Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Government Accountability Board Meeting Update on Recall Challenge

GAB meeting Tweets from Wisconsin State Journal reporter Mary Spicuzza:

McLeod says those who signed recall petitions against Dems shouldn't be disenfranchised simply because name "Elmer Fudd" may have appeared ..Dan Hunt, chairman of taxpayers to recall Robert Wirch, says GAB recall process has been flawed, politically motivated … Dem attorney Levinson to GAB: Many signatures gathered against Sen Hansen aren't valid because of "fraud and malfeasance" permeating process … Dem attorney Levinson to GAB: "We're asking the board to find the recall is not legally called for" in efforts against Dem. Sen. Dave Hansen … Levinson says one woman gathering recall signature targeting Sen. Hansen had a rate of fraudulent signatures of about 35 percent … GAB staff says that one of the recall signature gatherers here, Larry Schumacher, (spelling?) made $84,000 gathering signatures in Montana … Judge Nichol asks GOP attorney if he takes responsibility for someone signing a recall petition using the name of Mark Pocan's deceased dad … GOP attorney Eric McLeod says he doesn't know details about how recall petition gatherers were paid … McLeod: Unless the Dem challengers of recalls present clear and convincing evidence of fraud, we don't have the obligation to respond … Judge asks McLeod if he is saying GAB doesn't have authority to dismiss signatures if they find fraud. He argues a presumption of validity … GOP's McLeod says recall is constitutional right & the board shouldn't easily dispense petitions because of rights of those who signed them … McLeod arguing somebody may have written down name of Mark Pocan's dad as a sort-of plant to make GOP recall efforts against Dems look bad … McLeod says recall petition shouldn't be thrown out if people didn't understand what they were signing, only if they were misled … Judge Myse asks GOP attorney if GAB should look at pattern at conduct among gatherers, questions how anyone 30,000 signatures individually.

You'll notice the highlighted part of the argument above clashes with the GOP's position, and the six Republican senators up for recall, that all Democratic challenges be thrown out due to supposed "irregularities in filing petitions." They want it both ways challenging the legitimacy of the recall petitions, and by allowing those meddling "courts" to interfere, again.  

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