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News Release

Last modified: Friday, June 1, 2012

IU expert: Walker recall election reflects deadlocked political climate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2012

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- On Tuesday, June 5, Wisconsin voters will decide whether to retain Gov. Scott Walker in a rare recall election. According to an Indiana University Maurer School of Law expert, the election reflects the current polarized climate surrounding labor relations.

"The gravity of the labor issues surrounding Walker's recall and the lack of effort at a bipartisan resolution signify the deep differences of opinion on public-employee collective bargaining rights," professor Kenneth G. Dau-Schmidt said. "I am not surprised that his detractors have sought a recall."

Dau-Schmidt added that the election has wider implications. "It is an important test between the continuing political power of unions and the growing political power of corporations and wealthy out-of-state donors," he said.

Walker, a Republican, is only the third governor in the U.S. to face recall. The election stems from his 2011 suspension of collective-bargaining rights of public employees in Wisconsin, a decision that led to weeks of demonstrations and the walkout of Democrats in the state legislature.

An expert on labor and employment law, Dau-Schmidt has closely tracked the events leading up to Tuesday's election, including criminal investigations of some of Walker's former aides. Dau-Schmidt is available to comment on the upcoming election and can be reached by contacting Ken Turchi, Maurer School of Law assistant dean, at 812-856-4044 or kturchi@indiana.edu; or Steve Hinnefeld, IU Communications, at 812-856-3488 or slhinnef@iu.edu.

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