Voters in Wisconsin recalled two of the six Republican State Senators in TuesdayÂ’s recall elections, which left the Democrats one seat short of a majority in the Senate. As Rachel Weiner reported:
The massive protests in Wisconsin's capital prompted by Gov. Scott Walker's bill to cut state employees' benefits and diminish union bargaining rights have sparked smaller demonstrations across the country.
Democrats fell one seat short of a chance at taking back the Wisconsin state senate Tuesday, a result that will disappoint organized labor nationally.
According to the Associated Press, State Sens. Dan Kapanke andRandy Hopper were recalled, while Sens. Robert Cowles, Alberta Darling, Sheila Harsdorf and Luther Olsen held onto their seats.
Before TuesdayÂ’s elections Republicans controlled the state senate 19 to 14; they now have a 17 to 16 edge. Two Democrats face recall elections next Tuesday. The party needed to net three wins to regain the upper chamber, which they lost in 2010. That is now impossible.
The recalls were sparked by Republican legislation to end collective bargaining for public employees in the state, a move that inspired major protests in February and March. Democratic lawmakers fled Wisconsin to avoid voting on the bill; Republicans passed it without them. The recall campaigns on both sides began soon after.Outside groups — led by national unions on the Democratic side and limited government groups such as the Wisconsin Club for Growth on the Republican side — have shoveled more than $25 million into the recall effort, with both sides spending about the same amount. The candidates, meanwhile, have raised more than $5 million.
That earned a bookmark...don't be surprised to see it resurface as "Application for residence, Southwest Missouri".
--you stated that this recall election would be a mandate on Republicans-looking toward 2012--
