The call drew a chilly response from the campaign of McCallum's Democratic opponent in the Nov. 5 election, Attorney General Jim Doyle, which called it a political ploy.

"Better late than never," said Bill Christofferson, a Doyle campaign spokesman. "He had a chance last summer to pass the real campaign finance reform and instead he sided with (Senate Majority Leader) Chuck Chvala and (Assembly Speaker) Scott Jensen and put a phony provision in the budget."

Christofferson was referring to a reform measure widely expected to be struck down by the courts as unconstitutional.

Libertarian candidate for governor Ed Thompson said McCallum will be a lame-duck governor by the time the special session is to take place. "This is just a political ploy,' he said. What state government needs is a real outsider like Thompson to "clean house," Thompson said.

Green Party candidate Jim Young said he agrees with banning money during the budget process. But he criticized the Ethics and Elections boards for favoring Republicans and Democrats.