United Wisconsin and the Recall Walker Committee effort to oust Wisconsin Republican Governor Scott Walker projecting that more than 270,000 signatures have been collected, passing the halfway mark.

By H. Nelson Goodson

November 26, 2011

Milwaukee – On Saturday, Recall Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (R) projections to collect petition signatures have surpassed all expectations to get more than the minimum required signatures per day needed by organizers to meet the 540,000 mark by January 17. After the Black Friday statewide signature petition drive, recall organizers projected that most likely they have surpassed the halfway mark of the 270,000 signatures needed or will reach the halfway target total within days to force an election recall against Governor Walker.

Within the first week of the Walker recall, organizers and volunteers collected at least 105,000 to 107,000 petition signatures within four days of the initial start date (Nov. 15), exceeding all expectations.

The Committee to Recall Scott Walker and United Wisconsin were expected to collect the 9,000 minimum per day for 60 days, but have collected threefold of signatures per day and continue to gather the needed signatures to force a recall election.

The recall effort needs to get the needed 540,000 signatures by January 17. Organizers say, they are working to get at least 650,000 to 700,000 signatures.

On Monday, the Wisconsin Democratic Party will officially announce current and updated signature total for statewide Governor Scott Walker recall.

Early reports indicated and alleged that some Republican supporters were pretending to collect recall signatures for the purpose of destorying them or not turning them in to the state Government Accountability Board (GAB) had surfaced. The Wisconsin GOP has condemned the act and does not support the illegal act. Petition signers are permitted to sign once and can’t sign any other petition for the same recall.

Last week, One Wisconsin Now (OWN), a non-profit organization announced that a $10,000 reward fund has been established to help get information leading to the arrest, prosecution and conviction of a person or persons destroying or defacing petition signatures. The reward is good between, November 22 thru January 14. Under state law, anyone convicted of a felony act for intentionally destroying recall petitions could face up to three years in prison and a fine up to $10,000 or both.

Milwaukee County District Attorney John T. Chisholm says, it’s a felony to get recall Governor Walker petition signatures and not turn them in to the GAB. Chisholm says, he will prosecute those who intentionally collect signatures for the purpose of destroying them or not turning them in to keep electors from exercising their right for a recall.

Governor Walker is being recall for eliminating most collective bargaining rights from most state employees. He also cut $800 million from public school funding and repealed in-state tuition for undocumented students attending state universities and colleges.

In addition to recalling Walker, a separate recall petition was also filed online to recall Rebecca Kleefisch, (R) Wisconsin’s Lieutenant Governor. Another 540,000 valid petition signatures are needed to recall Kleefisch as well.

A Wisconsin poll shows 6 of 10 people in the state favored recall effort to oust Republican Governor Scott Walker. Several polls by Wisconsin Public Radio and St. Norbert with a 5% margin of error indicated that this Fall about 58% favored removal from office compared to last Spring’s 47%; 38% felt Walker should stay in office compared to last Spring’s 48% and not sure was 4% compared to last Spring’s 5%.

To download recall Walker petition go to following link: http://ow.ly/7uvZn

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