can take others with you. We cannot as a community not be engage in the voting process, we must vote.