MacIver News Service | November 29, 2011
[Madison, Wisc…] The state board overseeing the potential recall election of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker tells the MacIver News Service that they will rely upon temporary workers to scrutinize recall petitions and those individuals will not be expected to catch any duplicate signatures submitted by recall organizers.
This revelation comes as one statewide liberal group is actively promoting the collection of duplicate signatures, paving the way for a lengthy process wherein Walker supporters will challenge the validity of the recall petitions.
Screen shot from One Wisconsin Now's website
One Wisconsin Now, a liberal non-profit, posted on its website “You can circulate or sign a recall petition even if you have already signed another recall petition.”
This advice, however, will complicate the signature challenge process and runs counter to the advice of nonpartisan state election regulators.
“While it is not illegal to sign more than once, we do not suggest people sign a second time unless they have good reason to believe the first petition they signed was somehow fraudulent,” Reid Magney, GAB Spokesman.
One Wisconsin Now follows their advice with this disclaimer: “[N]ote, however, that only one signature per person will be counted.”
That is not necessarily true.
Magney told MNS said that the pro-union groups obtaining recall signatures will be expected to self-police the collection of duplicate signatures.
However, neither the state Democratic Party nor the pro-labor organizations steering the recall drive have disclosed any process by which they will identify and discard the duplicate signatures they obtain.
Recall organizers announced Monday that they have collected 300,000 of the 540,000 signatures necessary to trigger a recall election of Walker. Until those signatures are actually submitted to the GAB, however, there is no way to verify that claim or determine whether that figure includes duplicate signatures. Even then, it will be up to outside groups like the Walker campaign or the state Republican Party to sort through the signatures to find any invalid and/or duplicate signatures.
Until the signatures are submitted and independently checked, there is no way to know how many people are heeding One Wisconsin Now’s advice.
Magney noted the GAB will flag duplicate signatures in the event they easily discover them. However, the GAB will not be entering the hand-written information into a searchable database to check for duplicates. The recall committee and the incumbent targeted for recall are the ones primarily responsible for catching the extra signatures, he said.
“It is in the recall committee’s interest to identify and eliminate duplicate signatures because duplicates would inflate the numbers and make them more vulnerable to challenge by the incumbent,” said Magney.
Recall groups have stated their goal is to collect 700,000 by the January 17 deadline. They need to obtain 540,208 valid signatures to trigger a recall.
Further complicating the review of the signatures, the GAB plans to hire temporary workers to perform these duties under the supervision of regular GAB staff. The temps will be hired through agencies that have contracts with the Department of Administration, according to the GAB.
As of November 17, the GAB estimated the cost of reviewing the petitions will be at least $625,699. This figure does not include the cost borne by municipal county and state government to hold the recall election.
Posted in News | November 29, 2011 | | 38 Comments
“However, neither the state Democratic Party nor the pro-labor organizations steering the recall drive have disclosed any process by which they will identify and discard the duplicate signatures they obtain.”
This is YARWL: Yet Another Reich Wing Lie.
They lie by implication, by preference, as they do here — voicing a complaint that has no existence in the REAL world; but trying to leave the reader with the IMPRESSION that there is a problem where there is none.
To wit, neither the State Democratic Party, nor the “pro-labor organizations” — nor anyone else, for that matter, besides the official state agency who the signatures will be turned into — have any reason (besides niceness, if that applies) to go through the signatures themselves to find the assumed dupes. The State does all that anyway — whether or NOT it is done before that by anyone else.
And to say that the recallers SHOULD do that … is like blaming a 911 caller for the commission of whatever crime they are reporting! Not only is it brain-dead, but it assumes that the people reading this lie are ALSO brain-dead (maybe a good assumption).
The petitions WILL BE dupe-screened, BY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED AND EQUIPPED TO DO THE SCREENING!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lD9HiwRKTE&feature=share
If its working for Wisconsin, and about its all about Wisconsin, then why use the images of supposedly folks in the AD are Wisconsinites…?
NOPE Here is an example of the waving family on the bridge clip BOUGHT from its working AD Campaign: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-video-10268583-family-on-bridge-waves.php?st=aa948f8:
Clip is from http://www.uberstock.com…a/ company located in Oregon.
Keeping jobs in Wisconsin, huh? Interesting GOOD TO KNOW …The facts remains is that jobs have declined since his bill passed legislation, with over 9700 reported in October alone…so, “What’s Working?”… apparently these 9700 who are mourning since October are not.
Bob Balow Reply:
December 6th, 2011 at 3:21 PM
Dear Sarah,
It is true that Wisconsin has lost jobs but you must also consider the whole picture in that the U. S. has been also been losing jobs. The national unemployment is over 8.5% while Wisconsin is under 7.5%. Wisconsin is promoting a return to a strong manufacturing base that is good for the middle class and higher wages. The tourist industry is critical for northern Wisconsin and has also receiving additional promotion by the state. We are doing positive things to improve our Wisconsin economy. Keep a positive outlook and do your part. What can you do for your state in a positive way?
I wish you the best.
Democrats will probably enter all of the names and addresses into a database to improve the grass roots movement during the recall election. They will not turn in the forms until they know there at least 750k valid names and signatures. This will put them in position to challenge any and all claims of duplicate signatures.
BTW, most of the signatures are being collected by volunteers. If the republicans want to put the names into a database, why not set up a group of 2000 volunteers in a big auditorium, enter 20 names per hour for 20 hours (two weekend days) to get 800000 names in a database to cross-check for the possibility that 250,000 people double-signed. David Koch could supply the Ian’s pizza, nazi war footage could be piped in to keep everyone motivated, and everyone could goosestep out of the building when the project is finished.
leron Reply:
December 5th, 2011 at 4:07 PM
I was with you right up until you played the Nazi card. Karl, Karl, Karl….
Lightning Joe Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 11:36 AM
This never-play-the-Nazi-card meme of yours works well … UNTIL there are people in the game who ARE acting just like the Nazis did in their own run-up to power.
The tactics shown by the Rich Reich today are NOT far afield from that. The only thing missing is Labor leaders being thrown down stairs by the Brownshirts.
I say we need to err on the side of caution here, and NOT eschew reminding people of the encroaching fascist absolutism coming on our society. To put off mentioning it, JUST BECAUSE WE DON’T LIKE TO TALK ABOUT NAZIS is just as brainless as believing that everything Karl Rove tells us is true…
Lets try something … you respond to this post, while NOT mentioning, even indirectly, anything I said … see how hard that is?
We are part of a democratic process. Scott Walker was elected by a majority of votes to be the governor of Wisconsin. The liberals and unions want a recall because they do not like his policy. Where do the rights of the voters start? We already voted. If you don’t like his policies, then vote for the other guy IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
Richard Moses Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 3:11 PM
Gee, Walker used to be in favor of recall elections . . . .
leron Reply:
December 5th, 2011 at 4:09 PM
Sorry, Ted, the recall process is part of the democratic process, at least for now.
You’re not one of the people who put up Sore Loserman signs in 2000, are you?
Does anyone know if we can have all of the forms posted on the web as they come in so that we can use crwod sourcing to look for duplicates and obvious fraud?
Nomre, even good OCRs have a problem with poor handwriting.
Only one vote? That’s a joke. I think that the Supreme Court election demonstrated the only way to have even close to a fair election is to hold Brookfield’s results secret until after Milwaukee reports their final count. Even with that, Milwaukee managed to find just enough votes to stick the tax payers with the bill for the recount.
And please don’t forget the union members and sympathizers that are being bussed in from around the country that are told that they only have to be here 28 days to be eligible to vote.
I’m sorry libs, but since I moved here in 94, I’ve watched the Chicago style machine polotics infect more and more of Wisconsin.
By the way, I was watching Brian Greene’s science series on PBS and noticed that it received funding from the Koch Foundation. I guess all you good libs will have to stop watching it.
This reply is for anyone who actually cares how this whole process works. Maybe this way everybody can fight about the truth instead of some made up “facts”.
Read the actual government requirements before spouting misinformation….
The filing officer is required to determine the sufficiency of the petition within 31 days after the petition is “offered for filing.”
§9.10(3)(b), Wis. Stats.
If a challenge is filed within 10 days after the petition is “offered for filing,” the following schedule for a rebuttal, reply, and final
sufficiency determination totals the maximum 31 days for determining sufficiency of the petition.
Within 5 days after a challenge is filed, the petitioner may file, with the filing officer, a written
rebuttal to the challenge.
Within 2 days after the filing of a rebuttal, the officeholder may file a reply to any new matter raised in the rebuttal.
Within 14 days after the expiration of time allowed for the officeholder to file a reply to the rebuttal, the filing officer shall file the certificate of sufficiency/insufficiency.
Read about the whole process here….
http://gab.wi.gov/sites/default/files/publication/65/recall_manual_for_congressiona_county_and_state__82919.pdf
Lefty is also known as Shifty. They post to sign duplicates becaue they will lie, cheat and steal to get their way. Where would one find a “fraudulent” petition? If this is happening so much, why can they not find someone doing it?
Aw, poor Koch-heads… trying to gin up a fake scandal where non exists. The fact is, the majority of Wisconsinites wants Scotty out of there, and United Wisconsin is going to collect several hundred thousand MORE signatures than are necessary.
EVERYONE has the right to collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions, and the REAL grassroots of Wisconsin (much like the good people of Ohio did a few weeks back) are going to make that point loud and clear in the spring.
Rod M Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:15 AM
Um, no. Collective bargaining is not a right, it’s An expensive entitlement
Dan Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 11:01 AM
Thank you. My mom is a teacher and I am for what walker has done. I am also on pace to get an expensive foot surgery this year and the change in insurance has done nothing to alter that scheduled surgery. I also was able to spend an extra day with my mom because she didn’t have to attend a WEA teachers union convention last wed. Thank you Scott Walker. Your reform is working.
Lightning Joe Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 11:42 AM
So I guess this Scott thing is working out well for you; since you don’t seem to care about your mom’s wages or job security, and YOU will still get your scheduled surgery…
Of course, your MOM’s opinion is what’s missing, here…
Richard Moses Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 3:12 PM
Hey buddy, just cause you don’t three degrees and get paid crap, don’t blame unions.
IM4ULORD Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:52 AM
Pointus, step away from the glue! It is really affecting your though process.
Harry K Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 8:24 AM
Pointus, you must be one of those teachers that we couldn’t fire in the past because you suck at teaching!
Richard Moses Reply:
December 3rd, 2011 at 3:19 PM
Any principal at any school can document a bad teacher and get rid of them. They just need the will. Unions will not get in the way of ridding the system of horrible teachers. It’s bad for everyone. That’s been my experience that it is the superintendants and principals who don’t want to rock the boat. Many times teachers complain about other teachers who are terrible and wish someone with power would do something. they don’t.
They still won’t. Without collective bargaining, it will be economically driven, not ability. Expensive teachers will get ditched in favor of cheap, inexperienced teachers. The brain drain has already begun. It isn’t just for Wall Street anymore. Furthermore, don’t kid yourself about merit pay. It will never happen.
richard Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 10:40 AM
poor liberal tool, trying to continue feeding at the public trough even when its killing the state. your a leech and your going to get burned off
brad Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 11:55 AM
majority of wisconsinites? just because you surround your self with other libs doesn’t mean everyone feels the same as you.
Lightning Joe Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 11:44 AM
Have you counted, lately? Seems that YOU are the one who should be panicking…
Luonne Dumak Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 12:15 AM
There is nothing in the Constitution or the Bill Of Rights that says there is a right to collective bargining. It is a privilege and when people abuse the privilege then steps must be taken to disallow that privilege. It doesn’t take an I.Q, of 180 to see the damage the Unions and their greed that is bankrupting Cal. Mi, Ill. N.J and N.Y. Thanks to the last Gov.Jim(the crook) Doyle, that put us on the track to this disaster of debt. He had a choice to lay off many Government workers like the States mentioned before or have them pay a small amount toward their benefits. I don’t know where in State law it says that the taxpayers in the private sector have to pay for the Government health care or pension. I know that the city I live in saved 30 theachers jobs because of what Gov. Walker did. Are you all against saving jobs or do you just care about yourselfs? So much for solitarity.
Lightning Joe Reply:
December 7th, 2011 at 11:49 AM
“There is nothing in the Constitution or the Bill Of Rights that says there is a right to collective bargining.”
The only person who ever even MENTIONED a so-called “right” to collective bargaining was YOU, right HERE.
No — what Unions hinge on is the idea of a CONTRACT — collectively arrived at by both the workers (TOGETHER)and the employers.
What do you have against duly-negotiated contracts? Business RUNS on contracts. What YOU don’t like it the idea of collective bargaining in general. Split up the workers into one-worker units, and you have them where you want them — NOT up to bargaining with much richer companies.
Nice that MacIver Institute is Koch Industries. I could care less what they have to say
richard Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 11:29 PM
and your who? show some lies in the article. show documentation supporting your stance. instead of same old alinsky move of
insulting the person
For heaven sake. The only reason the Dems suggested that signing two petitions might be necessary was because of all the Republicans who have been threatening to collect signatures and burn or destroy them. The message was, “If you think you signed a fake petition, it’s ok to sign another one just in case.” No one is promoting that we all sign multiple times, and this article is just plain wrong. Good grief, when will the Republicans understand that THEY are the ones promoting the bad behavior? They run “fake dems” in last summer’s recall, that cost us $500,000, and then they complain because of the cost of recalls? really? Where’s the report on all your peeps encouraging burning petitions, a felony? Nowhere, of course. Blame it on the unions.
richard Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 11:24 PM
i would like to see proof that republicans are threatening to burn petitions. acting the victim (classic liberal action) doesnt make you a victim.
Pointus Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 12:45 AM
From Caledonia Patch newspaper (Covering Caledonia and Wind Point, Wisconsin):
“Wisconsin recall supporters outed an anonymous Facebook group called Operation Burn Notice on Tuesday as a coordinated effort designed to destroy petitions signed to force Gov. Scott Walker and other Wisconsin Republicans out of office.”
http://caledonia.patch.com/articles/pro-recall-group-outs-facebook-page-that-boasts-about-destroying-signatures
IM4ULORD Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 7:54 AM
It was democrats acting as republicans, making those comments. Eeryone knows the dems are the lying cheats.
Funny how this problem did not crop up in the last wave of recalls.
ROFL! If you actually think the Dem Party of Wisconsin would risk turning in thousands of duplicate signatures and thus fall short of the number needed to trigger a recall election, you are DREAMING. They’ve got at least 300,000 bona fide signatures now, and they’ll have many more bona fide signatures than they’ll need by the end of this signature window…and MacIver “News Service” knows this very well.
richard Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 11:26 PM
riiight the DNC has never involved itself in fraud to get what it wants,,,,,
And with that…the dems head to the copy machine.
Brucef Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 2:35 PM
so they win the battle but lose the war……….. they can sign the petitions as many times as they want but they can only VOTE once…….. the irony here is that they’ll have a misguided expectation to win a recall and may cry ‘foul’ when they dont have success……… in fact, its better this way if you back Walker… they’ll feel over confident by their own data…… another example of unintended consequences with an interesting cycle of events….
Nomorescooter Reply:
November 29th, 2011 at 9:37 PM
If the was a real news service it would point out that it is Walker’s job to challenge signatures, not the recall staff. The GAB provides the signatures in Electronic format and a single OCR expert can easily populate a database and filter it for duplicates all in a single day. This is just more garbage by a political party who has irked lifelong Republicans like myself. Quit acting like a party of computer illiterates and hire yourself a DBA for a day to search signatures against voter registration records.
CJinMadison Reply:
December 1st, 2011 at 8:13 AM
I think you’re right: It’s Walker’s job.
1) So does that mean you are NOT interested in the integrity of the recall process. Whatever you think of the man, we are all still part of a democratic process, where the Vote is EVERYTHING. If you don’t abide by the results of the original election (as evidenced by your insistence on the recall)… if you don’t care about the validity of these signatures (“It’s Walker’s job, not ours to proof the signatures”)… then, you’ll forgive me for accusing you of being anti-American.
2) And, the Walker campaign will get exactly 10 days to validate what could be 40,000 pages of signatures. Again, you don’t seem too concerned about the legitimacy of the entire process. You just seem concerned about getting your way. So, you’ll forgive me for calling you a petulant little child.