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Michael Ellis (Wisconsin)
Michael G. Ellis (b. February 21, 1941) was a Republican member of the Wisconsin State Senate, representing District 19 from 1982 to 2015. He served as President of the Senate from 2011 to July 17, 2012, and from 2013 to 2015.[1] On April 11, 2014, Ellis announced that he would not run for re-election that year after a video showing him discussing an illegal campaign scheme was released.[2] Ellis was the Senate Minority Leader in 1993, 1995, 1997 and 1999.
Ellis served in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1971 to 1983 and as an Alderman on the Neenah City Council from 1969 to 1975.
He passed away in July 2018.[3]
Biography
Ellis earned his B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh in 1965. His professional experience included farming and teaching.[4]
Committee assignments
2013-2014
At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Ellis served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2013 |
|---|
| • Senate Organization |
| • State and Federal Relations, Chair |
| • Employment Relations, Co-chair |
| • Legislative Organization, Co-chair |
2011-2012
At the beginning of the 2011 legislative session, Ellis served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2011 |
|---|
| • Employment Relations, Co-Chair |
| • Joint Legislative Council, Co-Chair |
| • Legislative Organization, Co-Chair |
| • Senate Organization |
2009-2010
At the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, Ellis served on the following committees:
| Wisconsin committee assignments, 2009 |
|---|
| • Ethics Reform and Government Operations |
Issues
See also: Sen. Ellis' issue positions on Project Vote Smart
Budget bill, 2011
The legislative process for creating and passing the state budget included protests and substantial attention. Late on June 16, 2011, the state Senate passed Gov. Scott Walker’s $66 billion budget on a 19-14 party-line vote after nine hours of debate.
The 2011 legislative session was sharply divided between Republican and Democratic lawmakers on nearly all of Walker’s proposed legislation. The earlier protests included two protesters who chained themselves to railings in the Senate chamber’s viewing gallery.
Republicans accused Democrats of being short-sighted and resisting measures that could bring jobs to Wisconsin, ultimately benefiting the state.
“You want to talk values? Let’s talk values,” said state Sen. Alberta Darling. “Frugality...having a job...that’s the mission we have.”
Democrats accused Republicans of ignoring the needs of children by slashing funding for education while introducing tax breaks for businesses and of targeting low-income residents while refusing to raise taxes on the wealthy.
“It’s an abandonment of our responsibility as officials to make sure that each citizen has the same opportunities,” said state Sen. Robert Jauch.[5]
Sponsored legislation
Recent legislation sponsored or co-sponsored by Sen. Ellis includes:[6]
- A bill regarding campaign finance laws
- A bill prohibiting smoking in public buildings
Elections
2010
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010
Michael Ellis was re-elected to the Wisconsin State Senate District 19 seat. He was unopposed in the primary and in the general election on November 2, 2010.[7][8][9]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 19 (2010) General Election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
 Michael Ellis (R)
|
36,122 | 99.04% | ||
| Wisconsin Senate, District 19 Republican Primary (2010) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | Percent | ||
| Michael G. Ellis (R)
|
16,511 | 99.73% | ||
Two days after the general election, Ellis was elected President of the Wisconsin State Senate by his Republican peers on November 4, 2010.[10]
2006
- See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2006
On November 7, 2006, Michael Ellis won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate, District 19. He ran unopposed.[11]
Michael Ellis raised $40,754 for his campaign.[12]
| Wisconsin State Senate, District 19 (2006) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | Votes | |||
| Michael Ellis (R)
|
51,162 | |||
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
Scorecards
A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.
Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.
Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Wisconsin scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.
2014
In 2014, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 14 through June 4.
- Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce: 2013-2014 voting record
- Legislators are scored on whether they voted for or against MMAC's position.
- National Federation of Independent Business in Wisconsin: 2013-2014 legislative voting record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on small business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to labor policy.
- Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters: 2013-2014 scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservation issues.
- Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce: 2013-2014 voting record
- Legislators are scored on their votes on legislation WMC deemed as "most important issues for the business community."
- Wisconsin Professional Police Association: 2013-2014 report card
- Legislators are scored on their votes by the Wisconsin Professional Police Association on legislation related to Wisconsin's law enforcement community.
- Wisconsin Sierra Club: 2013-2014 scorecard
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to environmental issues.
2013
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2013, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2013, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 7 to December 31.
|
2012
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2012, click [show]. |
|---|
|
In 2012, the Wisconsin State Legislature was in session from January 10 through March 16.
|
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ellis is married to his wife, Sandy. He is a native of Neenah.[4][13]
Noteworthy events
Illegal PAC comments
On April 9, 2014, the conservative group Project Veritas released a hidden-camera recording of Ellis contemplating setting up a political action committee to attack his Democratic opponent in the 2014 election. Ellis noted in the video that he was considering having his fundraiser, Judi Rhodes Engels, head the PAC. Following the recording's release, Rhodes Engels quit Ellis' campaign, while Ellis announced on April 11 that he would not seek re-election. Ellis was slated to face his first competition in 16 years.[14][15]
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Michael + Ellis + Wisconsin + Senate"
See also
- Wisconsin State Legislature
- Wisconsin State Senate
- Wisconsin State Senate Committees
- Wisconsin Joint Committees
- Wisconsin state legislative districts
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Wisconsin Radio Network, "Senate leadership transferred to Democrats," July 17, 2012
- ↑ Journal Sentinel, "Mike Ellis drops out of state Senate race," April 11, 2014
- ↑ WTMJ, "Former Wisconsin State Senate President Mike Ellis passes away," July 20, 2018
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Reporter, "Senate OKs budget above din of protesters," June 16th, 2011
- ↑ Wisconsin State Legislature, "Wisconsin Legislative Documents," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Candidates Registered by Office, 2010," July 13, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 Primary election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2010 General election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Fitzgerald, Ellis elected to leadership positions," November 4, 2010
- ↑ Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, "Official 2006 General election results," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Follow The Money, "Ellis, Michael," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ Wisconsin State Senate, "Biography," accessed April 25, 2014
- ↑ jsonline.com, "GOP's Mike Ellis caught on recording talking of illegal fundraising," April 9, 2014
- ↑ host.madison.com, "On Politics: Senate President Mike Ellis announces he won't run for re-election," April 11, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by ' |
Wisconsin State Senate District 19 1998-2015 |
Succeeded by Roger Roth (R) |
