Although the first deadline to certify the recall petitions against state senators is little more than two weeks away, the Government Accountability Board says it will need most of May to finish reviewing petitions filed so far.
The GAB on Wednesday filed for an extension in Dane County Circuit Court. The agency cited their challenge of maintaining the current statewide recount in the Supreme Court race, while continuing to review recall petitions. The agency also noted in the court filing that the petitions against the eight senators have a significant numer of signatures higher than the minimum amount to force a recall election.
Originally sixteen senators were targeted for recall, eight Republicans supporting the budget repair bill and its collective bargaining cuts, eight Democrats for skipping town to delay its vote. But organizers did not meet the deadline for a petition against Madison Democrat Fred Risser and Milwaukee Democrats Lena Taylor and Spencer Coggs.