In 2002, prosecutors charged a number of lawmakers and staffers as part of their investigation into state employees illegally campaigning on taxpayers' time. Authorities concluded that the partisan legislative caucuses were glorified campaign machines for their respective parties.

Prosecutors accused Jensen of putting Schultz on the public payroll to work full-time raising money for GOP candidates. In 2006, both Jensen and Schultz were convicted - he was hit with three felonies and a misdemeanor and she one felony - after a widely publicized trial.

A state appeals court later tossed the felony convictions, citing improper jury instructions, among other things. The state Supreme Court ruled that the last two defendants could be tried in their home counties.

Jensen, a Brookfield Republican, quickly scampered to Waukesha County and cut a deal with the GOP district attorney, agreeing to pay a $5,000 fine and promising not to run for office again.

Schultz has not been as lucky.

As a resident of Dane County, she faces her second trial in Madison.

Will she be offered a similarly cushy deal as her former boss?

Prosser, Jensen, Nickolaus and Zero Degrees of Separation in Tawdry Wisconsin Politics

Article from early August shows links between highly placed partisans, the 2002 corruption scandal, and the 2011 state Supreme Court election.

A new scandal is brewing here now. The FBI is investigating possible corrupt practices under Governor Scott Walker.  Last week, the FBI raided the home of a top Walker aide, walking away with a box full of undisclosed material and a computer. Other Walker staffers have resigned.  A Walker crony and big time campaign contributor is under indictment.

See previous seeds on the Walker investigation.