By Brendan O’Brien
MILWAUKEE, April 30 (Reuters) – Wisconsin’s controversial
Republican Governor Scott Walker said on Monday that his
campaign raised $13 million in a little over three months to
ward off a fervent attempt by Democrats and unions to remove him
from office.
The first-term governor, who is facing an historic and
expensive special election in June, raised the unprecedented
amount between Jan. 17 and April 23, according to a finance
report filed with the state.
The amount represents more than seven times the combined
amount raised by his two main Democratic challengers —
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive
Kathleen Falk, according to finance reports.
Barrett raised more than $750,000 since he joined the race
to unseat Walker on March 30, and Falk raised more than $1
million since she joined the race on Jan. 17.
Walker enraged Democrats and unions in Wisconsin when he
pushed through the legislature last spring a measure drastically
reducing their powers. The law forced them to pay a portion of
the cost of health insurance and pensions, capped wage
increases, and required unions to be recertified every year.
Opponents gathered nearly a million signatures to recall
Walker and a vote will be held on June 5 to decide between
Walker and a Democrat chosen in a May 8 primary.
(Writing by Greg McCune; Editing by Dan Burns)
