Scott Walker Recall Effort Will Cost $9 Million, Wisconsin Estimate Shows

MADISON, Wis. -- A recall election to oust Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker from office could cost at least $9 million.

The estimate from the state Government Accountability Board is based on figures from county clerks, the state's municipal clerks and the board itself.

The board asked local clerks to estimate the costs of a possible recall election based on statewide elections in November 2010 and April 2011.

Democrats want to throw Walker out of office over his contentious collective bargaining bill.

Board Director Kevin Kennedy cautioned that Friday's numbers are estimates and election costs can vary.

Republicans still pounced on the numbers, saying the state can't afford it.

State Democratic Party Chairman Mike Tate portrayed the recall costs as the "best down payment" people can make for Wisconsin's future.

Earlier on HuffPost:

Comments

[norrin96]

08:52 PM on 01/08/2012

So does running bogus Democrats in bogus primaries, but Scottie has no problem with that.

[Eidolas]

08:20 PM on 01/08/2012

If the recall effort were to actually succeed, it would cost Wisconsin taxpayers a lot more than $9 million. The Dems and the unionistas have visions of choo-choo trains, Illinois taxes and runaway entiltlements and taxes on their agenda. But since when has that kind of thing ever bothered them anyway? Back to the Jim Doyle days of deadbeats and fund raiding if they have their way.

[Rowsdower]

10:57 AM on 01/08/2012

Just imagine how much time, effort, and money could have been saved if more "Progressives" had bothered to vote in 2010. Walker never would have gotten in, Russ Feingold would still be in office, and we'd all be high-fiving each other for having reduced the Tea Party to irrelevancy.

Have you learned the lesson yet? VOTE IN EVERY ELECTION.

[David J McRae]

12:35 AM on 01/08/2012

This is like buying a protection plan for an iPod. It may cost a lot but in the end it's worth it.

[asiclilpup]

04:25 PM on 01/07/2012

$9 million to recall vs the $138 Million crony tax cuts he gave out initially ? Sounds like a good economical move to me. GO WI.

[MmeFlutterbye]

12:05 PM on 01/07/2012

"Board Director Kevin Kennedy cautioned that Friday's numbers are estimates and election costs can vary. Republicans still pounced on the numbers, saying the state can't afford it."

So Wisconsin should keep a corrupt governor because it costs too much to oust him?

[Eidolas]

08:21 PM on 01/08/2012

Scott Walker is the best Governor Wisconsin has had in a long, long time.

[MmeFlutterbye]

04:50 PM on 01/09/2012

POOR WISCONSINITES!!!!

[onwisco]

07:13 AM on 01/07/2012

To put this into perspective; the Koch brothers are worth about $50 billion dollars. If they spent $3 million dollars in advertising to further influence politics in Wisconsin the equivelant would be someone earning $50,000 a year spending about $1.50. IOW it is costing the billionaire brothers about $1.50 to tell us how wonderful their puppet is doing for the state.

When billionaires are telling you how good you have it there is something wrong. Think about that!

[Eidolas]

08:22 PM on 01/08/2012

I think the same thing when special interst union groups tell me how bad everything is when clearly all evidence points to the contrary.

[MsMich]

03:26 AM on 01/07/2012

Any legistrators who has decided to attack the poor, working class to benefit yet again the greed of the wealthy should be recalled. The entire Republican party needs to be recalled I hope this country does that in 2012 with our Senate and Congress and send a message loud and clear WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR MODERN DAY SLAVERY. People have the right to be paid a fair wage for their labors, people in this country should have the opportunity to have a life without struggle if they work for it. Corporation should not be permitted to suck the life out of our economy for self indulgence. The resourses in this ocuntry belong to all of us. The Republican party has caused more damage to this country than any terrorist could of hoped for.

[Eidolas]

08:24 PM on 01/08/2012

You could move to Europe. Try Greece, where entitlements have brought the country to bancruptcy.

[Aerobat]

02:28 AM on 01/07/2012

Wow, that's a bargain! When Darrel Issa decided he wanted to be governor of California, he brought about the Grey Davis Recall and that cost us about $25 million.

And Issa didn't even get to run ... instead, we got the "Governator" (Schwarzenegger), another wonderful "Family Values" Republican.

[MmeFlutterbye]

12:10 PM on 01/07/2012

I loved the backfire on Issa, but I hated the end result of having a philanderer as governor. You just can't win with Republicans. The holier-than-thou GOP has always been in league with the devil. They are very tricky, tricky, tricky.

[lc1]

02:15 PM on 01/07/2012

arnold was hardly a republican.

[Mark from atlanta]

02:13 AM on 01/07/2012

Collective Bargaining = Democracy

[lc1]

02:16 PM on 01/07/2012

no it doesnt. collective bargaining in the public sector should be fraud.

[andyou]

12:18 AM on 01/07/2012

That's all on Walker. If he told people what he really intended to do, he never would have been elected.

[pollclaire]

12:36 AM on 01/07/2012

Walker is serving as a conduit for canned legislatio­­n that was written by his corporate sponsors before he took office. What does Walker stand for, and what will he serve up next? Well, nobody really knows, since he declined to admit to his real agenda during his campaign.

[snide7242ca]

01:39 AM on 01/07/2012

pollclaire

And, no wonder the people decided to march in the streets in horrible winter weather to show him what they thought. Good for you Wisconsin. Kick the liar out.

[snide7242ca]

01:41 AM on 01/07/2012

andyou

As crippled up as I am, I think I would have marched in the streets too if I lived in WI! I will support this issue even though, as a senior citizen, I barely have enough money to pay my bills, because I believe in it so deeply. Scott must GO! I live in California by the way.

[MmeFlutterbye]

12:17 PM on 01/07/2012

Fanned You and I are in the same boat. I am a senior who lives in CA too. I support the Democrats and those honest Republicans (there must be a few) of WI. Kick the bum out. He's a Koch Brothers puppet as evidenced when he was punked into thinking he was on the phone with one of them.

[pollclaire]

12:12 AM on 01/07/2012

A bargain at twice the price. Enabling the Koch Kleptocracy will cost the state far more in the long run.

[snide7242ca]

01:38 AM on 01/07/2012

pollclaire

Right on!

[MmeFlutterbye]

12:19 PM on 01/07/2012

Agree. Faved What the Repubs in the state will cost their government will outstrip any recall election. Best to kick all the bums out when there is an apportunity to do so.

[vallesula]

12:01 AM on 01/07/2012

Wisconsin, spend the money cuz the dividends thee shall reap,after getting rid of this Coca-Cola water-boy will be PRICELE$$ !!!!

[mysay1]

12:00 AM on 01/07/2012

I thought Huffington Post believes in free speech. Apparently it depends on how many "friends" you have rather than what you have to say.

[asiclilpup]

04:15 PM on 01/07/2012

Nope, it only depends on how you say it.

[vallesula]

11:57 PM on 01/06/2012

So what if it costs $9 Millions to get rid of a political $lime?

Rest assured, it's well worthy of it, especially when some $11 BILLIONS (with a B ) could go UN-ACCOUNTED for and simply disappear in thin air during the Iraq war - and by the LQQKS of things, no one will be going to jail for ripping the nation off.

Yes !, I think the $9 million is well worthy of it.