Badgered

Wisconsin's fourteen renegade Democratic state senators have had the pressure ratcheted up against them, with Governor Scott Walker not only threatening them with arrest for contempt if and when they return to the state, but also with fines of $100 - per day - if they don't return to Madison and provide a quorum to vote on Walker's legislation rescinding collective bargaining rights for public employees. No one has suggested that Walker be arrested for impersonating an office.

Meanwhile, Walker has announced that he will be forced to send out formal layoff notices to 1,500 state employees, without the bill's passage, in an effort to save the state approximately $30 million. "Forced?" After weeks of protest, Walker is being "forced" to do what he wanted to do legislatively - screw the middle class to save money? A movement has now started to recall eight key Republican state senators who have supported him. Wisconsin law allows for elected officials who have served at least one year of their current term to be removed from office. Supporters have sixty days to collect anywhere from 15,000 to 21,000 signatures, depending on the district, for each targeted senator. If only three of these eight senators can be recalled, the Democrats will gain control of the state Senate.

Also, Michael Moore joined the protesters in Madison yesterday to rally the faithful and fight Walker's agenda, which includes deep cuts in social services. I don't know if this helps or hurts . . ..