Republican Dan Kapanke is the Wisconsin state Senator of either party most vulnerable to the recall efforts. Here's why:
Things are only going to get worse for Kapanke. Wisconsin Democrats have unearthed
a recent statement where he argued that police officers and firefighters should have their collective bargaining rights stripped. That goes further even than Scott Walker:
Kapanke said though it’s not “his call,” he thinks it makes sense to include public safety workers in the ban on collective bargaining.
Walker’s bill prohibits state and municipal workers from collective bargaining except on wages capped by inflation. Fire, police and state patrol unions, however, would still be allowed to negotiate contracts.
“That issue is going to be raised,” Kapanke said. “We’ll see if there’s enough will to include them.”
Kapanke is right--that issue will be raised. The result will almost certainly be that local police and firefighters organizations do not back Kapanke in his recall election. He's in a lot of trouble.