because the people of wisconsin have not given up. they can't take your vote, they can't take your heart, they can't take your soul. in this situation, they just can't take the enthusiasm of these people of wisconsin. this started way back in late january a year ago. they have gone through the due diligence. the 14 senators that left the state, they are still in office. of the nine recall elections that took place, five were won by democrats, two of those were replacing republicans. the bottom line here is that wisconsin is teaching this country a lesson. developing the template how to fight back against outside influence and whoever they are, wherever these super pacs come together and however they drop the money in the state, they can't stop the middle classers of the country and wage earners once they mobilize and get together. listen to what scott walker, you have to understand scott walker is going to go out and get his support out of state. he has got people in the state of wisconsin support him as well. this isn't going to be ea

behind the headlines, could wisconsin send the first out lesbian to the us senate. >> hello, i'm bonnie erbe. welcome to to the contrary, a discussion of news and social trends from diverse perspectives. up first, hillary's next move. >> 2012 could bring an end to hillary clinton's political career. this week, secretary clinton told her staff at the state department she's ready to step off "the high wire of american politics." >> i think after twenty years on being of the high wire of american politics and all of the challenges that come with that, it would be a good idea to find out how tired i am. >> clinton also said she's not watching the republican debates. her comments come after widespread talk that she should be obama's 2012 running mate. the gallup poll rates clinton the most admired woman in america for 10 years. at 64 percent approval rating right now-the highest of any american political figure. >> how will hillary clinton's absence from politics impact politics? she may be tired right now. she's not done. i think she's going to impact on women's lives whether she's in polit

so the respect for the taxpayers in wisconsin. ng so, we in power not only local governments as well as their state to ask for things simply like a match to the contribution which nearly everybody in america does for the retirement, and make a very modest contribution for our health insurance premium. in our case it is 12.6%. the average taxpayer in my state pays about 20 to 25% outside of government. so we did all those things but more of importantly, we allowed the local governments and school districts to do things like a bit of their health insurance which has saved tens of millions of dollars. it used to be the past school districts in particular to buy their health insurance from a company owned by the teachers' union. by bidding that out, by opening the process up through the reforms come school district have saved millions and millions of dollars just by changing where they bought their health insurance from. we are able to rein in abuses of things like overtime and other excesses out there by no longer having opportunities

the wisconsin democratic party points out more than 46% of the wisconsin electorate signed a petitiono recall walker. happened two other times in history, 1921, 31.8% of the voters signed when north dakota governor lynn frazier was recalled. and not too long ago in 2003, took 23.4% of california petition signers recalled gray davis. remember those days? would you like to have them back? walker won the 2010 election. think about this. he won election in the mid-terms, 2010, this gubernatorial chair by 124,638 votes. keep in mind, many union households voted for this guy. before they realized he was out to destroy collective bargaining. i don't think they will make the same mistake again. the working men and women of s wisconsin needed to sign 540,208 signers, they collected over a million, 185% of the amount they needed. in 2010, what happened? could you call it a health care hangover. many didn't show up, were mad at democrats, didn't do enough, now look what happened much the democrats in wisconsin got a major chance to correct all of that, and turn this around. they have done the du

there was a series of windows in the wisconsin recall law. are expecting the democrats to submit a number far in excess of the 540,000 signatures that they need by law and then there is an undetermined length when the signatures have to be verified. the board has to go through this process, hundreds of thousands of signatures, trying to verify them and then calling an election. there could be a primary that will affect it. it could be anywhere from april until july or august. we do not know who the democratic candidate is going to be because there is a good chance we will have a democratic primary. the ducks are not all lined up in a row for one person. host: back to the phones. grace is on our line for independents. you are on the "washington journal." caller: good morning. my voice is a little shaky this morning. host: you are doing just fine. caller: people black-and-white came from the south years ago to get union jobs. that was the start of a greater america. that is when we opened up small businesses and all work together. now, we are s

to be work shortages monks fighting police officers in the state of wisconsin. i would imagine the vast majority wouldn't consider in one jurisdiction did that in someone's life is at risk because of that. i thought i had ever higher responsibility. the madison and the teachers in the madison school district wiped off the job for three days unless parents kind of out the cold, not that didn't cause any website should be at risk and a lot of parents have said they didn't have provisions for childcare. and after a couple days, teachers like that because parents were acting very negatively politically to that frustration. but in that case, it was an inconvenience. in the case of public safety can affect someone's life could be in danger because as i was too high the risk and that's what we did. simple practical consideration, but a very legitimate question. >> tom curry of the nbc politics.com. governor condi said earlier you expect tremendous job growth in wisconsin. if the times and prosperity returned to the state, what's the likelihood that the legislature or pe

offices of the government accountability board in wisconsin. these folks say they can't wait until the next election, they cannot wait, they want governor scott walker out of office now, before his term is up. today, they turned in their petitions to qualify the scott walker recall for the ballot. the minimum signatures they need is half a million. the organizers said they were aiming for 720,000. that would give them a nice cushion in case some were ruled to be invalid. when it came time to turn them in today, they turned in more than a million names. that translates to 3,000 pounds of signatures. and governor walker when signatures opposing you can be measured in tons, you may have a problem. >>> this morning before the signatures were turned in, governor walker appeared on a wisconsin radio show explaining that no way were his opponents going to get a million signatures against him. >> the interesting thing, charlie, say they turn in 720,000 -- >> that put scott walker in office in the first place, in 2010. instead, what they got was nearly

in the statement of wisconsin. the first to declare, do you expect there will be competition, there will be a democratic primary to pick a candidate to run against walker? >> i do, but i am passionate about why we need to take back our state and i'm standing with our million plus citizens to get our state back on track and this will not be an easy task because as you have reported throughout the year, governor walker is heavily financed by out of state interests like the coke brothers, texas billionaire who can write out a quarter million dollar check. last night you showed that while we in wisconsin, a million citizens were delivering these petitions, signatures, that we gathered over the cold of the winter in wisconsin, our governor was out of state having a fundraiser hosted by the former head of aig, who last i recall taxpayers bailed out. >> how do you think you can compete with that? that is both a description of the political machine behind scott walker but also a description of how he has been successful. if

they have the right to choose now in wisconsin. ey can choose whether they want to be part of a public employee or not can no longer can they do us but taken from payroll. in the end, that's about the focus from out here in washington in terms of the national unions were focused on and it really comes down to is i took away the gravy train come in the free money they had before and gave that right back to the workers to make that decision. not something mandatory and that's really the focus is. >> thanks. i want to talk about some of the specific sonoita creek entering here. andrew, maybe you can give some of the broader trends that have been going on at the lit matches just in wisconsin other states, too. >> thinks a much, governor for coming today. the background of social security in an assertive federal programs. in a way i see it as is trying to fix state and local governments without public. compensation might ask in the budget without thinking about entitlements. it's technically possible to do, but very difficult to do. what

almost a year ago, the people of wisconsin vowed to fight against scott walker's war on workers. together. and they notice never, never gave up. today is a defining moment for progressives across america. the walker recall petitions, all 3300 pounds, were deliver today and the wisconsin democratic party reporting a whopping 1 emptier million signatures, 1 million, to recall scott walker, almost number the number they needed to move forward with the recall election. that's cause for celebration. think about that now. 1 million people for recall. it is all a massive outpouring and thank scott walker for setting ablaze all across this country, from wisconsin, spread to ohio, where november voters shut down governor kasich's anti-union bill. >> it's clear that the people have spoken and you know, my view is when people speak in a campaign like this and a referendum you have to listen when you're a public servant. >> in florida, governor rick scott's war on the poor was met with strong opposition and governor scott's 38% approval makes him one of the nation's least popular governors. a

you're the epitome of a middle-class family in wisconsin. he said to me shaking his head, i pay more than $800 a month for the health insurance premium and a little bit i set aside for 401(k). you're asking for a fraction of that and people are upset about it. to me that was the disconnect a lot of folks have who had worked outside of government that will be scored is not radical. it's actually still pretty generous compared to what most people are outside of government. it is a very reasonable expectation to make sure we can pay for the benefits we ultimately offer. >> i did a quick calculation where i showed that to match the pension benefit that a full career wisconsin state employee with good and to get a guaranteed benefit in retirement as they do come a private sector work with the same salary would invest somewhere close to a third of their salary for 401(k). so one of the things you focus on the main contributions the same when one of the defenses is benefit productions and making contributions based on a formula in the background. th

the problem is police couldn't find him either. back in wisconsintective ben schoonover had a hunch. the fargo embezzler pretending to be tim wicks is really dennis gaede. a search of wicks' apartment turns up a tax return that is signed at the bottom by the preparer, dennis gaede. >> my gut is telling me that tim is dead, but we can't prove it, we don't have a body, we don't know. >> then the police tell it, wrapped out the details of a grisly discovery on the side of the road. on the upper michigan side, the detective had a feeling. gene maxwell and jeff paridon, who knew dennis gaede as tim wicks, mentioned that he said his family had a cabin up there. >> and the generalities of the body description met the very general description and size of timothy wicks. >> of course, lots of people can match that description. plus, the head which was found on the wisconsin side of the river with a single bullet hole in it was badly decomposed. >> we need dental records. and now we have to figure out who timothy wicks' dentist was. and then one of our officer

the tough thing for scott walker, in wisconsin was union guys could say you are attacking the middle class and this is an issue that resonates with americans, and they say fill you be forced to join a union and pay dues and most americans don't agree with that and republicans can frame that in a national debate and it definitely helps them. >> we have to take one more break, whe >> time for hits and misses of the week. colin. >> this is a big hit to the supreme court which ruled this week, that the government can't second-guess the decisions of religious institutions, about who they hire and fire as ministers. the decision was unanimous and a big smackdown for the obama administration, which is basically arguing churches an synagogues were do no more deference than labor unions and social clubs in terms of employment disputes and is a major victory for religious freedom and an important reminder the first amendment was intended not to protect people from religion but to protect religion from government. >> kim. >> a hit to jerry brown for his honesty. california is about to run the f

the tough thing for scott walker, in wisconsin was union guys could say you are attacking the middlehis is an issue that resonates with americans, and they say fill you be forced to join a union and pay dues and most americans don't agree with that and republicans can frame that in a national debate and it definitely helps them. >> we have to take one more break, when we come back hits and misses of the week. ium theye because they don't take it with food. switch to citracal maximum plus d. it's the only calcium supplement that can be taken with or without food. that's why my doctor recommends citracal maximum. it's all about absorption. when you walk 10,000 steps a day, it's the same as walking a professional golf course. humana. proud supporter of health and well-being. that's good morning, veggie style. hmmm. for half the calories plus veggie nutrition. could've had a v8. >> time for hits and misses of the week. colin. >> this is a big hit to the supreme court which ruled this week, that the government can't second-guess the decisions of religious institutions, about who they hire

the latest. >>> we want walker. >> big developments in wisconsin today. scott walker is raising loads of cash to fight the recall, but that money could mean trouble for the governor. state senator lena taylor is here on explain. >>> good to have you with us. president obama knows what kind of fight he's in for this year. he was in iowa today at a manufacturing plant, just what he talked about in the speech last night. the president told the crowd "we can't go back to failed policies of the past." >> after everything that's happened, there are people in washington who seem to have collective amnesia. they seem to have forgotten how we got in this mess. they want to go back to the very same policies that got us into it. same policies that stacked the deck against middle class americans for years. >> this was the same message the president had of the state of the union last night. american people approve of the message. 91% of the people watching the speech, they are in favor of the proposals the president laid out last night. think about that. 91%. 9% disapp

elector. -- of the electorate in wisconsin doing as far as the union's goal, even a local ones, they can still negotiate wages and health care and everything else the only thing different with this collective bargaining is the state takes the money out of their checks and gives it to the union. the union does not get to work for their money. now the unions have to go to the people and say we're going to do this for you and this for you, and if the people do not like what they're telling them, they deducted paid three g they do not get paid. the governor has the state coming along -- they do not get paid perianth the government has the state coming along pretty good. i am old school, health and safety. a lost my point of view here. anyway. host: randy, we will leave it there. two calls talking about the unions. will that be the biggest issue when we finally get a republican nominee? guest: i did not think so. in the recall election, the biggest explosion in u.s. history involving state legislators in wisconsin, and a lot of the

could this bring down the governor of wisconsin? what do you think? this can bring down the governor of wisconsin. and i believe that it will come and ultimately sit at a table right in front of him. how can he be less than 20 feet away from these individuals and not know what is going on? it's amazing, he knew what was going on with previous scandals that happened in our state. he always talked about tom amid but didn't know what was going on in his offices, that is ludicrous. >>> what does it mean that one of the people who has been arrested and charged is going to work with authorities? this is going to come out, is it not? we're going to find out for sure whether walker had anything to do with this and if he did, what would be the move of the state then? aren't republicans concerned about this at this point? >> well, i think that they should be. i think a lot of his money, as you noticed, has been coming from out of state you may have individuals inside the state putting their hands up and choosing to step back, they see this is really a problem an

you're the epitome of a middle-class family in wisconsin. he said to me shaking his head, i pay more than $800 a month for the health insurance premium and a little bit i set aside for 401(k). you're asking for a fraction of that and people are upset about it. to me that was the disconnect a lot of folks have who had worked outside of government that will be scored is not radical. it's actually still pretty generous compared to what most people are outside of government. it is a very reasonable expectation to make sure we can pay for the benefits we ultimately offer. >> i did a quick calculation where i showed that to match the pension benefit that a full career wisconsin state employee with good and to get a guaranteed benefit in retirement as they do come a private sector work with the same salary would invest somewhere close to a third of their salary for 401(k). so one of the things you focus on the main contributions the same when one of the defenses is benefit productions and making contributions based on a formula in the background. th

the gentleman from wisconsin. mr. petri: does the gentleman have any further requests for time? mr. costello: mr. chairman, we have one speaker. mr. petri: i continue to reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from illinois is recognized. mr. costello: i thank you, mr. speaker. at this time i recognize a valued member of the transportation and infrastructure committee, the gentlelady from the district of columbia, ms. norton. for two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlelady is recognized for two minutes. ms. norton: i thank the gentleman from illinois. this reminds me how much i regret that he has decided to retire. he was such a valuable chair of our subcommittee and member of transportation and infrastructure committee. i can only wish him all the good fortune his extraordinary productive years from the congress have earned him. but i thank both sides of the aisle for this short-term extension, short-term i am assured to wrap up some details . this is a bill that is really a great deal more bipartisan

you'll remember that law sparked massive protests in the wisconsin state capital last spring. aid the law would help balance the state budget and he he has now used his tough stance on unions to help raise millions in campaign cash. money he has already been using to fight to save his own job. mike tobin with the news. is he live in wisconsin state capital in madison. it looks like this recall election is going to happen, right? >> that's exactly right, shep. the wisconsin democrats have collected so many signatures that you could invalidate 40% of them and still force governor walker on the ballot for this recall election. in fact, all of the targeted republicans, including the lt. governor and four senate republicans are anticipating that they will be on the ballot for a recall election. they say they are looking forward to it however, the lt. governor, rebekah kleefisch says she does believe democrats are using the spirit of the recall statutes and using them to play politics. shep? >> shepard: all right. voters will have to go to the polls for this. when will that happen? >

i saw the wisconsin state journal. is running scared big time after the record-setting petition drive. he is on the ropes. he runs to the safe haven of talk radio and the noise machine. >> scott walker, i think arguably one -- if not the best -- governors of the country. >> that is what we have that thanks to the big money coming in from washington and the public employee unions. we will be able to fight, and hopefully people will join us. >> always nice to see you, sir. >> i hope given the chance this summer with the help of a lot of grassroots organizations. >> that is why they want to recall. you are doing what you said you were going to do. what you said you were going to do is working. that's the last thing the left can tolerate. >> really? i am sure rush got out of bed yesterday and said, the first thing we have to do is cover that wisconsin story. they got their machine in place. walker needs all the help he can get. the recall effort really is unpresident said. they signed a petition to recall walker. that has