Recall fever is still alive and well in Wisconsin despite the chilly January temperatures. Organizers and volunteers have put in thousands of hours in order to attempt to recall Governor Scott Walker (R). Groups must collect over 540,000 valid signatures to trigger a recall election, but organizers have set the goal at 720,777 to account for any challenged signatures. With such a staggering feat, one has to be impressed by the sheer will of the people involved in the recall process, whether they support the cause or not.
Yet there are plenty of opponents to the recall who support Walker that believe the process is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. The fact that the Democrats, or even a third party for that matter, have yet to reveal a viable candidate to challenge Walker has even those on the left a little uneasy. However, one must also consider the impact the recalls have had on the Walker Administration thus far.
Money set aside to help with sexual assault victims was axed from the budget earlier in the year, and then even more draconian cuts were proposed in November. Two weeks later, Walker announced the money would be restored. Not more than a week ago, Governor Walker announced he was lifting the cap on the Family Care program. There has been some controversy surrounding the motivation for the change in policy direction and the timing of the change. A letter has surfaced indicating the Federal Government ordered Walker to lift the cap, yet when contacted, Walker’s spokesman, Cullen Werwie, stated the change came from the Governor and an ability to realize efficiencies in certain programs. In the end, the true motivation is probably irrelevant.
If Walker really did try to take credit for something he was ordered to do, then it was because he could feel the heat of the recalls nipping him from behind. If Walker CAN be credited with this victory for Wisconsinites, it wasn’t because of some sense of benevolence towards his constituents. No, it was also because of the threat of recalls to him and fellow Republicans. The same can be said for the restoration of sexual assault victim’s funds. The tone of the Walker Administration has gone from ultra-Tea Party rhetoric to a seemingly more moderate, centrist position. The question that remains, of course, is whether this is a true shift in position to appease the people he governs, or whether this is simply another bait and switch tactic. Regardless if Walker goes on to win or lose his inevitable recall election, the fact remains that the recalls have already had an impact on the way he has executed his plans. Pushing an extreme agenda towards the center is a win in my book, no matter the results of an election.