Craig Gilbert

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Gov. Scott Walker is being urged by one of his GOP predecessors to reject some of the controversial post-election changes passed by Republican legislators to curb the authority of the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general.

“It appears completely political, (like) a power grab,” former Republican Gov. Scott McCallum said in an interview with the Journal Sentinel.

McCallum said Walker, who was defeated for a third term by Democrat Tony Evers, has an opportunity to avoid the “appearance of sour grapes” and “become open and transparent and reach out in a very public fashion” to discuss the lame-duck legislation with Evers before signing anything into law.

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McCallum, 68, is a businessman and former Republican state lawmaker from Fond du Lac. He served as lieutenant governor under Tommy Thompson and became governor in 2001 when Thompson left office in the middle of his fourth term to serve as U.S. secretary of health and human services under President George W. Bush. McCallum was defeated in his 2002 bid for a full-term by Democrat Jim Doyle.

McCallum said Walker should veto some of the proposals passed by GOP lawmakers and consider vetoing others. He said both parties have played political games, but “we seem to be going down a very slippery slope of personal power over public policy.”

The former GOP governor said the Republican push to curtail the incoming governor’s authority right after losing an election hurts public faith in the democratic process, makes it “difficult for the next person to govern” and invites retaliation by Democrats in the future.

“It’s the wrong time to do it. It's not done for the right reason. It is not transparent. It is not a good way to create public policy," McCallum said.

There are going to be differences over executive control and legislative control, but you don’t play it out in the dark of night. You don’t make the changes after an election without hearings, without having the public involved, without having a vetting process. You can understand why there is frustration by the public with the system.”

McCallum was also critical of the number of appointments Walker has made on his way out of office, saying it constrains his successor.

Doyle, Walker’s Democratic predecessor, has sharply criticized the lame-duck session.

Republican Tommy Thompson, who won four terms as governor, declined to comment on the measures passed by the Legislature early Wednesday, saying he didn't "want to get involved."

Some Republican insiders in Wisconsin have been privately critical of the Legislature’s move, but few have spoken out publicly.

McCallum said this should be an opportunity for Walker and Evers to work together on the transition, set a national example and “change the tone” at a very partisan and polarized time.

“That tone deteriorated when (Gov. Walker) was in office, maybe through fault of his own, maybe not. Wouldn’t it be just a wonderful thing to conclude (his tenure) by changing the tone for the state and setting a good example for what can be done?” McCallum said.

Molly Beck of the Journal Sentinel contributed to this report.

How to contact Gov. Scott Walker

The Legislature sent a package of bills to Gov. Scott Walker after an all-night session. Walker can sign the bills into law, veto them, or exercise his partial veto authority to strike certain provisions before signing them. You can contact him at:

Gov. Scott Walker:

(608) 266-1212, govgeneral@wisconsin.gov, walker.wi.gov/contact-us