Predicting fellow state lawmakers will hold back on tough decisions or even stall legislative progress altogether if recall elections continue, State Rep. Robin Vos is standing by his proposed amendment to toughen criteria for recalls.
Vos, speaking at the first WisPolitics.com luncheon in Milwaukee on Oct. 11, when the timing of a Walker recall effort was announced, said recall elections should only be allowed if the official is guilty of misconduct in office, a felony or other serious matter. The proposed effort wouldn’t affect 2012 recalls since it would be an amendment to the state Constitution, which requires passage by two consecutive legislatures and a statewide referendum.
"In the world that we are in today, it’s almost impossible to get elected officials to make tough choices," said Vos, co-chair of the Joint Finance Committee and an expected candidate to succeed Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald. "So if you are now telling people that every single time you take an unpopular stand, even if it’s the right one, the union or a business group can hire professional signature-gatherers to go out and get signatures to trigger a recall, how many of you think elected officials are going to say, ‘I’m doing it anyways’ or are they going to cower and say, ‘I’ll take the easy vote.’"
The next WisPolitics.com luncheon at the Wisconsin Club is on Tuesday Nov. 15 with Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca. Pre-registration is required. Contact: schmies@wispolitics.com.
Hear Vos luncheon audio by clicking here.
– WisPolitics.com
