FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                           Contact:  Scott Fitzgerald

January 17, 2012                                                                                         (608) 257-8039

Fitzgerald Statement on Recall Petition Filing

Ready to Promote Record and Senate Republican Accomplishments

[MADISON] - Senator Scott Fitzgerald released the following statement following news that petitions seeking to recall him from office were submitted today to the Government Accountability Board:

“If the petitions are found to be sufficient and a recall election moves forward, I will embrace the opportunity to run on my record and the accomplishments Senate Republicans have made over the past year.  It is unfortunate that taxpayers will have to foot the bill for extra elections that will cost Dodge, Jefferson, Waukesha, and Dane counties a combined $1.7 million, but I am ready to face this challenge and have been overwhelmed with financial and volunteer support and letters of encouragement since petitions were filed two months ago.

“In twelve short months, Senate Republicans balanced a massive budget deficit without raising taxes or resorting to layoffs.  We passed over a dozen job-creation bills to lay the groundwork for economic recovery in our state, and we gave power back to school districts and municipalities which allowed them to prioritize their spending and avoid mass layoffs.

“In the 13^th Senate District alone, school districts such as Cambridge, Lake Mills, and Mayville were able to avoid teacher layoffs and maintain or reduce class sizes, despite the 'sky-is-falling' rhetoric from the government unions.  In places like Beaver Dam, Oconomowoc, and Fort Atkinson, school property tax levies, which make up the largest portion of overall property tax bills, decreased as a result of our reforms.  And just last week, it was announced that statewide property taxes saw the smallest increase in the last fifteen years, helping out middle class families who previously had to shoulder the load for Democrats’ out-of-control spending. 

“I am proud of what we have accomplished in such a short time, and I welcome a challenge from a Democrat opponent who would only seek to return us to an unsustainable path of big spending, huge tax increases, and taxpayer-funded favors to unions and left-wing special interests.”

The 13^th Senate District covers parts of Dodge, Jefferson, Dane and Waukesha counties. 

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