King Campaign: PPP poll shows Jess King leading Sen. Hopper in recall election

King Campaign: PPP poll shows Jess King leading Sen. Hopper in recall election 6/29/2011 CONTACT: Gillian Morris, Press Secretary (414) 975-0586, gillianm@wisdems.org MADISON -- A new survey released by Public Policy Polling shows Jess King with a 50-47 lead over Sen. Randy Hopper in the upcoming recall election in August. "Voters in every corner of Wisconsin -- including the 18th Senate district -- are rejecting politicians who put the extreme, divisive agenda of Madison party bosses ahead of the people," said Jessica King, candidate for Wisconsin's 18th state Senate district. "This poll confirms what we have known all along: people are dissatisfied with the direction of our state and they want to get rid of politicians who are no longer listening to their constituents." Read more polling information here.

Parades! Vote Early!! Volunteer for Jess King!!! Jess King Yard Signs!!!!

Hello Members and Friends of the Winnebago County Democratic Party!

Campaign season to Recall Hopper and replace with Jess King is in full swing!  We need your help to save Wisconsin’s Working families today!

Parades! 

Neenah / Menasha – July3rd – 7:30 PM – Downtown Menasha

Come out and help set up and show your support for Working Families in Senate President Mike Ellis’ back yard!  We need all available!  This is a great night parade, with all of the entries lit up for display.  Bring a bag of candy to pass!

Oshkosh – July 4^th – 8:00 AM – Oshkosh Convention Center

We need a great contingent of Jess King backers for the parade!  We will be meeting to set up cars at 8:00 AM.  It is important to have a lot of people here, bring a friend! Bring a bag of candy to pass!

Omro – July 4^th – 12:00 PM

After the Oshkosh Parade we will scoot over to Omro (a town Jess won in 2008!) to show our support for Wisconsin’s future and Jess King there!  Please plan on attending both parades!

Vote Early!!

Vote early locations for the July 12^th Recall Primary are open on Monday.  Please grab a few friends and family members and go to your local city hall and vote!  The more people that vote early, the shorter lines are on Election Day, the more people will vote on Election Day.

Volunteer for Jess King for Senate!!!

We have been having good numbers of people calling and knocking for Jess and Wisconsin’s Working Families!  We can always use more.  The best advertising in an election is your story told to your neighbor.  Please contact or come on down to the Winnebago Dems Election HQ and help out!  480 N Main St, Oshkosh, rossa@wisdems.org  or call (920) 664-2417 and Ross will let you know how to get involved!

And if you can not volunteer for Jess, please give to her campaign here: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18658?refcode=WCDP

Find more info on Jess’ campaign here: http://www.jessicakingforsenate.com/

Jess King for Senate Yard Signs are in!!!!

Because the first order went so fast, your Winnebago County Democratic Party has ordered yard signs for Jess King.  Come down and pick one up for your yard.  They are by far the 18^th Senate District’s most fashionable yard accessory.

Because they were ordered by your county party, we are asking for a $5 donation for the signs.  All money will go to expenses to elect Jess King and other great candidates!  If you have any sign wires, please bring them down to the office, we could use them.

Thank you for your support

Thank you for your support in these extraordinary times!  As Jess King said in a recent speech:  “We can't let our communities sink while CEOs take the life rafts.”  It is our time to take Wisconsin back, but we cannot do it without your help.

Stay up to date with news and events from the Winnebago County Democratic Party at our Website: http://www.winnebagodems.org/

Please forward this email to any interested friends or family! 

Any questions? Please contact Ross Allen - rossa@wisdems.org or (920) 664-2417.

Thanks for your time and attention!

Jef Hall

Winnebago County Democratic Party

920.203.6883

jef@jefhall.com

Authorized and Paid for by the Winnebago County Democratic Party – Evelyn Rieckmann, Treasurer

Rally Against the Signing of Scott Walker's and Randy Hopper's budget

Rally Against the Signing of Scott Walker's and Randy Hopper's budget
Monday, June 27 at 10:00am
Location: South Park in Oshkosh (Corner of South Park & Ohio)

Did Gov Scott Walker get his ideas from a 90's sitcom?

What If Everyone Understood Today What Roseanne Understood Then?

Is Randy Hopper eligible to vote July 12th?

According to the new 'Voter ID' law:

Forget about voting in the July 12 recall elections if you move to Wisconsin after June 14.

Under a proof-of-residency provision in the voter ID bill passed this week by the state Legislature, voters will now need to live in the state 28 days before an election -- instead of 10 -- in order to cast a ballot.

Well, we are within the 28 day window, and where would Sen Hopper Vote?  There have been 4 or more recent addresses provided to the media and courts for Sen Hopper's address.

1. In March, it was reported by his wife he was living in Madison:

"It is correct that my husband, Randy Hopper, started an affair in January 2010 with a then-25-year-old Republican aide. This affair has caused great emotional pain for my children and me. Randy moved out, without attempting marital counseling, as of May 2010 and now lives mostly in Madison," she said in the letter.

2. The Hopper Camp then responded that he was maintaining an apartment in Fond du Lac:

Phillips provided The Capital Times with the address where Hopper is living in Fond du Lac on the condition the address would not be made public. He and Rebecca Hogan, Hopper's chief of staff, cited ongoing threats against Hopper and his family as the reason.
According to the online Fond du Lac County property tax map, the address is not an apartment, as Phillips said, but a roughly $600,000 home owned by a high-ranking employee of Hopper's media company, Mountain Dog Media.

3. However, just 6 days shy of the June 14th Voter ID deadline, Randy Hopper declared in legal papers that his residence was back in the home he owns in Fond du Lac:

This is no minor declaration. This is the address Randy Hopper himself declared in the lawsuit he filed against the recall petition.

Party Details
Hopper, Senator Randy - Petitioner
W5192 Rienzi Rd, Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Address Updated On  06-08-2011

This address is in the City of Fond du Lac, Ward 14 according to the Fond du Lac City Ward Map.

4. Now, Sen Hopper is advertising a fundraiser for his campaign at an entirely different address: 

Fundraising reception for Sen. Randy Hopper
6/23/2011 - 7:30 p.m.
Home of State Senator Randy Hopper,
N6429 Danny Lane, Fond du Lac.

This, according to the Fond du Lac County "Property Card" is in the Town of Empire.

Conclusion: Unless Randy Hopper can prove that he moved to the Town of Empire address between 6/9/2011 and 6/14/2011 he is not eligible to vote in his own recall primary on July 12th.

Why does this matter, because in Sen Hopper's own words:

“The purpose of this bill is to protect the Democratic process. Anyone who is eligible to vote in the State of Wisconsin will have the right and opportunity to do so. The bill has been amended to allow voters to use several different forms of identification to prove they are who they say they are and they live where they say they live to make sure that everyone is able to exercise their sacred voting rights,” said Senator Randy Hopper (R-Fond du Lac).
...
Hopper finished by stating, “I was proud to vote for this bill. It will strengthen the integrity of
our election system. When voter fraud occurs, it cheapens our electoral and Democratic
system - one vote for one person.”

Now, am I writing this not just to pick on Sen Hopper (although this is a fun side-effect), but to illustrate the problems with the Voter ID bill.  Unless Randy Hopper took the time to get 4 or more new driver's licenses and make sure that none of these moves occurred within the 28 day period, he may have been ineligible to vote in 4 different elections, according to the Voter ID law.

I would like Senator Randy Hopper to publicly declare that he does not have the right to vote in the July 12th election.  I would like him to indicate that he does not have this right because of family difficulties that have caused confusion in his address.

I would also like him to publicly declare that anyone else in a similar situation should not have the right to vote in a Wisconsin election.

That is what he voted for. 

Ballot Fest for Jess King - Saturday, June 18th!

This Saturday July 18th we are going to have a big rally and canvass at 480 N. Main St in Oshkosh celebrating Jess finally being on the ballot. We are calling it Ballot Fest 2011 and Jessica King will kick off the canvass at 10 am in the office. We are going to make it our biggest canvass yet and want everyone to come to the kickoff at 10 am.

It will be a great chance to talk with Jessica King. She has been working extremely hard making phone calls, knocking on doors and going to events - it will be a great event to build on our momentum.

The Republicans goal with running these fake candidates was to frustrate us and kill our energy. We need to show them that we will not be stopped and we will out work them all the way until Election Day, be it July 12th or August 9th. This election is a must win if we are going to take back the State Senate and stop Walker and Hopper's extreme agenda.

If anyone is unable to knock on doors we will also have phone packets ready to go so to reach voters in all areas of Winnebago County. Also, if anyone is able to make food for the office that would be a big help as well. We want to be able to feed all of our hard working volunteers when they arrive at 10 am and when they return from talking to voters. Please let me know if you are able to join us for knocking, calling or be able to bring a dish to share with the office.

My phone number is 920 664 2417. We will be also sending out a door knocking shift at 2 pm but are strongly encouraging people to come to the 10 am shift so they can get to know Jessica King.

Thanks again everyone, and I look forward to seeing you at Ballot Fest 2011 this Saturday!

--
Ross Allen

A Trip to Fitzwalkerstan

Dear Friend, Perhaps you've been to Fitzwalkerstan lately. We call it that because with the Republicans in charge, Wisconsin looks nothing like the place we all know and love. Right now, Assembly Republicans are taking up their budget that brings their vision of Fitzwalkerstan a lot closer to reality.  And whether it's later tonight or early tomorrow, the Senate Republicans will follow suit in a matter of hours. Can you stand with us and ensure that this is the last budget from Scott Walker and Jeff Fitzgerald? In Fitzwalkerstan, it's acceptable to strip thousands of teachers, nurses and other workers of their basic workplace rights. In Fitzwalkerstan, it's acceptable to gut millions from our education system. And it's acceptable to put transit systems in cities across the state at risk by gutting funding and killing Regional Transit Authorities. In Fitzwalkerstan, these things must be done, and taxes must be increased by nearly $70 million on working and middle class families to help pay for handouts to corporate special interests. These aren't Wisconsin values. Can you contribute just $25 for the next three months to help us fight back and make sure this is the last budget written by Scott Walker and the Fitzgeralds?   In the last few months we've made incredible progress in shining the spotlight on the extremist agenda of Scott Walker and his Republican cronies. Your support today can help us take back the Senate, and ensure we have the resources to continue this critical fight against the Republican agenda in the months ahead. Sincerely, Maggie Brick Executive Director, Democratic Party of Wisconsin P.S. -- Republicans in the Senate and Assembly will almost certainly continue their game of voting down any Democratic amendments to protect our education system.  Please contribute today and help us take a stand against the Walker budget!

Paid for by Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Mike Tate, Chair

110 King Street Suite 203
Madison, WI 53703

Jess King for Senate: We're on the Ballot!

Dear Friend, This week Sen. Randy Hopper will pass the worst budget in Wisconsin history. That's why Tuesday I officially filed papers to run against Sen. Hopper and his radical agenda in the recall election on August 9. There is so much at stake in this recall election, we must stand up to Walker and Hopper's extreme plan.  Will you help our campaign to reject Sen. Hopper's radical agenda? Please contribute $50, $100, or $250 today to tell Randy Hopper we've had enough and we want our values back. This Republican budget is an assault on working men and women across our state.  It forces the middle class to shoulder the burden for the deficit. This state budget guts the key priorities we know are so important -- education, women's health care, help for seniors and public safety. And all the while it gives away more than $300 million in sweetheart tax deals to the privileged and large corporations. Make a contribution today of $25, $50, or $100 to tell Randy Hopper that we we need a budget that invests in priorities that strengthen Wisconsin, not giveaways that line the pockets of big corporations. I'm running to put the people first, not corporate or special interests.   With your help, our powerful message will be heard from Oshkosh to Rosendale to Empire. Sincerely, Jess KingP.S. Please give whatever you have to help spread our message.  Contribute | www.jessicakingforsenate.com

Authorized and Paid for by Friends of Jessica King, Vicky Fitzgerald, Treasurer.

PO Box 632
Oshkosh, WI 54903

Oshkosh Tax Avoider Hosts Fundraiser for Tax Avoider Randy Hopper - Hopper Paid State Income Tax Once in 10 Years

For Immediate Release June 15, 2011 Contact: Cody Oliphant Phone: 608-204-0677 Oshkosh Tax Avoider Hosts Fundraiser for Tax Avoider Randy Hopper Hopper Paid State Income Tax Once in 10 Years Madison -- State Sen. Randy Hopper, who paid state net income tax but once over a 10-year period, is having a big money fundraiser this evening hosted by a developer who was sued by the City of Oshkosh for non-payment of $328,000 in property taxes owed. Hopper is being feted by Oshkosh developer Ben Ganther, who in 2007 settled with the city for half of the tax bill he owed after refusing to pay property taxes for a development project that included $2.2 million in taxpayer-funded public dollars. “Birds of a feather really do avoid taxes together,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “Randy Hopper doesn’t think corporations and rich people like himself should have to play by the same rules as middle class taxpayers and it’s going to cost us $2.3 billion over the next 10 years.” Hopper was a chief architect of the state budget, currently before the legislature, that guts public education by $1.6 billion, slashes the University of Wisconsin System by $250 million, cuts $71 million from the Technical College System and raises taxes on the working poor by $60 million. Hopper has supported plans for tax breaks for corporations and the rich that according to the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, will cost taxpayers $2.3 billion in the next decade [Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, 6/11/11] In addition to these plans, Hopper has introduced legislation to repeal recent changes to the state's generous capital gains loophole and end capital gains taxes all together in three years at an annual cost of $250 million a year. Hopper has also authored a discredited scheme to hand out as much as $400 million in unaccountable financial sector tax breaks. [Legislative Fiscal Bureau, Act 28, 8/09; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/29/11] Hopper’s near-decade of tax avoidance was first uncovered by One Wisconsin Now in 2008. An article at the time noted that Hopper not only paid state income tax just once in ten years, but also had three businesses, which also paid no net state income tax. According to the article, "In 2006 he paid $22,752 in state tax due, he said, to capital gains from the sale of one of the two radio stations he owns in Sheboygan." [Fond du Lac Reporter, 10/24/08] A 2011 analysis by the Institute for One Wisconsin, entitled “We’re Not Broke” showed through current loopholes and shelters, that two-thirds of Wisconsin corporations pay no state income taxes. “All of these issue raise the question, how much less than nothing does Randy Hopper thing big corporations should pay?” asked Ross. “Randy Hopper’s idea of ‘shared sacrifice’ is that the middle class and our kids sacrifice and big corporation share our tax dollars.”

# # #  One Wisconsin Now is a statewide communications network specializing in effective earned media and online organizing to advance progressive leadership and values.

Media Inquiries: (608) 204-0677 | Email: own@onewisconsinnow.org One Wisconsin Now | Unsubscribe One Wisconsin Now. © 2011 All rights reserved.

Normalizing the Outrageous

Normalizing the Outrageous

MADISON-Following is the statement of Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate following breaking news that redistricting legislation will be inserted into the extraordinary session of the Legislature.

"Wisconsin's redistricting process has never gone forward under such a dark ethical cloud. Conceived in darkness and obscured from the voters, this heinous redistricting plot now is foisted on Wisconsin as a fait accompli.
Never before in Wisconsin's modern history has the process taken place without local participation and the creation of wards. Never before have the people of this state had so substantial a decision made in such an absence of democratic principle.
Paul Ryan and Scott Walker and his lapdog Legislature have normalized the outrageous. In saner times, any of the many activities undertaken by Ryan, Walker and the Fitzgerald Brothers would be cause for alarm and righteous anger. Now, it's merely Monday."

Rep Michelle Litjens, Landlord, is looking for cosponsors of LRB 1393 eliminating landlord responsibility for tenant utility bills...

1.   Collecting Delinquent Tenant Utility Bills. Rep. Jacque (R-Bellevue) and Rep. Litjens (R-Oshkosh) are seeking co-sponsors for LRB 1393/1, proposed legislation eliminating the ability of  municipally-owned utilities to place a tenant's unpaid utility bill on the landlord's property tax bill.  Municipal utilities have used this tool for collecting delinquencies for the past one hundred years. We believe current law provides landlords with sufficient notice such that they will become aware of problem tenants with ample time to correct the situation.  Removing this municipal collection tool will mean one thing - higher utility rates for all of the other customers in the community. 

Statement of DPW Chair Mike Tate on GOP Recall Election Dirty Tricks

Statement of DPW Chair Mike Tate on GOP Recall Election Dirty Tricks

MADISON -- The following is a statement from DPW Chair Mike Tate on the GOP recall election dirty tricks.

"The unprecedented Republican manipulation of these recall elections has compelled a number of people to urge a level playing field by running fake candidates in GOP primaries.

"We cannot and will not stoop to the Republicans' level by encouraging candidates to lie about their party affiliation, or recommending that people try to deceive voters. We never have done that, and won’t start now. This is something that every single one of our six challengers has said they adamantly oppose. Fred Clark, Jess King, Shelly Moore, Nancy Nusbaum, Jen Shilling and Sandy Pasch -- along with Senator Miller -- all contacted the party over the last 24 hours to make it crystal clear this was absolutely the wrong tactic.

"At the same time, these phony GOP primary candidacies have in essence allowed the Republicans to seize the ability to call these elections at a date of their choosing. They can pick and choose which sham primaries to force. That's wrong. Selecting an election day is a responsibility that should fall to an independent, nonpartisan agency looking out for the people of Wisconsin -- not to a political party gaming the system for partisan gain. This transparent GOP conspiracy has cheated the people of protections against such dirty tricks.

"That is why we must guarantee these primary and general election dates move forward. The only way to do that in the face of these deplorable Republican tactics is by ensuring Democratic primaries with placeholders.

"This approach will keep the Republicans honest – an increasingly difficult task given the stunts they've pulled. It sends a clear statement that the GOP attempts to exploit the political process won't be tolerated.  It also ensures a much fairer process than what Republicans have concocted with their dirty tricks, as well as reduces confusion among voters about when recall elections will take place.

"No one likes where Republicans have taken this process.  The fight for Wisconsin is too important to have one hand tied behind our back."

###

Winnebago County Dems endorse Jess King for 18th Senate District!

For Immediate Release                                                                       Contact: Sara Stichert

June 9, 2011                                                                                                    920-420-4290

Winnebago County Democratic Party Endorses Jessica King for 18^th Senate District Seat

OSHKOSH- Members of the Winnebago County Democratic Party unanimously endorsed candidate Jessica King for the 18th Senate District seat in the 2011 recall elections at the monthly membership meeting June 8. 

“We feel that Jessica King would bring a fresh vision to the office.  Jessica’s personal story is a stark contrast to that of Senator Hopper.  She has not forgotten her roots as evidenced by her commitment to helping others recover from personal problems with her law practice in Oshkosh and her involvement with groups in the community”, said Sara Stichert, chair of the Winnebago County Democratic Party.  

“Jessica’s work on the Oshkosh city council demonstrates her ability to work across party lines for the good of all Wisconsin citizens. Our current representative is not listening to the voters of his district and is a rubberstamp for the radical Walker agenda. Jessica will listen to her constituents and will work to balance the budget fairly, not on the backs of working families,” continued Stichert.

###

Phony Elections

Dear Friend, The Republicans have finally shown their true colors. According to news reports, the GOP is circulating petitions for a known friend and donor of Randy Hopper - to run as a Democrat in a Democratic Primary.  Republican candidates are ready and willing to waste taxpayer money on phony elections to create confusion and dodge accountability. This just shows that the Republicans are scared to face the voters because they put an extreme, divisive agenda ahead of the people. They gutted priorities like schools, seniors and health care - while giving huge tax breaks to the privileged and large corporations. Will you contribute $15, $35, $70 or whatever you can afford, to ensure that the people’s voices are heard -- not shut out by scheming GOP party bosses? 170,00 people signed the recall petitions of 6 Republican Senators, including 23,000 in the 18th Senate District. This was a movement by the people to restore good government that has now been hijacked by the Republican’s dirty tactics. Putting an end to these types of dirty tactics is exactly what the recall petitions stood for. The 18th Senate District deserves someone willing to fight for good government. Please help me stand up for the voice of Wisconsinites with a contribution of $15, $35, $70 or whatever you can afford. Your support will go a long way in ensuring that honesty and integrity is restored to Madison. With your help, I know we can stand up to these underhanded tactics by Republicans like Randy Hopper, and restore our shared Wisconsin values! Sincerely, Jess King P.S. There's no time to waste. While they play dirty tricks, we'll be winning elections. Please contribute $50, $30, $20 or whatever you can do right now to ensure we are victorious   Contribute

Authorized and Paid for by Friends of Jessica King, Vicky Fitzgerald, Treasurer.

PO Box 632
Oshkosh, WI 54903

Nixon?

Dear Friend,  The GOP will do anything to win this election. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Republican Party of Wisconsin is so afraid to face the voters in the recall elections, so worried about losing after they supported an extreme, divisive agenda, that they are resorting to dirty tricks. The GOP is seeking out members of its own party to run as “fake democrats” to force democratic primaries this July, and push the General Election back one month. They know they are close to losing the Senate and time isn’t on their side so they’ve once again resorted to dirty tricks to win. It’s time to say enough is enough. Sign up to volunteer today and help us spread the word about these dirty tricks, and show the public what the Republicans really stand for. In a letter sent to “fellow conservatives,” local GOP Party bosses wrote: "We need to make sure Democrat challengers face primaries to allow our Republicans time to mount a campaign….A Democratic primary will push the general election back by one month, so that Senator Hopper can have more time to organize a campaign against his liberal challenger." Don't let dirty, Nixonian tactics by those who want to derail democracy win.Stand up to ensure our voices are heard. Sign up to volunteer today to show that our movement is based on a Wisconsin values, not the dirty tricks and politics-as-usual that the radical Republicans are exhibiting. Over 170,000 people signed recall petitions against Republicans because they felt that their Senators had stopped representing them. This latest move by the GOP has proven beyond a doubt that the time for change is now. Volunteer today to send a message that these dirty tricks are not the Wisconsin way. In solidarity,  Mark Miller Senate Minority Leader P.s. Every phone call to a voter counts, please sign up to phone bank today to get our message out to people all over Wisconsin.

Paid for by Wisconsin State Senate Democratic Committee, Jon Erpenbach, Treasurer, and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, Mike Tate, Chair.

110 King St.
Madison, WI 53701

WisDems: Memo from Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Mike Tate on Republican's phony recall primary elections

WisDems: Memo from Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chairman Mike Tate on Republican's phony recall primary elections
6/7/2011 

Gillian Morris, Press Secretary 
(414) 975-0586 
gillianm@wisdems.org 

Recent reports that the Republican Party of Wisconsin is recruiting Republicans to run as phony Democrats in order to trigger sham primaries in the recall elections this summer are disturbing. This partisan plot is bad for Wisconsin, and must be stopped for several reasons, outlined below.

The Republican senators who stand to benefit from this cynical dirty trick that would make Nixon proud must tell their Republican leaders to shut this scheme down immediately:

Voters will be Deliberately Misled and Confused. Voters going to the polls have a reasonable expectation that the candidates who are listed on the ballot as 'Democrat' or 'Republican' are actually members of that party and/or are committed to the values and policies of that party. This dirty trick will result in citizens who wish to vote for a Democrat potentially voting for a Republican – exactly the kind of chaos and confusion the masterminds of this scheme are hoping for. This scam is a coordinated, official documented effort to delay and mislead across the board and threaten ballot integrity. The Republicans are freely admitting they seek to mislead voters into withholding votes from Democrats. This should not not be tolerated. 

Conspiracy will Delay, and Threaten to Derail, Democracy.

Approximately 170,000 voters in Wisconsin followed the law and signed petitions to recall six GOP senators because the people weren't being heard. The Government Accountability Board has certified these recalls, six legitimate Democratic challengers have announced their candidacies, and an election day – July 12th – has been set.

This GOP plot to run sham Democratic primary challengers is clearly part of a larger GOP strategy to delay and obstruct these elections for as long as possible and by any means available. This was demonstrated with the ridiculously absurd GOP legal challenges to legitimate petitions against GOP senators that have been summarily dismissed, as well as the systemic election fraud perpetrated by vendors hired by the RPW to gather signatures through deceit and fraud. 

Waste of taxpayer money.

Adding a slate of phony primaries to the recall schedule this summer would force taxpayers to pay for these needless, sham elections. Estimates show the cost to taxpayers for fake primaries to be at least tens of thousands of dollars. One election official predicted each primary election would cost $10,000 (Fond du Lac Reporter, 6/7/11) – or at least $60,000 for six fake primaries. Another estimate put the cost of each of these types of elections "...minimally, thousands of dollars in a smaller county. Larger counties, possibly tens or hundreds of thousands" (Milwaukee Public Television, 4/22/11). 

"It's getting very costly for the taxpayers," said Fond du Lac County Clerk Lisa Freiberg (Fond du Lac Reporter, 6/7/11).

Unprecedented.

A vast, coordinated, calculated strategy by one party to run fake candidates in the primaries of another party for the sole purpose to confuse voters and delay legally-certified elections is unprecedented in Wisconsin history. This plot sinks the political discourse in Wisconsin to a new low.

GOP hypocrisy.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that just last fall – merely a few months ago – leaders of the Republican Party of Wisconsin called the tactic of running sham candidates "a 'nasty, cynical ploy' to try to rig an election" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/7/11). That Republicans would turn around and completely contradict themselves in a matter of months is a stunning example of hypocrisy. 

Dirty trick only politically motivated. According to news reports, "...the spoiler candidates could launch negative attacks on the Democrats while the Republican incumbents remain above the fray" (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 6/7/11). Clearly the only purpose is to help Republican politicians – not to meet any needs or interests of Wisconsin voters.

For all of these reasons, the calculated conspiracy to run Republicans as phony Democrats to force sham primaries is bad for Democracy in Wisconsin.

The six GOP senators facing recalls, as well as state leaders of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, and Gov. Scott Walker, must act now to shut down this cynical plot.

Statement of Democratic Senate Leader Mark Miller on Stunning GOP Dirty Tricks to Derail Democracy

Statement of Democratic Senate Leader Mark Miller on Stunning GOP Dirty Tricks to Derail Democracy

MADISON -- The following is a statement from Democratic Senate Leader Mark Miller on the stunning GOP dirty tricks to derail democracy in these recall elections.

"Republican Senators are terrified to face the voters in the recall elections because they know the people will reject their extreme, divisive agenda that guts priorities like schools, help for seniors and health care -- while giving huge tax breaks to the privileged and large corporations.

"That's why these GOP Senators will do anything to avoid being held accountable.  Now they're resorting to dirty tricks -- like running Republicans as Democrats in Democratic primaries -- to deny democracy. The purpose is clear -- delay elections, create confusion and chaos, and ultimately avoid being judged by the voters in the recall elections.

"These dirty Nixonion tactics have no place in Wisconsin. And we don't need to waste taxpayer money on phony elections to help these Republicans duck the voters and needlessly delay these elections. 170,000 people signed petitions to recall six GOP senators.  They deserve to have their voice heard -- not shut out by scheming GOP party bosses conspiring in backrooms.

"Senators Harsdorf, Hopper, Kapanke and Olsen must use their positions within the Republican Party to shutdown this disgraceful attempt to hijack these recall elections, or explain to the voters why they approve of these dirty tactics.  Senators Darling, and Cowles must pledge to oppose any similar tactics in their district, as must Republicans in the 12th, 22nd and 30th Senate Districts - should those elections be called.

"And the Republican Party of Wisconsin must immediately shut down this partisan, coordinated attack on democracy that wastes taxpayer dollars."

Justice Delayed for Senator Hansen

Dear Jeffery, As the former chairman of the Brown County Democratic Party, I worked hard as a volunteer on Senator Dave Hansen's team helping to organize the challenge against the illegitimate recall effort.  Earlier this week, the State's Government Accountability Board (GAB) was supposed to have heard the presentation of the evidence of fraud that dominated the recall effort against Senator Hansen.  As the Senator previously shared, we have documented paid solicitors trying to hide their whereabouts by providing false home addresses.  We have also collected sworn affidavits of many voters who stated that these paid solicitors lied about the actual purpose of the petition. Disappointingly, for reasons that aren't altogether clear, the GAB has postponed Senator Hansen's hearing along with those of two other Senators.  Not surprisingly, those two other Senators also happen to be the other Democrats who are under attack by these corporate sponsored recall forces. Frankly, this shouldn't be all that difficult a decision for the GAB.  I have no idea why this is taking so long.  After all, it was Senator Hansen's team that had to do the bulk of the hard work.  The GAB did NOT verify that those who signed the petition actually live in the district.  They required that Senator Hansen's team individually map out every address if we wanted to challenge addresses as being outside the district. The GAB did NOT verify the authenticity of signatures.  They required that Senator Hansen's team check with voters if we wanted to ferret out the fraud perpetrated by the recall organizers. The GAB did NOT verify that those who signed are legally permitted to vote in Wisconsin.  They required that Senator Hansen's team compare each name with various voters lists if we wanted to ensure that only legal voters signed the petition. The GAB expected Senator Hansen to conduct this massive review of thousands of pages of recall documents - and they gave him just a short 10 DAYS to do it.  So Senator Hansen called upon our community of volunteers to supplement his tiny campaign staff - and we did what the recall forces thought was impossible.  In just 10 days, we identified 5,552 signatures that were fraudulent or otherwise invalid.  Senator Hansen presented the case in writing to the GAB on May 5th, in advance of a public hearing that was to occur shortly thereafter. Yet the GAB has already spent 4 WEEKS looking over our evidence - and now they tell us they need more time!  All they have to do is review what we presented - it was Senator Hansen's team that had to do the hard work documenting everything.  Imagine how much more fraud we might have discovered if we had 4 weeks to review the petitions instead of just 10 days!  Thank goodness I'm not one to believe in conspiracy theories or I just might begin to get a bit suspicious. The GAB has issued a statement that Senator Hansen might be able to present the evidence at a public hearing that could possibly occur "later in the week of June 6" - despite a court order that the GAB finish their work before then.  Let's just hope that when they finally do hear the evidence in an open hearing, they adhere to both state and federal law and respect well-established legal precedent. In other words, let's hope that the GAB actually invalidates the invalid signatures. Thank you for standing with Senator Hansen during these fraudulent recall attacks.  They're after him because he refused to to do the bidding of big business.  I've known the Senator for years and I can tell you that he's just a working man who's trying to work hard for folks like us. Tom Sieber, Former Chairman of the Brown County Democratic Party and a volunteer with Friends of Dave Hansen CONTRIBUTE!       VOLUNTEER!       HANSEN FOR SENATE!

Paid for by Friends of Dave Hansen, Jane Hansen, Treasurer

3489 Blackwolf Run
Green Bay, WI 54311