MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a sweeping package of Republican-written legislation Friday that restricts early voting and weakens the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general, brushing aside complaints that he is enabling a brazen power grab and ignoring the will of voters.
Signing the bills just 24 days before he leaves office, the Republican governor and one-time presidential candidate downplayed bipartisan criticism that they amount to a power grab that will stain his legacy.
Walkers action Friday came as Michigans Rick Snyder, another Midwestern GOP governor soon to be replaced by a Democrat, signed legislation Friday in a lame-duck session that significantly scales back minimum wage and paid sick leave laws that began as citizen initiatives. Michigans Republican legislators also are weighing legislation resembling Wisconsins that would strip or dilute the authority of incoming elected Democrats.
The push in both states mirrors tactics employed by North Carolina Republicans in 2016.
Speaking for 20 minutes and using charts to make his points, Walker detailed all of the governors powers, including a strong veto authority, that will not change while defending the measures he signed as improving transparency, stability and accountability.
Walker was urged by Democrats and Republicans, including Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers and former Republican Gov. Scott McCallum, to reject the legislation. Walker, who was defeated by Evers for a third term, had earlier said he was considering partial vetoes, but he ultimately did not strike anything.
Evers accused Walker of ignoring and overriding the will of the people by signing the bills into law.
This will no doubt be his legacy, Evers said in a statement.
Walker, speaking after he signed the bills, brushed aside what he called high-pitched hysteria from critics of the legislation. He said his legacy will be the record he left behind that includes all-but eliminating collective bargaining for public workers, not the lame-duck measures.
Democrats and liberal advocacy groups are expected to sue within days over the bills, which was pushed through the Republican-controlled Legislature during a lame-duck session last week.
