'Pay-for-play' no fun for state taxpayers
11:27 AM 6/26/02

indentIt became a cardinal rule of politics after the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s: It's not the indiscretion or even the crime that lands you in big trouble, but the cover-up. State Sen. Brian Burke appears to be learning that rule the hard way.
indentBurke was criminally charged Wednesday with withholding and altering evidence in an attempt to hide his alleged illegal use of state employees and state resources to conduct private campaign activity. Two people who worked in Burke's Senate office were also charged with misdemeanor or civil counts.
indentThe 18 felony counts against Burke include misconduct in public office, fraudulent concealment of a public record, withholding a subpoena document and altering documents. Those are serious charges against a lawmaker who served as co-chairman of the Legislature's permanent budget committee and who, until this spring, was the leading Democratic Party candidate for attorney general.
indentIt's a sign of the times in state politics that the man who aspired to enforce the laws of Wisconsin is now accused of breaking them.
indentThe complaint accuses Burke of "systemically and repeatedly breaking the law in his attempt to become attorney general," in the words of Dane County District Attorney Brian Blanchard. That means investigators believe Burke committed more than random acts of political shenanigans. The complaint alleges a pattern of willful misconduct that ranges from destruction of documents to claiming expense payments for days on which Burke was not in Madison on state business.
indentWorse yet, the complaint alleges that Burke and his staffers arranged meetings in state offices to shake down surprised lobbyists who believed they had been summoned to discuss pending bills. That's what Capitol insiders call "pay-for-play," and it's a corrosive practice that undermines the credibility of the entire legislative process. Policy decisions should never be held ransom to campaign donations.
indentThe scope of the investigation by Blanchard and Milwaukee County District Attorney E. Michael McCann suggests the charges against Burke and his two aides are the tip of the iceberg. A number of people have been granted immunity from charges in return for their testimony; many others have hired lawyers at state expense. In fact, it would be surprising if Burke and his staffers were the only Capitol insiders named in complaints.
indentThe "John Doe" criminal investigation began after the Wisconsin State Journal reported in mid-2001 that employees of the Legislature were doing campaign work on state time. With the filing of the criminal complaint, however, the story now enters a new phase. For the first time, hard evidence has surfaced to indicate a key state legislator was for sale. Heaven help Wisconsin government if that's the rule rather than the exception.