WASHINGTON Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) says the uproar over the extraordinary proposals aimed at reducing the power of incoming Gov. Tony Evers and other Democrats in Wisconsin is way overblown.

The Republican-controlled state legislature in Wisconsin passed a series of proposals shortly before dawn on Wednesday that would cut early voting in the state, give Republicans full control of a state economic development agency, block the governors ability to write regulations and allow the legislature to hire its own lawyers to file lawsuits on behalf of the state.

The GOP measures are being widely seen as an attempt to cripple the authority of statewide Democrats before they take power in January. Current Gov. Scott Walker, who narrowly lost re-election to Evers last month, is expected to sign the package into law.

But Johnson, the senior senator from Wisconsin, downplayed its impact and expressed confidence about any potential consequences Republicans may face.

Oh, I dont know, it depends on how much you guys blow it out of proportion, I suppose, Johnson told reporters when asked if hes concerned about a voter backlash.

He added that Walker had vetoed the proposals earlier this year, so this is really what [they] wanted to do for quite some period of time.