The group that says it is considering launching a recall of Democratic state Sen. Bob Jauch of Poplar says it will make an announcement next week. Jauch opponent Shirl LaBarre of Hayward says the stalled bill that would speed up the permitting process of iron ore mining for the Penokee Range has generated more interest in recalling Jauch.
"It certainly did. People are very frustrated and upset and angry over it," LaBarre said. "I've had tons of calls, tons of emails, tons of Facebooks, people saying 'let's go.'"
LaBarre, with the backing of the Milwaukee-based group Citizens for Responsible Government, is heading an effort that will decide whether or not to collect signatures to recall Jauch. She says this stems from his opposition to a Republican-backed mining bill. She says it doesn't matter that Jauch is co-sponsoring an alternative mining bill with Republican state Sen. Dale Schultz, "It's not at all. His mining bill is exactly what we've said all along. No mining."
As for Jauch? He says he's not worrying about a recall no.
"Right now I am completely committed to trying to come up with a responsible mining law," he said.
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Jauch was first elected to the state assembly in 1982, and then to the senate in 1986. It would take 15,270 signatures to trigger a recall election. LaBarre says if Jauch votes for the Republican mining bill, they won't launch the recall. Jauch says that won't happen.
