Appeals toWisconsin governor: Don’t stain legacy, veto the bills
MADISON, WIS. » A bipartisan group of political figures appealed to Gov. Scott Walker to avoid staining his legacy and behaving like a sore loser by signing legislation that wouldweaken the powers of theDemocrat who defeated him.
Rather than notching another partisan victory in his final weeks in office, they said, Walker should think bigger. Think of your recently deceased father, they pleaded. Think of former PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush. Think of Christ.
“You can have a long, successful career ahead,” longtime Republican and major GOP donor Sheldon Lubar wrote toWalker in a deeply personal email. “Don’t stain it by this personal, poor-loser action. Ask yourself, what would my father say, what would the greatestmanwho ever lived, Jesus Christ, say.”
Walker, never one to shy away from a fight, gave no signs Thursday of tipping his hand. A spokesman said only that he was reviewing the bills. He’s been generally supportive of themeasures in the past, without promising to sign or veto them.
The choice is whether to satisfy fellow Republicans, who passed the bills over objections from Democrats, or strike them down to let his successor, Tony Evers, take office under the same rules in place when Walker was in charge.
“It just gets back towhat does hewant to be remembered for,” said Democratic state Sen. Jon Erpenbach. “It’s time to set aside your political beliefs and do what’s best for your state.”
Another Democrat, state Sen. TimCarpenter, askedWalker to consider the letter Bush left for his Democratic successor, Bill Clinton, wishing him well.
“GovernorWalker, PLEASE do the right thing and leave Governor- elect Evers your best wishes for him, his family and the state of Wisconsin,” Carpenter said in a statement. “GovernorWalker, what do you want your legacy to be?”
Evers said he planned to make a personal request to Walker for a veto. If that failed, Evers said, he would consider legal action.
Lubar, who first shared his email with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, urged Walker to consider his future.
The measures make it more difficult for Evers to undo the legacy of Walker and Republicans, who have had full control of Wisconsin’ s government for eight years. That includes protecting a work requirement for some people receiving state health care and blocking Evers from with drawing Wisconsin from a multi state lawsuit seeking repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
The bills could also make it harder for Evers to renegotiate a $3 billion subsidy for a Fox conn Technology Group manufacturing facility, a deal spearheaded by Walker.