Political Briefing: The States and the Issues;Wisconsin: Recall Alters Balance of Power

How volatile is American politics these days? Consider Wisconsin, where the Republicans just lost control of the State Senate because of a recall election.

State Senator George Petak, a two-term Republican from Racine, became the first lawmaker in Wisconsin history to be removed in a recall. The furor was over his vote last fall for a financing package -- including a sales tax -- to construct a new baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Brewers. Mr. Petak cast the deciding vote for the stadium after twice voting against it, and after promising that he would oppose it.

His Democratic opponent, State Representative Kimberly M. Plache, referred to the stadium package as "the Republican rape of Racine." (It may be relevant that Racine includes a healthy number of Cubs fans.) Mr. Petak said he did not regret his vote, arguing that it was "a difficult one, but a proper one." He also denied that he had been pressured to change his vote by Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, although the Republican Governor was a strong advocate of the financing package.

Democrats, for their part, were euphoric; Ms. Plache's victory gave them a 17-to-16 majority in the Senate until November, when 16 seats are up. Vice President Al Gore called Senate Democrats during the week to extend congratulations -- and the hope that the vote would be a harbinger of things to come.

June 9, 1996

control of the Senate in Wisconsin".

brewers have a 10 year old stadium. bucks have an ancient pile of bricks.