MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wasted no time taking on critics who launched an effort to recall him Tuesday, saying that protests outside his home were "crossing the line" and showed disregard for families in his suburban Milwaukee neighborhood.
Opponents have been protesting outside Walker's private home as part of their campaign to remove Walker from office next year. They officially launched a drive Tuesday to collect 540,208 signatures needed within 60 days to force a recall election in the spring.
Republican Walker was elected in November, 2010 and immediately pushed through the legislature a new law limiting the collective bargaining power of public sector unions. The move, which he said was necessary to balance state finances, outraged union members and Democrats, who vowed to recall him.
Walker made his comments Tuesday morning on conservative talk show host Charlie Sykes' program on WTMJ-AM. A rally was planned by recall organizers Tuesday with buses taking Walker opponents to a local park.
The debate over the union law and Walker's stance has polarized the state.
Most recent polls show that there are few undecided voters in Wisconsin and that the recall vote could be close.
A survey for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute between Oct. 23 and 26 showed a virtual dead heat with 49 percent opposed to recalling Walker and 47 percent in favor.