Politics & Government

Recall Tracker: Unusual Protest, Firefighters Back Pasch and More

A recap of news and events surrounding the Alberta Darling and Sandy Pasch race for Wisconsin's 8th Senate District, and other recall news.

Protesters Stage 'Funeral' Outside Darling's HQ

On Thursday, We Are Wisconsin members staged a funeral outside the Darling campaign office in Glendale, complete with a hearse, coffins and pallbearers.

The group said the ceremony was done to shed light on the future of  Medicare and Medicaid, which are "deeply threatened by Paul Ryan’s budget plan, which Senator Darling supports."

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However, Darling's campaign office said the protesters were barking up the wrong tree.

“Either today’s protesters are trying to mislead and confuse the voters, or they don’t know what a state senator does,” campaign manager Andrew Davis said. “Medicare is a federal issue. Senator Darling’s focus has always been on and will continue to be getting Wisconsinites back to work. If the policies of Jim Doyle and Sandy Pasch were allowed to continue, the only thing we’d be holding a funeral for would be Wisconsin’s job market.”

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Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Support Pasch

The Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, a group of nearly 3,000 firefighters across that state, has announced that it is endorsing Democratic state Rep. Sandy Pasch over incumbent Republican Sen. Alberta Darling in the 8th District Senate recall race.

PFFW State President Mahlon Mitchell says it's Pasch's concern for collective bargaining, not just for public, but private sector employees and her fight for that right that the PFFW supports her. 

“We know she will be there to fight against efforts that others might make to take away even more rights, including collective bargaining rights for our brothers and sisters in the private sector," Mitchell said.

Teachers Union Makes Big Ad Buy

The MacIver Institute, a Wisconsin-based think tank, reports that the Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin’s largest teachers union, spent nearly a half million dollars in one day on behalf of Democratic candidates through their political action committee.

According to records on file at the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, on July 22 WEAC PAC spent $424,000 on a radio ad buy to support two Democrat State Senators being recalled, and five Democrat candidates who are challenging Republican incumbent Senators.

That includes $93,000 to support Pasch, the institute says.

Blogger Say Darling Won Debate with Pasch

Patch's new political blogger, Bryant Divelbiss, a conservative from Menomonee Falls, .

Divelbiss said Pasch should be eliminated as a serious candidate because she dodged the question of how to balance the budget, something he says the Democrats never really addresed with an alternative plan.

He also discusses Pasch admitting a recent attack ad on Darling is "pants on fire" false.

Twitter Feed

@Darling4Senate: Republican reforms allow the Fond du Lac School District to make up a $4.4m shortfall. http://t.co/SREOIni #wiunion

@triumph68 RT @grnsinfo: Sandy Pasch's record on health care speaks for itself http://ht.ly/5P9C9 This is where Wisconsin should go.

@DefendWisconsin: GOP threatened by the recalls http://t.co/DOG0EfW

@Darling4Senate The Milwaukee Common Council expects to save $25m per year from the reforms we put in place http://ow.ly/5P4fK

@tkozy1111 Saw @sandyforsenate working hard at alterra in shorewood!

For more information and continual updates on the Darling and Pasch race, check out these Twitter handles: #recalltracker, #wirecall, #wiunion, #sandyforsenate, #darling4senate, #Mkedems, #mkegop.

Where Will They Be?

Who and What

Date Time Place Darling hosting a victory picnic
July 31
12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
River Barn Park in Mequon, 9808 N. Cedarburg Rd. Sandy Pasch talking at Grassroots Shorewood Mobilaziation Kick Off Event Aug. 1 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Three Lions Pub, 4515 N. Oakland Ave., Shorewood Pasch taking public questions Aug. 1 11:45 a.m. Milwaukee Press Club, 137 E. Wells St., Milwaukee Darling taking public questions Aug. 2 11:45 a.m. Milwaukee Press Club, 137 E. Wells St., Milwaukee (By invite only) Aug. 3 11:45 a.m. The Radisson Hotel, N88 W14750 Main St. in Menomonee Falls


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