Racine Democrats Say Reasons for Wanggaard Recall Go Beyond Budget Repair

The effort to recall State Sen. Van Wanggaard started with the Budget Repair Bill, but it was only the beginning.

According to Jane Witt, chair-elect of the Democratic Party of Racine County, Wanggaard's adherence to Governor Scott Walker's agenda ignores the real needs of residents in the 21st State Senate Distict.

"Senator Wanggaard is not paying attention to the needs of his district or listening to his constituents," she said.

While his vote for Act 10, the Budget Repair Bill, certainly got the ball rolling, Witt said Wanggard's support for Voter ID, Conceal Carry and school choice have only strengthened the need to recall him.

"How he could support legislation like school choice that hurts the children in his district I just don't understand it," she added. "And with conceal carry, it seems so unnecessary, like we want to promote more violence."

But Wanggaard sees things differently, saying he feels like he started hearing whispers of recall almost as soon as he was elected. Further, by naming these specific pieces of legislation, he said the Democratic Party is just piling on.

"I think some people just want a re-do," he said. "We balanced the budget without raising taxes and in less than the two years we said was the goal. I think that's great."

As for requiring valid identification in order to vote, Wanggaard said voter fraud is an issue when buses full of people come from out of state to vote and then can't remember their "name" when they get to the polls. He said he was referring to the 2008 elections, but also pointed to the case of potential voter fraud dogging State Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee).

"We should want to keep voter integrity intact," he said. "Almost 98 percent of Wisconsin residents already have a photo ID, and we've made it . I don't see the problem."

Opponents of the Voter ID bill say it disenfranchises voters by penalizing the elderly, the infirm and the poor. Wanggaard said he talked about supporting voter ID requirements in his campaign so it shouldn't have been a surprise to anyone when he voted for it.

Conceal Carry, or CCW, is another issue Wanggaard for which he said he was open about his support.

"This is another issue I talked about," he said. "48 other states have this with very few problems, so really, saying my support for CCW is a reason for recall is just an excuse."

School choice, he understands, is a touchy subject for a lot of people, but he stands behind his vote because the program gives parents the opportunity to provide options for their child when that student's needs aren't being met by their public school.

"We have excellent teachers in our schools, some of them in my family," Wanggaard stated. "But parents need and should have options when their school can't meet their child's needs."

More, school choice is similar to open enrollment. According to Wanggaard, 804 students leave the district every year because their parents feel they can get a better education than in Racine Unified School District.

"Choice is just another avenue," he said.

But going further, Wanggaard worked to make sure funding for 21st Century Charter School was not cut abruptly and instead allowed to phase out over three years. The $1.7 million earmarked for 2012 and 2013 for the 250 kids who attend 21st Century is actually paid out to Racine Unified. Wanggaard said the district counts those children in their enrollment numbers and is then reimbursed by the state.

"We saved jobs and programs by restoring the funding," he said. Additionally, Wanggaard said a second charter school using the same program footprint was proposed, but he opposed it because of school choice.

So while recall activities against him continue, Wanggaard said he is focusing on writing and sponsoring more bi-partisan legislation.

"I have to focus on work," he said. "There are some people who say I'm too bi-partisan because every bill I've written or sponsored has had bi-partisan support. How can I be too bi-partisan when my job is to represent everyone?"