Former GOP employee testifies about political work on state time

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Feb. 24, 2006
Former GOP employee testifies about political work on state time

TODD RICHMOND
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. - State employees who worked for Assembly Republicans served as a central command for GOP candidates statewide, answering fundraising questions, developing campaign messages and churning out candidate flyers, yard signs and logos, two former employees testified Friday at the misconduct trial of state Rep. Scott Jensen.

Prosecutors in the trial of Jensen and former GOP aide Sherry Schultz - the last of six people charged in an investigation into corruption at the state Capitol - contend the activities violated the law against electioneering on state time. The defense argues that the law does not specifically outlaw the campaign work.

Ray Carey, a former director of the taxpayer-funded Assembly Republican Caucus, testified he worked closely with Jensen, then the Assembly speaker, in the late 1990s to develop campaign strategies, monitor candidates' progress and track their fundraising.

Carey, who doubled as executive director of the Republican Assembly Campaign Committee, a private committee established to raise funds for GOP candidates, said the goal of both jobs was to ensure Republicans kept control of the Assembly.
(snip/...)

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/13956165.htm

[tom_paine]

1. Damn, they are corrupt bastards at nearly every level!

Makes you wonder if they have an IT group with some Diebold passwords, too.

[theshadow]

3. Actually, Democrats got caught, too.

The former senate majority leader (dem) was convicted. It's sick. We used to be known for clean government, but the money is corrupting everything.

[annabanana]

2. and any State employees "left over"

from other administrations? I guess they just had to do the partisan work & keep their mouths shut.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. The whole state gov't turned into a cesspool during the

(many) years of the Tommy Thompson administration. Wehn one side of the aisle started playing dirty, the other side did the same thing to catch up. Chuck Chvala Dem (suddenly braindead-can't remember whether Senate or Assembly) leader has already been convicted.