Scott Walker Recall: Mark Miller, Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader, Sees Legislative Gridlock Ahead

In Wisconsin, as the state's assembly speaker seeks higher office and several recall elections ramp up, the governor's mansion and control of the state Senate are up for grabs, political procedure threatens to make it difficult for lawmakers to address other issues facing the state next year.

"I think it's going to be very difficult," Wisconsin Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D-Dane County) told HuffPost, considering the 2012 legislative session.

Gov. Scott Walker (R) and Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R) are each the subject of recall petitions circulating around the state. Petitions are circulating against four Republican senators, and Democrats need to pick up only one Senate seat to grab control of the chamber. Further, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald is trying to leave state government in favor of national office, facing off against former Gov. Tommy Thompson and former Rep. Mark Neumann in the Republican U.S. Senate primary.

Miller placed blame for the gridlock in state government squarely at Walker's feet, saying the first-term governor and other Republicans have focused on eliminating collective bargaining for public employees, legislative redistricting and voter identification instead of local economic issues. "Our state has been bitterly divided by the governor's agenda," he said.

Miller said Senate Democrats plan to push "fair redistricting," restoration of state aid to local school districts and job creation during the legislative session after Walker and Republicans pushed through a redistricting plan that favors the GOP. Miller also said Democrats are on the lookout for conservative legislation Fitzgerald may push through the Assembly in order to help his Senate bid.

Recall petitions are due back to state officials by Jan. 17 with at least 540,208 signatures. Recall supporters said last week that they had already collected over 300,000 signatures.

Miller said he believes that the state's current political climate has had an effect nationally. Following Walker's introduction of the collective bargaining ban, union-organized protests surrounded the state capital, with a group of demonstrators even occupying parts of the building for a period. Legislative Democrats fled to Illinois in order to delay a vote on the legislation. The initial recall elections targeting Republican and Democratic senators led to the ouster of two GOP senators and placed Senate Democrats a vote away from the majority.

This climate is one that Miller thinks helped lead to the creation of the Occupy movement, along with influencing other states to battle collective bargaining reform bills.

"It was an impetus for the Occupy Wall Street movement," he said.

Comments

[fallenawayrepublican]

11:26 AM on 12/23/2011

Now that we are watching closer the GOP will find it harder to throw us under the bus.

[joredux]

02:26 PM on 12/21/2011

Reading some of these posts has really got me to thinking it's just tragic how bitter & divisive the political atmosphere has gotten in this country . The poor don't have anything, the middle class is suffering, the wealthy are sitting on their money ( but , some of conscience are doing great things to help ) corporations aren't hiring much . And the fear mongering and misinformation mill are in full swing , when times get hard most people think we're supposed to help each other out of the financial / economic nightmare thru a fair system of ideas and legislation by the people and those elected to represent them , instead it has become a life and death struggle for a power grab financed by the big monied special interests who only want people and legislation in place that fits their economic agenda - it's leading to the " class warfare " you always hear about , it's what happens when compromise is taken out of governance and overreach rules the day. Sad- - - very sad .

[fitley]

03:09 PM on 12/13/2011

Wisconsin, Ohio, and Mississippi taking back their states from those who would destroy them.

[fitley]

03:07 PM on 12/13/2011

C'mon Wisconsin show the rest of America how democracy works. Toss Walker out.

[maramill]

03:48 PM on 01/04/2012

You people who want to remove him are afraid to face life and live it like the rest of us who have to pay our fair share. Your unions have ruined it rather than help it as they say they have. Your dues buy you nothing but crap.

[Jett7]

10:51 AM on 12/13/2011

Walker has messed up things royally in Wisconsin. All the more reason to remove him for good.

[RandyK100]

11:57 AM on 12/12/2011

Only when destroying the middle class hits the pocketbooks of Republicans will they take note of what a bad idea it has been. As the middle class gets more and more destroyed Republican business owners will more and more see their profits decline. When those Republican business owners finally acknowledge a strong middle class is their only route to surviving as a business they will finally support having a strong middle class. Will it will be too late?? Will the country have passed the point of no return? I don't think so. Taking back the country starts with RECALLING crooked scooter.

[adarps5]

11:43 PM on 12/09/2011

Who are the thugs and goons? http://democurmudgeon.blogspot.com/2011/12/caught-walker-thug-makes-intimidating.html

[Eidolas]

05:13 PM on 12/09/2011

Well, looks like the partisan Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editors would like to give credit to the Milwaukee teachers union (MTEA) and MPS for belatedly attempting to implement Scott Walker's budget reforms after their colossal mistake of rushing through a sweetheart deal. Of all the hypocrisy over Act 10, this may take the cake - BWAHAHAHAHAHA!

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/costsaving-moves-help-mps-over-time-fh391kl-134872068.html

[pollclaire]

08:54 PM on 12/09/2011

Not sure what your point is. Every street, school, public service and public employee in the entire city is getting less money due to the budget cuts at the state level. MPS is in a very tight spot. They've had to cut hundreds of positions, and are closing and consolidating thirty schools.

A couple of the board members are friends of mine, ordinary citizens in charge of a $1.2 bilion dollar budget. I can tell you this; at the community level this isn't an question of partisan politics, it's a question of doing the right thing by everyone involved, and delivering the best possible service to a community that lives under very tough socio-economic circumstances. If you took your partisan points to a board meeting or a community listening session, you'd be laughed out of the room.

[Eidolas]

05:12 PM on 12/13/2011

The point is that MPS got themselves into this situation by trying to do the union a favor, then when they needed the union to step up to the plate, the union said "FU." The rank and file teachers were almost evenly split on the issue of making additional contributions to save jobs, but not the union. I wouldn't get a chance to get laughed out of the room, I'd be shouted down before I got a sentence completed, because the union isn't interested in hearing a differing point of view.

[getoffmyside]

05:23 AM on 12/09/2011

smok .32 Fans
Become a fan Unfan .2 hours ago( 3:36 AM) http://glo­ssynews.co­m/top-stor­ies/politi­cos-and-po­lticians/2­0110311050­1/scott-wa­lker-begs-­koch-broth­ers-to-rel­ease-him-f­rom-pact/

__________________________________________________

Thank you Smok. (Hope the link works)

[FreeThinker in AZ]

02:30 PM on 12/08/2011

My sister in-law is a big cheese head from Wisconsin she all so has a cheese bra..Funny!! We always watch Green Bay together .... I think Scotty will be recalled ...We would like to help, were can we send money? We are all so working on recalling Jan Brewer in AZ..

[WI Patriot]

02:49 PM on 12/08/2011

You can send a petition if you want - you do not need to be a registered voter to file a petition - that is why the out-of state public unions invaded Wisconsin.

[Ginger23]

06:06 PM on 12/08/2011

Are you nekkid under all that paint?

[mce22]

11:09 AM on 12/09/2011

So why would you advise someone from out of state to send in a recall petition when only WI residents who are eligible to vote can do so?

What happened to integrity in the Republican party-why resort to lies and deception?
Don't bother answering everybody does it.

[eLucida]

04:52 PM on 12/08/2011

Parrot is a typical GOTPer, likes to spread misinformation.

[Ginger23]

06:06 PM on 12/08/2011

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!! biggovernment.com

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[pollclaire]

11:25 PM on 12/08/2011

Eating from the hand of Breitbart? Not exactly an honest broker. He's well paid to say what he says. And after all, he's not really middle-class anymore, so why would he care if middle-class people take cuts to wages and benefits?

It's propaganda, but as such it's still very entertaining. I particularly liked the part about the teacher who thinks she's going to get a middle-class salary and benefits just for walking in the door a private school. My only question is, which two schools will she be working at?

[Jefferson Vickers]

11:53 AM on 12/08/2011

Priority number one take your state back

[WI Patriot]

03:02 PM on 12/08/2011

Thanks! We will repel the public union invasion (again)

[Ginger23]

06:42 PM on 12/08/2011

I don't think he was talking to you, preferring instead to address the adults.

[Daniel Hicks]

11:48 AM on 12/08/2011

LOL Tea Badgers.

[Philimanjaro]

01:12 PM on 12/08/2011

Badgers?

[Daniel Hicks]

04:13 PM on 12/08/2011

Wisconsin being the Badger State, it's a pun.

[pollclaire]

08:38 PM on 12/08/2011

Your reply was deleted, for some reason. Don't know why, it was a perfectly reasonable comment. In response, I wrote:

If you'll look closely, I've avoided comparing Walker to AH & company, because it's not an accurate comparison. The policies I'm referring to were those of Heinrich Bruner, a conservative economist (under Hindenburg's government) who predated the NSDAP, and left when they took the chancelloship. The overall effect of Bruner's policy failures was an increase economic hardship for average Germans, and the rise of radicalism on both sides of the political spectrum.

I'm not trying overly hard to be convincing with 250 words to a box, but the similarities are there, for those who care to look.

[pollclaire]

09:45 PM on 12/08/2011

Correction, Bruning. Sorry, I do that sometimes.

[Rowwdy]

11:38 AM on 12/08/2011

*I find it ironic how people will protect Scott Walker and profess that he has made Wisconsin a better to live; so I have decided to research the matter to see who has governed Wisconsin better when it comes to unemployment.
41) 1983-1987; Anthony S. Earl [D]/James T. Flynn [D] “decreased” unemployment by 7%. (Reagan)
42) 1987-2001; Tommy Thompson [R]/Scott McCallum [R] “decreased” unemployment by 1.4%. (Reagan/Bush/Clinton)
43) 2001-2003; Scott McCallum [R]/Margaret A. Farrow [R] “increased” unemployment by 1.6%. (Bush)
44) 2003-2011; Jim Doyle [D]/Barbara Lawton [D] “decreased” unemployment by 1.1% between Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2008; unemployment “increased” by 3.0% between Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2011. (Bush/Obama)
Unemployment nationwide “increased” by 4.0% due to the crash of 2008. (G.W. Bush)
45) Jan. 2011-Oct. 2011; Scott Walker [R]/Rebecca Kleefisch [R] “INCREASED” unemployment by .3% in the 10 months they have been office. (Obama)
“WISCONSINITES”, if you play with ‘snakes’, you will eventually be bitten; the poison you are being fed by people like Walker and the Koch brothers is not in your best interest, I only hope you find an antidote before it’s too late…
http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet

[Neuron Flash]

12:04 PM on 12/08/2011

I read somewhere recently a great quote attributed to Harry S Truman: "If you want to live like a Republican vote Democrat.

[WI Patriot]

02:48 PM on 12/08/2011

Nice try - Wisconsin unemployme­nt was lower than the national average with (R) and higher than the national average with (D).

Same source, always helps when you compare apples to apples....­.this is just laughable, dont even compare the same dates!:: "44) 2003-2011; Jim Doyle [D]/Barbar­­a Lawton [D] “decreased­­” unemployme­­nt by 1.1% between Jan. 2003 to Jan. 2008; unemployme­­nt “increased­­” by 3.0% between Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2011. (Bush/Obam­­a)"

[RandyK100]

11:40 AM on 12/12/2011

Your comments are laughable. Scotty is a goner!

[wellscc]

03:47 PM on 12/13/2011

Your proof please with the national unemployment rates and the state unemployment rates. Thanks

[SofaKing22]

10:27 AM on 12/08/2011

Got this in an email today. I live in Indiana now but grew up in Wisconsin. I have many friends that are teachers and was very disturbed by Walker's actions that I even travelled to Madison earlier this year to be a part of the protests. Having friends go through this is very hard take and not do anything. I support the recall and will try to do whatever I can to help from here in Indiana and I will actually be traveling to Madison this weekend. Go Badgers!

http://www.lakecountryofficials.org/files/The_Developing_Crisis_in_Our_Schools_-_FINAL.pdf

[Dan J S]

02:07 PM on 12/08/2011

Some of these teachers are threatening other teachers that support Walker

http://biggovernment.com/eagtv/2011/12/07/union-radicals-harass-teacher-who-dared-to-support-wisconsin-gov-scott-walker/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BigGovernment+%28Big+Government%29

[SofaKing22]

04:23 PM on 12/08/2011

That's a shame that anyone would threaten her but what did she really expect in such a polarized environment created by Walker.

[busynurse]

06:02 PM on 12/08/2011

It is definitely not cool to threaten anyone. However, I am interested in her statement claiming all of "the non-learning" that is taking place in public schools. Shouldn't she be responsible for the non-learning, since she is on the front lines? She sounds all too ready to blame someone or something else! (e.g. the union!!) How about personal responsibility and all that.

[WI Patriot]

02:58 PM on 12/08/2011

ROFL WEAC goons, too funny. You do know that for every open teacher position in Wisconsin there are over 1000 applicants?!? I woulnd't recommend being a teacher either unless you are related to one - you'll never get hired.

Funny the "research" doesnt mention that in Milwaukee the teacher's union (WEAC) broke their promise of concessions and laid off teachers when their school district caved before act 10........


"Instead of following their statewide union leader, even with that exact option made available to the school district due to legislative compromise, MTEA would rather layoff teachers than contribute a modest amount toward their benefits," Werwie said.

"In other school districts that have utilized the tools available to them, class sizes are going down, budgets are balanced, taxes are held in check, and they still have enough money to begin financially rewarding the best and brightest teachers," said Werwie."
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/124734058.html

[SofaKing22]

04:06 PM on 12/08/2011

So how much of a paycut would you be willing to take so that your buddy could keep his job? A few hundred dollars a month? A friend and her husband are both teachers and their take home pay will be reduced by around $600/month. They would like to buy a home and have a baby on the way. That's what these "tools" are. Taking money away from hard working people and from the local economies and instead let's give and offer tax breaks to corporations. Sure doesnt seem to me very productive or as the rediculous commercials say "progress". Seems to me it's bass ackwards. That really hasn't seemed to help seeing as WI is the #1 job loser. They already made some concessions, so do you really expect them to take the whole brunt of this thing and just take it up the you know what? Get real. Most regular folk would be walking out the damn door. Oh, and I don't take what anyone in Walker's administration has to say very seriously. If you want to believe what they have to say and trying to sell you that's fine. I'm not going to try to change your mind. I don't believe everything that I'm told or read in a newspaper.

[Ginger23]

06:10 PM on 12/08/2011

Every time you trot out that "open position" nonsense, you make up a new number. Last time it was 400 applicants, now it's a thousand?

So.... if there are ever so many applicants, why are there still open positions in my district? No one in their right mind would go into teaching now, and the ones who are able to get out are doing so.