At least, that's the headline I would write if I had a better job. Chuck Chvala pleaded out:
Former state Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala (D-Madison) today pleaded guilty to two felonies for having a state worker campaign while on state time and for funneling illegal amounts of cash into the election fund of a fellow Democrat in 2000.Those "four other legislators" include one Democrat--Brian Burke, who also copped to breaking the law--and three Republicans--former Assemblyfolk Steve Foti and Bonnie Ladwig, plus current Assembyman Scooter Jensen, who sits on the powerful Joint Finance Committee. The Republicans have yet to admit to wrongdoing, though reports at the time of Burke's plea indicated that Foti might plead, too. Foti, Ladwig, and Jensen are all accused of abusing power the same way Chvala did. Why is it so hard for them to take responsibility for it? Must be something in the Republican blood--watch the spinning tomorow when the Plame indictments come out, and you'll see what I mean.
Chvala’s sentencing was to be held soon but was postponed until December, to give his attorneys time to prepare a proposal to have him complete a community service project that he hopes would substitute for any time behind bars. [. . .]
In exchange for Chvala’s pleas, 11 other felony corruption charges — including two extortion charges that accused Chvala of asking lobbyists for campaign cash to schedule votes on their pet projects — were dismissed. Six additional counts that accused Chvala of campaign finance violations and of having state workers do on-the-job campaigning were also dismissed, but the judge can consider them when he sentences Chvala. [. . .]
Chvala and four other legislators were charged in 2002 — more than a year after a secret John Doe investigation was convened by the Dane County district attorney. The initial probe into the use of state workers to campaign on state time mushroomed into pay-to-play allegations that involved possible violations of state extortion laws.
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