An out-of-state group is trying to launch recall efforts against eight of the 14 Senate Democrats who left the state last week to prevent a vote on the budget repair bill.
The Utah-based American Patriot Recall Coalition started the process Tuesday to petition for the recall of state Senators Fred Risser (D-Madison), Mark Miller (D-Monona), Jim Holperin (D-Conover), Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee), Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee), Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie), Julie Lassa (D-Stevens Point), and Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay).
Coalition executive director Dan Baltes says the effort is the result of “gross dereliction of duty” because of a “conspiracy to stall or impede” the business of the Wisconsin state Senate.
There are six members on the board, and the last names of the two from Wisconsin are not listed on the group’s website.
The Coalition has 60 days to collect signatures. Government Accountability Board spokesman Reid Magney says they will need roughly 16,000 people to sign, although the specific number is 25-percent of the number of votes cast in November’s gubernatorial election in each Senate district. The group also needs to provide names and signatures of qualified electors from each districts.
AUDIO: GAB’s Reid Magney (:19)
WHBY’s Mike Kemmeter and WIBA’s Chandra Lynn contributed to this report.