Dems Take Jabs At Walker Before Union Rally

Wisconsin Democrats are taking jabs at Gov. Scott Walker hours before unions are planning to host a rally to mark the one-year anniversary of the state Legislature passing a bill to end many collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

The Wisconsin State Building Trades group held a candidate forum Saturday at a hotel near the Capitol.

Speakers included Kathleen Falk and Kathleen Vinehout, who plan to run against Walker in the possible recall election. They spoke briefly about their platforms and criticized Walker’s leadership.

Thousands are expected to converge outside the Capitol later Saturday for a rally hosted by Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, according to organizers. The event starts at 1 p.m. on the Capitol Square and includes speakers at 2 p.m., officials said.

Walker’s collective bargaining law stripped most public workers of many bargaining rights. Unions and other activists criticized the legislation and protested at the Capitol in the weeks before and after it passed in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Democrats want to force Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four GOP senators into recall elections. More than one million petition signatures were submitted in January.

Stay with Channel 3000 and WISC-TV for further coverage on Saturday’s rally.