Wisconsin recall web cam turned off

MADISON (AP) -- The webcam capturing all the tedious action of those reviewing petitions seeking the recall of Gov. Scott Walker has been shut down.

The camera created a minor stir and following when election officials turned it on in mid-January. The silent live shot of nameless bureaucrats shuffling through papers and feeding them into scanners generated a burst of online comment, much of it satirical.

But election officials at the Government Accountability Board said Tuesday the camera was shut down Thursday after its provider needed it for another event. Review of the petitions was slated to end Wednesday, and the GAB said it didn't make sense to reinstall it.

The board was to meet Friday to officially order recall elections for Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four Republican state senators.