Milwaukee County DA was a major contributor to Sandy Pasch and stumped for her Assembly election in 2008.
1. Fixing the Typo
The Absentee Ballot Mailing was mailed only to AFP Wisconsin members in the eight Senate Districts that have recall elections. The date included on the absentee ballot application (August 11th) was intended solely for the two senate districts with elections on August 16th. However, the printer/mail house sent that version out to all districts, including those that have elections on August 9th.
While the Left is hoping to make this into a voter suppression issue, this is anything but. It is in AFP’s best interest to have all of our members vote and that was the intention of this mailing. Here is a statement from AFP Wisconsin State Director Matt Seaholm explaining the printing mistake.
2. DNC Makes Similar Error
The media is largely ignoring the fact that the DNC made a similar mistake -the DNC placed robo calls last week to voters in Republican Sen. Dan Kapanke's western Wisconsin district urging them to vote in the election, but wrongly gave the date as Aug. 16. Click here to read more about the DNC’s robo call errors.
3. Wisconsin Jobs Now and Citizen Action Wisconsin
Perhaps the most egregious offender of all in this story is Wisconsin Jobs Now and Citizen Action Wisconsin, which is also being largely ignored. Wisconsin Jobs Now has been hosting “block parties” with free food and then busing people over to early voting.
Wisconsin Jobs Now is connected to Citizen Action, a union group that has spent big money supporting Sandy Pasch in the District 8 recall election. It just so happens Sandy Pasch sits on Citizen Action's board as well.
EXCLUSIVE-BREAKING We've uncovered evidence that Milw. Election Commission has sent out duplicative absentee ballots to some. Developing.
Kenosha, WI- The taxpayers of the 22nd Senate District have spoken, and they are very clear when they say that political games will not be tolerated. Bob Wirch owes the taxpayers over $10,000 for his trip to Illinois that lasted nearly a month because he still accepted wages and benefits while vacationing. He also found a way to "fight for the working class" by raising nearly $130,000 for his recall election war chest.
"It seems like Bob Wirch is more interested in obeying his party and union overlords than serving the public," says Jonathan Steitz, state senate candidate for District 22.
"With our state in economic recovery the citizens of Wisconsin expect their legislators to be working on improving the climate for jobs, not having their Senators steal from them by not showing up for work. The taxpayers of the 22nd Senate District demand that Wirch return the money that is owed to them." says Steitz.
Two events held in Milwaukee today aimed at rewarding absentee voters could run afoul of Wisconsin law a state election official said today.
The group, Wisconsin Jobs Now! describes itself as a “coalition of community groups, neighborhood associations, faith based organizations and labor united in an effort to bring good jobs to Wisconsin now.”
At two events in the city Monday, Wisconsin Jobs Now! offered free BBQ and prize drawings to people who participate in their absentee voting drive. They promoted the events on their website, action.wisconsinjobsnow.org.
Wisconsin statutes forbid “election bribery,” under 12.11. This includes giving or offering anything of value in exchange for going to the polls.
Steve Pickett, an elections specialist with the Government Accountability Board, told the MacIver News Service that whether this event is legal or not could come down to timing.
“If they walk in with a sticker that says ‘I voted ‘that’s one thing, but if they eat before they vote that’s a problem,” Pickett said. “It’s still a questionable practice one way or the other.”
...[The Wisconsin Jobs Now!] website has been highly critical of Republican Senator Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), and in addition to the get out the vote parties, the organization has been organizing and shuttling voters to Milwaukee’s city hall.
Earlier on Monday, the Republican Party of Wisconsin filed a complaint with the GAB alleging illegal coordination between Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the campaign of Sandy Pasch (D-Millwaukee), Darling’s challenger.
The RPW complaint comes on the revelation by Media Trackers that Pasch sits on the board of directors of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. The Republican Party asked the Government Accountability Board to conduct investigation into whether Sandy Pasch’s membership on the Board of Directors for Citizen Action of Wisconsin violated Section 11.06(7) of the Wisconsin statutes concerning illegal coordination between candidates and independent expenditure organizations.
State election authorities are questioning whether a liberal group broke the law by offering both free food and free rides to vote in a hotly contested Senate recall election.
Although no formal complaint had reached the state Government Accountability Board by Monday afternoon, a spokesman for the agency said it would not be legal to combine free food and transportation to the polls in the same event - even if, as the organization contends, people could take the food without boarding the buses.
Local law enforcement authorities are reportedly looking into the get-out-the-vote "block parties."
Five such parties were sponsored by Wisconsin Jobs Now, a coalition of community and labor groups led by the Service Employees International Union. The coalition describes itself as a nonpartisan organization, although its blog posts have been highly critical of state Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who is defending her seat against Rep. Sandy Pasch (D-Whitefish Bay) in the Aug. 9 recall vote.
Wisconsin Jobs Now held three parties last week and two Monday, all on Milwaukee's northwest side. Each party offered free food, prizes such as t-shirts and stuffed toys, face-painting for children, drawings for school backpacks - and free shuttles to Milwaukee City Hall, where voters could cast absentee ballots in the 8th Senate District contest.
Janet Veum, a spokeswoman for Wisconsin Jobs Now, described the events as "a celebration of voting," aimed at making it easier to vote for low-income and minority groups who might face more challenges under the state's new photo identification law.
...State law prohibits anyone from offering a voter any inducement to vote or not vote. Veum said her group believed it was complying with the law because no one was required to take the rides or vote to get the food and prizes.
But "that's a distinction without a difference," said Reid Magney, spokesman for the accountability board. He said it was legal to offer rides to the polls, or free food at picnics to talk about issues, but not in the same event.
Magney said his agency had not received any complaints about the parties and that enforcing the law would be up to the Milwaukee County district attorney's office.
Milwaukee- Media Trackers filed complaints this morning with the Government Accountability Board and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office alleging illegal election and electioneering activities on the part of Wisconsin Jobs Now!
"We are confident that the GAB and the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office will take our complaints serious," remarked Brian Sikma, communications director for Media Trackers. "The evidence that we reported on our website and that our sources gave us all point to multiple violations of election law on the part of Wisconsin Jobs Now! It is time for Wisconsin Jobs Now! to be held accountable for such flagrant violations of the law."
"Because the actions of Wisconsin Jobs Now! are so despicable, we are calling on the Sandy Pasch and Alberta Darling campaigns to also file complaints with the GAB and the Milwaukee County DA's office," stated Sikma. "What took place yesterday is an affront to both campaigns and, more importantly, to the voters in Senate District 8." Sikma continued saying, "If the candidates truly wish to state their frustration with these illegal actions and distance themselves from such tactics, they should file complaints calling for a formal GAB investigation of Wisconsin Jobs Now!"
WisconsinJobs Now! on the afternoon of August 1st hosted two events in northern Milwaukee County where voters were given a free barbeque chicken dinner and raffle tickets in exchange for showing up to vote. Participants were transported to the Milwaukee City Hall in vans with Wisconsin Jobs Now! logos on the side. Once at City Hall, volunteers wearing Wisconsin Jobs Now! t-shirts stood inside the Milwaukee Election Commission office and explained how the voting would work. Media Trackers secured first-hand reports and evidence of these activities.
Dem Sandy Pasch is listed as a member of the Board of Directors of Citizen Action: the group that organized this protest
Sandy Pasch is on brd of directors of group spending big $ backing her campaign. Coordination between candidate and indy groups illegal
Kenosha, WI- Senator Bob Wirch was asked to cease and desist after he was caught misusing a copyrighted image in a desperate attempt to line himself with a local business.
Wirch included multiple uses of the Ocean Spray logo in his campaign literature without permission from the company.
"This is a desperate attempt by Bob Wirch to align himself with a successful business when his record on job creation for the 22nd district is so dismal," says Jonathan Steitz. "In fact, the state chamber of commerce gives Senator Wirch a 19% rating on votes in the Senate for creating and protecting jobs in 2009. He does not know what it takes to create jobs because he has neither owned nor managed a job-creating business."
Steitz added that it's more than ironic that Wirch is trying to curry favor with business leaders when the longtime liberal senator has voted to punish job creators with more than $4 billion in new taxes and another $3 billion in reckless government spending.
"Wirch's votes in favor of job-killing taxes and reckless spending has only damaged our frail economy and put more middle class families out of work," Steitz said. "Since Wirch was sent to Madison more than 7,200 jobs have been lost in the district, and businesses like Chrysler and J.W. Peters, Inc have closed their doors. Wirch not only owes Ocean Spray and the voters an apology for illegally using a copyrighted image in this desperate ploy, but he also owes the large number of unemployed workers an apology for helping destroy thousands of jobs with his big government spending and massive tax increases."
Steitz Campaign: Wirch Ducking Debates with Steitz
Fleeing Senator Now AWOL on Debates
Kenosha, WI- The Jonathan Steitz for Senate campaign today called on state Senator Bob Wirch to stop ducking debates and engage voters on the issues instead of launching personal attacks.
The Kenosha Area Business Association (KABA), an association dedicated to the economic health of the greater Kenosha area, has issued a formal invitation to both Wirch and Steitz. Thus far, only Steitz has committed and Wirch has refused to respond.
"What can be more important to the area than to compare ideas for how to grow jobs and get people back to work," said Steitz. "Bob Wirch should stop ducking debates and explain to working families throughout the district why he thinks more government spending and higher taxes are the answer to getting people back to work."
In addition, the American Association of University Women has also issued a formal invitation for the two state senate candidates to debate. The Steitz campaign said they are calling on Sen. Wirch to attend these forums and explain his recent votes against the budget repair bill that has had increasingly positive effects statewide.
"Bob Wirch and his liberal allies have chosen to taint this election by running baseless attack ads on me, rather than being focus on the issues," said Steitz. "Senator Wirch doesn't want to speak to the issues because he knows his votes to increases taxes and spending by billions has not created jobs or helped the economy. Evidently, Wirch is unwilling to stand on his record so he can avoid public discussion at all costs."
Yet another request was made by WLIP radio and host Lenny Palmer. Senator Wirch has not responded to that request either.
"The voters of the 22nd District are looking for a leader who won't avoid the issues, which is clearly becoming a pattern for the Runaway Senator," Steitz said.
Friend --
On August 9th, Wisconsin voters will go back to the polls to decide whether six Republican senators have failed to serve the needs of Wisconsin's hard-working families.
Senate Republicans broke the trust of Wisconsinites earlier this year when they forced drastic cuts in funding for schools, seniors, and the disabled to cut taxes for their own contributors.
Since then, hundreds of OFA Wisconsin supporters across the state have spoken up, saying they want to have an impact in the recall elections in August. So in the coming weeks, volunteers will be organizing their networks, working phone banks, and knocking on doors to get the word out about what's at stake on August 9th -- and this Saturday, there's an event in Glendale.
Can you make it? Here are the details:What: Wisconsin legislative recall event
Where: 6807 N Green Bay Ave
Glendale, WI 53209
When: Saturday, July 23rd
10:00 am
If you can't make that event, find another one near you here.
Six Republican-held seats are up for grabs on August 9th -- and two more held by Democrats are up on the 16th.
While the campaign remains focused on re-electing the President, Organizing for America will provide support to OFA Wisconsin volunteers organizing around Democratic candidates in the recall elections.
I hope you can join the event in Glendale on Saturday. Sign up here:
http://wi.barackobama.com/Wisconsin-Recall-Events
Thanks,
Michelle
Michelle Kleppe
Wisconsin State Field Director
Organizing for America
Democratic state Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay was the first of nine state senators to face a final recall election, and he easily survived Tuesday.
Hansen won a lopsided victory over his Republican challenger, wind farm developer David VanderLeest of Green Bay, against whom Democrats and their allies have been hammering away on his personal and legal problems.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
DAVE HANSEN: I just wanted to say that as a former public employee I really appreciated what labor organizations did for me. I drove a truck for the city of Green Bay sanitation before I became a state senator. And without that we wouldn't have had any pay or any benefits, and that's what they're trying to do. They're trying to remove ANY right to bargain, negotiate, and remove collective bargaining that's been in place for 50 years. It is a sad, sad day, and it's ridiculous what those 18 Republican senators did today. And our Governor should be ashamed of himself.
Attorney Jonathan Steitz has won a Republican primary in a Wisconsin recall election, and now advances to challenge Democratic state Sen. Robert Wirch next month.
Steitz has 64 percent of Tuesday's vote, with 73 percent of precincts reporting. He defeated Fred Ekornaas,a retired Kenosha County sheriff and current county board vice chairman.
ROBERT WIRCH: This is a day of infamy for Wisconsin workers. Tomorrow, they're second class citizens thanks to the Republicans who took that terrible vote tonight.
BARABOO -- A recent news report revealed that Senator Olsen has pledged support for a federal budget that slashes Medicare support. Nationwide trends indicate that politicians who support this legislation are facing very tough reelections due to voters devout support of Medicare. Senator Olsen also indicated that concerns about Medicare were merely a scare tactic used as en election strategy.
14th state Senate District candidate Fred Clark released the following statement on the recent story:
"What really scares seniors to death is the possibility that Washington D.C. and Madison politicians like Luther Olsen will radically change Medicare and SeniorCare, true lifelines for millions of senior citizens. We need to balance the budget, but parents and grandparents should not be forced to sacrifice their health just to pay for the millions in corporate tax breaks Senator Olsen wants to deliver to wealthy corporations."
"Voters don't support Medicare as an election strategy, they support it as one of the most important ways we honor our commitment to care for our elders."
This spring, more than 23,000 people signed a petition to recall Senator Olsen because they were deeply disappointed when stopped listening to the people of the 14th Senate District. Olsen has turned his back on the people he represents, choosing instead to support the divisive, extreme agenda of the special interests and party bosses in Madison.
Fred Clark will be an independent voice for the people of the 14th Senate district. As a former small business owner and forester, Clark understands rural issues and how to grow our economy. Clark is running to put the people of the 14th Senate district first and fight for the values that matter -- jobs, education, seniors, and our future.
Milwaukee - Representative Fred Clark's (D-Baraboo) state Senate campaign released a scathing press release yesterday attacking Senator Luther Olsen (R), Clark's opponent in the recall race unfolding in District 14. Media Trackers, a Wisconsin group that works to promote accountability in government and the media, fact-checked the release and found disturbingly misleading information.
Rep. Clark's release claimed that Sen. Olsen wants to "radically change SeniorCare" in a way that would force seniors to "sacrifice their health just to pay for the millions in corporate tax breaks that Senator Olsen wants to deliver to wealthy corporations." This claim is flatly inaccurate because irrespective of corporate tax breaks allegedly supported by Sen. Olsen, Olsen did not support changes to SeniorCare during the recent session. In fact, he ardently defended the program as vital to the needs of Wisconsin seniors.
Clark and his campaign went on to attack Olsen as someone who is beholden to party bosses in Madison while saying Clark is an "independent voice," who will "fight" on behalf of the 14th District. The legitimacy of Clark's claim to being an independent voice are questionable because Clark's campaign press secretary is Gillian Morris, a spokeswoman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party with an official Wisconsin Democratic Party e-mail address. "This fact about the Clark campaign press release is quite ironic," remarked Brian Sikma, Communications Director for Media Trackers. "It is highly misleading of Rep. Clark to suggest that he is independent of Madison special interests when his campaign communications arm is run by a Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson."
"From his factually inaccurate charge that Sen. Olsen wants to change SeniorCare, to his misplaced claim of independence from Madison, Fred Clark is continuing to demonstrate who he really is," Sikma asserted. "Voters saw him apologize for threatening to 'smack around' a female constituent, and now they are having to sort through this misleading press release. It would be helpful to the overall tone of the race if Rep. Clark decided to stick to real facts and not what he might imagine the facts to be."
A rolling tape on an answering machine caught an unsuspecting Rep. Fred Clark, D-Baraboo, saying he wanted to "smack around" a woman from his district after she hung up on him.
Clark, who is challenging Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Ripon, in a recall election, was making campaign calls last week when he reached the Baraboo home of Sue and John Stapelman.
The answering machine took the call at first, but Sue Stapelman then picked up. The machine's tape kept recording.
After Clark introduced himself, he told Sue Stapelman that he was challenging Olsen in the upcoming recall election.
Stapelman responded: "Yeah, and isn't that a crime."
She then hung up on Clark, but her answering machine kept the line open and continued recording.
Clark apparently did not know he was being recorded when, after a short pause, he said to his campaign staffer: "OK. I feel like calling her back and smackin' her around."
"In a moment of frustration after a discouraging phone conversation last week, I made a clearly inappropriate comment to my campaign staffer after the call," Clark said.
"I understand the statement was completely inappropriate under any circumstance and I want to apologize. I am deeply sorry for any distress this incident my have caused for Ms. Stapelman or anyone in her family."
Clark said he has called and left a message apologizing to the Stapelmans, and hopes to speak with them in person soon.
John Stapelman said Monday he and his wife are not happy about the comment. "I think that was totally inappropriate and my wife thinks it was pretty inappropriate, too," Stapelman said.
He said he doesn't think Clark actually was threatening his wife, but the incident does not speak to Clark's character.
"We're pretty independent, actually," Stapelman said of he and his wife's political leanings. "I have to say in this current situation, I'm leaning toward the (Republicans) for fiscal responsibility reasons, in addition to what happened here."
"OK. I feel like calling her back and smackin' her around."
The state Government Accountability Board voted Wednesday to set recall elections for three Democratic state senators, bringing to nine the number of senators facing recall elections.
The board acknowledged Democrats' claims of fraud by paid petition circulators, but disallowed only about 230 additional signatures collected by just one of the circulators - not nearly enough to throw out any of the recalls.
Democrats Dave Hansen of Green Bay, Jim Holperin of Conover and Robert Wirch of Pleasant Prairie all face elections July 19, a week after six Republican senators face recalls. The election date for the Republicans was set last week.
...The nine Senate recalls could change control of that house, where the GOP has a 19-14 advantage.
Tuesday: Filing deadline for recalls against Republicans
June 21: Filing deadline for recalls against Democrats
July 12: Election in the Republican recalls (primaries if necessary)
July 19: Election in the Democratic recalls (primaries if necessary)
Aug. 9: General election if needed in Republican recalls
Aug. 16: General election if needed in Democratic recalls
From: Christopher M Branski [mailto:CBranski@matcmadison.edu]
Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:35 PM
To: Sen.Darling
Subject: You are Revolting
Importance: High
Soon to be ex-Senator Darling:
Last night when you decided to cut the state EITC credits to working poor families in order to provide no-strings-attached tax breaks to corporations you showed your true colors: you're not on our side and you have no heart.
Instead of cajoling you to change your mind, I'm just going to tell you what you are: you're a useless f**king c*nt that has no redeeming value. There are not enough words to describe how much I hate you and the rest of the f**king scum in the Wisconsin GOP. You're parasites and you contribute nothing. Enjoy getting recalled you useless f**king dried up c*nt.
Christopher Branski
Kenosha, WI - Jonathan Steitz, attorney and former small business owner, announced his candidacy to serve as State Senator for the 22nd District today before a packed room of over 100 residents at the Holiday Inn in Pleasant Prairie.
Steitz, 37, received his J.D. and M.B.A from Northwestern University in 2007 after previously owning his own event management and production company. He is actively involved in the community with his local church as well as local athletic teams. Steitz mentioned, "This community is where I have chosen to raise my family, and I could not be prouder to be a resident here."
The young Pleasant Prairie resident, who works for a leading international law firm, asserted that, "It is time for a new direction in the 22nd District. We need lower taxes, less government regulation, and common-sense policies that will encourage economic growth for our area." Steitz also remarked that a change in leadership is necessary and that he believes, "Leadership begins with service, and ends with accountability."
"My private sector experience, along with firm grounding in the community, has taught me that we have so much to be proud of in Senate District 22 and throughout the Kenosha area. I intend for my campaign to be a referendum on Bob Wirch's service, and to have a serious dialogue about how to grow our local economy."
__________________
You are invited to attend a press conference regarding Jonathan's candidacy
Wednesday, May 18, 6:00pm
Holiday Inn Express Pleasant Prairie
7887 94th Ave
Pleasant Prairie WI 53158
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
ROBERT WIRCH: This is a day of infamy for Wisconsin workers. Tomorrow, they're second class citizens thanks to the Republicans who took that terrible vote tonight.
Speculation swirling after a burglary at the Recall Senator Dave Hansen Headquarters in Green Bay. Those with the recall campaign say police are now involved after someone smashed a window, swiping everything from dozens of recall signatures to a computer. The organizer of the effort is accusing one group of committing the crime.
"There were some petitions stolen, our computer is missing, some of the recall signs and they cleaned us out of all our recall T-shirts," says Hansen recall organizer, David Vander Leest.
Vander Leest says he's angry and has reason to believe a certain group is responsible because the vandals only stole things connected to the recall. "Well I think it shows that the opposition to recalling Democratic Senators will stop at nothing and it shows kind of where people's minds are in all of this," says Vander Leest.
...Green Bay police are investigating the break in. For now, Vander Leest says despite the stolen signatures the crooks weren't successful at stopping their recall efforts. "In this case they're a little bit short and it is going to happen, so that's where we are at," says Vander Leest.
Meanwhile, Senator Hansen says he's not worried about a recall election. "We understood, when we did what we did, but sometime in your life you have to stand up for what you believe in and we did," says Senator Hansen.
...Vander Leest says only about 150 signatures were taken and even without those names they still have enough to file their recall Hansen petition.
