Wisconsin recall election may flip senate majority to democrats

Wisconsin residents have gathered enough signatures to force republican state senator Dan Kapanke to face a recall election.

Recall committee organizer Pat Scheller told Reuters, "There certainly has been a great groundswell of involvement and commitment. A lot of people are very passionate about this."

Crowds of up to 100,000 Wisconsin teachers and other public union members protested for weeks against Governor Walker's legislation to strip state unions of their collective bargaining rights.

Republican State Senators voted unanimously to pass the union-busting measure, and are in danger of being removed from office as a result.

The legislation was declared illegal by Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi for procedural violations, according to the Huffington Post. Still, Governor Walker attempted to ignore the judge's order and implement the new law, against the court's ruling.

Walker was stopped when Judge Sumi issued a second statement which made it clear that Mr. Walker was not above the law and was required to obey the ruling of the court.

So far, sixteen senators are facing recall elections, according to the Statehouse News. Democrats only need to take back three of those seats to gain majority control. That would seriously hamper and future attempts by Walker to balance the Wisconsin budget on the backs of working class residents.