Un-indicted Co-Conspirators in Caucus Scandal Threaten Filibuster on Ethics Reform

Three Madison area legislators are threatening to filibuster the final day of the legislative session if Senate Bill 1 relating to ethics and election reform is not brought the full Assembly for a vote. All three legislators are linked to the illegal campaign activity of the partisan caucuses.

First we have State Representative Mark Pocan. Department of Justice interviews with Assembly Democratic staff reveal that Pocan was deeply involved in campaigning on state time:

• Bjork stated that it was the job of Jeff Plale, Gregory Huber, Antonio Riley, Mark Pocan and Krug to carry the brunt of the fundraising responsibilities. Bjork relayed that there would have been meetings about that in Krug’s office. 11/27/02 Bjork page 3.

• Bjork stated that Raghu was introduced to the non-leadership Assembly members during a closed caucus meeting at the capital. During that time members were asked to sign up to help with a fundraising event that was coming up…Bjork relayed that during that closed meeting, she believed that Pocan and Plale were “plants” within the meeting, stating “I’ll sign up” with the intent that others would see them and volunteer and also sign up to make calls. This meeting occurred on state property. 11/08/01 Bjork page 14
  
• Turning to ADCC meetings, R.D. said that he, Bjork and Judge would meet with Plale and Pocan usually in Plale’s office in the Capitol every few weeks during an afternoon…During these meetings the group talked about candidate recruitment They would go through each race. Fundraising was also discussed…One focus of the ADCC meetings in Plale’s office was how and when to do events to raise money. 12/03/01 Devaguptapu page 10.

• In 1999, Judge attended two ADCC Meetings that were held in Plale’s Capitol office. Pocan and Devaguptapu were also there. The purpose of the meetings was to discuss fundraising for members including topics such as how to mobilize campaign workers, how to be the most effective, how to raise money for the ADCC and how to put together call lists. 10/16/01 Judge page 2.

Next we have State Representative Joe Parisi who was linked to coordinated Democratic campaign that used state employees and equipment to compile voter lists for the election. Parisi was Dane County Clerk at the time.

This is what former Democratic Party worker Don Fish said about Parisi:

"I had a telephone conversation with Joe Parisi regarding using voter lists developed by the legislature in the spring elections. I mentioned that I was concerned about the source of the lists and suggested I develop new lists for the election. Mr. Parisi agreed this would be betterbut said he believed "there would not be enough time."

Better to get those lists done on time rather than done legally huh Joe?

And who could forget Sondy Pope Roberts and the campaign memo that launched a thousand DOJ interviews?

Wisconsin State Journal reporter Dee Hall wondered why the name and phone number of state employee Jacob Whittwer of the ADCC appeared on a Pope Roberts campaign memo in 2000. Pope Roberts lost her Assembly bid in 2000 but was subsequently elected in 2002.

Jacob Whittwer now works for the State Court of Appeals. How nice for him.