'I didn't like this when Democrats did it, why would I like it when Republicans do it?'

Advertisement Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum, a Republican, bills GOP lame-duck legislation a 'power grab' 'I didn't like this when Democrats did it, why would I like it when Republicans do it?' Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott McCallum on Sunday dubbed legislation that comes out of lame-duck sessions a "power grab" and poor public policy, and he urged Gov. Scott Walker to reject bills approved last week by the legislature that would weaken the authority of the offices of governor and attorney general. McCallum, who served as lieutenant governor under Tommy Thompson and was elevated to the office after Thompson was tapped to serve in President George W. Bush's administration, said Walker and Gov.-Elect Tony Evers have an opportunity "to change the tone in this state.""I am hopeful is that Gov. Walker will discuss with Gov.-elect Evers and make some commitments as to how we're going to operate the state of Wisconsin," he told WISN 12 NEWS in a phone interview. "It becomes very dangerous; we keep going down this slope of getting worse and worse, and as I tell people: I didn't like this when Democrats did it, why would I like it when Republicans do it?"Walker has expressed support for the measures, passed early Wednesday as part of a rare lame-duck legislative session and in an effort to try to protect some of the GOP's achievements in recent years. In a separate interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Evers labeled the lame-duck session and the legislation that came out of it "a hot mess."Evers, a Democrat, said he's spoken with Walker and urged him to veto the bills. He previously said that if he cannot persuade the governor to veto the proposals, he will consider lawsuits and any other option "to make sure that this legislation does not get into practice."