MADISON, Wis. -- State Rep. Scott Jensen's defense began in earnest on Monday at his misconduct trial after two weeks of prosecution witnesses.

Monday's proceedings were designed to set the stage for Jensen, R-Waukesha, who is expected to take the stand in his own defense on Tuesday against charges that he ran a secret campaign machine using state resources at the Capitol, WISC-TV reported.

His defense team's strategy appears to be that Jensen wasn't aware of what his employees were up to and that the line between campaign activity and state policy work is sometimes vague.

To that end, a former Jensen aide testified on Monday that Republic lawmaker was a big-picture manager who wasn't concerned with how his employees got their work done.

The testimony of Steve Baas is in contrast to the picture painted by other staffers in Jensen's trial. Those staffers were prosecution witnesses.

Jensen is accused of directing state employees to run Republican political campaigns while on the state's payroll. Jensen's co-defendant, former state employee Sherry Schultz, is accused of doing campaign work while being paid by taxpayers.

Baas said that the line between legitimate legislative work and illegal campaign activity was blurry. He said that he did campaign work from his state office, but doesn't believe Jensen was aware of it.

Baas admitted that he wrote material used for campaign fundraising letters, but he said that the material was also used for constituent mail or for newsletters. He said that he used state resources, such as his computer, to produce the letters.

"I provide a fair bit of information again, the line between what was campaign and what was policy is extremely vague," Baas said. "And information used in one context was used in many contexts."

Jensen is charged with three felonies for allegedly using state-paid staffers to do political work while serving as Assembly speaker. Those charges include hiring Schultz solely to raise money for GOP candidates. Schultz faces a felony charge of her own and is on trial along with Jensen.

Among those that could be called to testify are former Gov. Tommy Thompson, former Assembly Speaker David Prosser -- now a state Supreme Court justice -- and current Assembly Speaker John Gard, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen is the last of five lawmakers who were charged in 2002 after media reports detailed similar allegations.

The other four legislators -- fellow ex-Republican Reps. Steve Foti and Bonnie Ladwig and former Democratic Sens. Brian Burke and Chuck Chvala -- all struck plea agreements with prosecutors to avoid trials.

Burke and Chvala were sentenced to jail time. Former Assistant Assembly Majority Leader Ladwig is expected to pay $4,500 in fines and restitution, WISC-TV reported.

Foti's deal with prosecutors entailed his pleading to a misdemeanor and the state recommending just 30 days in jail. He has already started a successful career as a lobbyist, WISC-TV reported.

Jensen stepped down as Assembly speaker after he was charged with three felonies and one misdemeanor.

NOTE: WISC-TV's Colin Benedict provides behind-the-scenes coverage of the Jensen trial in his new blog.