Wis. Sen. Fitzgerald: Senator Recalls Progressing

Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says attempts are progressing to recall two Democratic senators and one Republican, actions set in motion when Gov. Scott Walker's collective-bargaining law was signed. Fitzgerald also told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Wednesday that passions inflamed when the bill curbing the Badger State’s public-employee unions was passed have subsided.

Fitzgerald’s comments came as a race for a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has become a proxy for the state’s fight over public sector unions, appeared too close to call — though unofficial results put Assistant State Attorney JoAnne Kloppenburg ahead of sitting justice David Prosser by a 204-vote margin, and she has already claimed victory.

The Senate recall petitions are “moving forward very quickly,” Fitzgerald said. “As a matter of fact we are convinced at this point that we have enough signatures in the Kenosha area, also in the Green Bay Area, and in the 12th, we are confident that all three of those recalls will go forward.

“At this point there's an attempt by both sides of the aisle to recall the other half,” he continued. “Eight and eight is what it ends up being. I'm not sure the signatures will be filed in all of those. We'll see probably early May as to which senators are under recall.”

Van Susteren asked whether the state capital has returned to normal, after it was gripped by turmoil during protests for and against the public-employees bill, and whether people are back at work.

“They sure are; the first day the Senate my body just convened was Tuesday — things were relatively calm,” Fitzgerald said. “I've had some heated conversations with Democrat senators off the floor. But we're trying to get back to a position where the Republicans can continue to do what we have come here to do, job creation and expand the economy in Wisconsin.”