Joint Finance Committee Co-chair Robin Vos (R-Rochester) says, “In general recalls should be used very rarely and they should be when someone commits a malfeasance in office.” Vos is officially introducing a constitutional amendment in response to the enormous costs to taxpayers for the nine Senate recall elections this summer.
The Government Accountability Board says local governments spent a total estimated combined cost of $2.1 million for those elections. That includes costs incurred by the election board.
Democrats have said the recalls give voters a voice.
A constitutional amendment requires passage in two consecutive sessions of the legislature and then a statewide voter referendum. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign on Tuesday estimated that candidates and special interest groups spent $44 million on the races.