GOP Senate margin narrows to single seat
Dem Senators Wirch, Holperin Nail
Down Solid Senate Recall Wins
By Tom Tolan, Patrick Marley and Jason Stein
Journal Sentinel (8/16/11)
The six-month saga that was Wisconsin's state Senate recall movement ended Tuesday with Democrats retaining two seats - and Republicans still in possession of a week-old, razor-thin 17-16 majority.
On the fourth election day of the summer, two Democratic incumbents were victorious. Sen. Jim Holperin (D-Conover) beat challenger and tea party activist Kim Simac of Eagle River, and Sen. Bob Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie) easily topped Republican lawyer Jonathan Steitz.
Bottom line: Republicans will continue to control the agenda in the Capitol, but it will be difficult for Gov. Scott Walker and other GOP leaders to get everything they want.
"At the end of this historic recall effort, Democrats have the momentum," said Mike Tate, state Democratic Party chairman. "No Democrat was defeated for standing up for our principles and standing up against the runaway, reckless agenda of Scott Walker."
The one-vote Senate majority means a single Republican defection could halt any legislation. Many eyes are turning to Sen. Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center), who was the only Senate Republican to vote against Walker's collective bargaining bill, which spurred the recalls of three Democrats and six Republicans.
In the recalls of the Republicans a week ago, Democrats claimed two Senate seats, leaving the GOP with a 17-16 majority.
Schultz or any other Republican could block any future legislation, assuming the 16 Democrats vote together in opposition. That gives more power to moderate Republicans like Schultz, while also forcing GOP leaders to fashion legislation that can win the votes of at least some Democrats.
The narrower majority would make it tougher to approve controversial legislation, such as stricter abortion restrictions or tougher penalties for illegal immigrants.
Nonetheless, Republicans this year have already achieved many of their top goals that they have pursued for years.. In addition to the collective bargaining changes, they approved significant cuts in state aid to schools and local governments; some tax cuts; the carrying of concealed weapons; requiring photo ID at the polls starting next year; and eliminating all taxpayer funding for political campaigns.
Speaking before the polls closed on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) acknowledged that a tighter margin in his house could affect the flow of GOP legislation…
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