Wisconsin Recall Elections Spending Break State's Referendum Norms

The recent Wisconsin recall elections' spending numbers broke previous records. As nine Republican and Democratic lawmakers were targeted, it represented the will of the people in unseating unfavorable elected officials.

The political drama in The Badger State came to a head recently when the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign revealed the amount of money spent on both sides to recall lawmakers.

By the numbers, according to an AP report via the Huffington Post:

The Democrats led the way over Republican rivals in the record-breaking Wisconsin recall elections spending with $23.4 million over the GOP's $20.5 million.

Even spending from outside special interest groups outpaced candidates with $34 million to $8 million. However, outside spending for Democrats alone amounted to nearly $3 million more than Republican counterparts.

By comparison, during the entire 2008 legislative elections only $20 million was spent on 115 candidates, representing $176,000 per person. In contrast, the Wisconsin recall elections spending represented $4.9 million per seat.

The recall efforts resulted from Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's controversial proposal to essentially bar public workers from rights to collective bargaining.

However, to ward off a vote on the floor, the states' 14 Democratic state senators left the state. This unprecedented move led to ongoing public protests at the Wisconsin capitol. In addition, it garnered an entire nation's attention.

Based on Governor Walker's unpopularity, rumor has it he is the next target in a future Wisconsin recall direct referendum.

The results from the record-breaking Wisconsin recall elections spending potentially creates a slippery slope, and carves the way in using the power of spending to create somewhat of a monogamous lawmaking body.

But that is what the Constitution is based on -- the will of the people. However, it also simply means that the party or special interest group with the most money shifts power on its side with aggressive marketing campaigns designed to influence the masses.

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