Wisconsin is not immune to the kind of political scandal being seen in Illinois right now.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich faces federal charges for allegedly trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's US Senate seat. Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says it's a little shocking that someone would think they're above the law, even when their office is under an active federal investigation. McCabe says the whole situation is a little "stunning."
Wisconsinites can watch as the scandal unfolds in Illinois, but McCabe says we should also realize that something similar could easily happen in Wisconsin. He says that anytime a governor or other official is making an appointment, there's plenty of room for abuse.
With our own problems in recent years, such as the caucus scandal that resulted in charges against several lawmakers, McCabe says Wisconsin has seen its fair share of government corruption.
Blagojevich is accused of trying to use the appointment to land a high-paying job or to raise campaign cash. McCabe says it's a sign of the pressure facing many public officials who often need to raise massive amounts of campaign cash to stay in office.
