Gov. Walker, others mark one-year since recall victory



PEWAUKEE (WITI) -- Hours after the Joint Finance Committee finished finalizing the 2013-2014 budget, GOP lawmakers and supporters held a rally Wednesday night, June 5th to celebrate the anniversary of the recall election that kept Scott Walker in the Governor's Office.

The rally was held at the County Springs Hotel in Pewaukee, where Gov. Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch were among those celebrating.

It was one year ago that Gov. Walker became the first governor in U.S. history to survive a recall election. Gov. Walker beat Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in that very contentious election.

"It's good to be here, a little more relaxed. We're here to celebrate. It was more than winning an election. We won a battle of ideas," Gov. Walker said Wednesday night.

On Wednesday night, lawmakers celebrated accomplishments during the last year -- as opponents say the administration has nothing to celebrate.

“The recall ended a year ago and job growth is actually worse, much worse now. We had the single largest job loss since Walker has been elected just last month in April. It’s really a challenge to believe that the strategies are going to work because they haven’t been working in the two-and-a-half years he’s been in office," Democratic Party of Milwaukee Chair Sachin Chheda said.

Gov. Walker used his 26-minute speech to discuss changes he has made and wants to make in the state. He also used the bigger picture of Washington, D.C. and the world, which some might argue could be a sign of his intention to run for president in 2016.