The Hurtgen Affair

Even I don't like to kick someone when he's down (well, OK, maybe Tom DeLay, but he's still not down far enough for me).

So I have restrained myself from commenting, until now, on the charges against P. Nicholas Hurtgen, known to everyone in Wisconsin political circles as Nick.

But a week has gone, and some of the dust has settled, so here goes:

Charlie Sykes bashed the Journal Sentinel story for identifying Hurtgen as someone with close ties to Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker, but not Jim Doyle.

Methinks there is a big difference between Peter (Peter? Who knew what the P was for?) Nicholas Hurtgen's relationship with Tommy, who ushered at Hurtgen's wedding, and his relationship with Doyle. Nick, with Jim Klauser and others, has been part of Tommy's Rat Pack for at least 15 years.

Hurtgen played a much more active role in raising money for Walker, too, with Walker acknowledging he raised at least $25,000 in two Chicago events in 2003.

As a wheeler dealer in the bond business, Hurtgen belonged to the Incumbent party, like his uncle, Bill Gerrard, another LaCrosse native who has always played both sides. When the smart money said Doyle was going to win the governor's race, Nick showed up at a Doyle event and brought along a few friends, apparently. Covering his bets.

But business aside, Hurtgen is a Republican. So is Stuart Levine, his co-defendant, although Levine survived the change in Illinois' governorship from Republican to Democrat (a lesson for Gov. Rod Blagojevich; get your own people.)

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The case points up the difference between how the private and public sectors operate.

Hurtgen resigned his job at Bear, Stearns last July, when some of the possible charges first became public in a federal whistleblower lawsuit, but long before any indictment. He was indicted May 9 on seven felony charges of influence-peddling, extortion and related charges in connection with Illnois hospital construction projects.

Scott Jensen, on the other hand, was indicted on Oct.. 18, 2002 -- two and a half years ago -- and continues not only to serve in public office but also to hold key positions in the Assembly Republican ranks. It is true he gave up the Speaker's job, but his role on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee is a plum, and he still plays a key strategic role in the GOP caucus.

State Rep. Jim Kreuser, the minority leader, raised the issue last week and said Jensen cast a cloud over the committee. GOP leaders rose to Jensen's defense and said he had been reelected overwhelmingly, (true but in a heavily Republican district without any real challenge.)

If Republicans are going to continue to let Jensen play the tune, the GOP should be prepared to pay the piper in next year's campaigns. And Speaker John Gard, who appoints Jensen to those positions of trust, may find it an issue in his race for Congress.

UPDATE: Spivak and Bice note that some Hurtgen friends are looking to put some distance between themselves and Nick. Interesting note that Hurtgen was introducing J.B. Van Hollen, AG candidate, to people at a recent Tommy T. event. (What's the JB stand for, anyway?)