Mike Ellis Part III: "The Linguistinator"

Sen. Mike Ellis truly is a man of many faces. Two weeks ago, he was the Mike Ellis who supported Governor Jim Doyle’s ethics reform package. Then, moments later, he was the Mike Ellis who said he never agreed to support such a package. (You see, HIS package was the real “reform” package.)

Well this week, in the January 15th edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (thanks to folkbum for the link), he shows a third face. Mike Ellis the linguist.

In an op-ed piece by Ellis, he acknowledges he DID help craft the ethics reform proposal Governor Doyle offered after all, but he doesn’t like it now because Doyle called it the “most comprehensive” reform proposal in the last thirty years. It’s the use of “most comprehensive” that the newest Mike Ellis doesn’t like. He thinks other comprehensive packages have been proposed, including (get ready to look surprised) his own. So the use of “most comprehensive” is really the problem, he says.

Hmmm. Sound like manure to you?

Look, Ellis is a reformer... Well, let’s at least say he is reformed.

At one time, about a decade ago, Ellis led the Senate Republicans. Ellis was a part of the sweeping changes that empowered legislative leaders then. After those changes, leaders like Jensen, Chvala and Ellis had more powers and successfully raised money for their members and candidates.

In fact, Ellis vacuumed up cash with great skill. He raised a bunch for himself and others. I have had constituents and friends share stories with me about Ellis that would make even the most aggressive violator of the public trust blush.

But now Mike Ellis is reformed. And that is good.

I just wish I knew which Mike Ellis we were dealing with from a day to day basis. That way we might actually be able to get his help in passing any kind of meaningful reform.

And, for the record, if we would pass Governor Doyle’s ethics package, it would be the “most comprehensive” reform passed in the last thirty years. That’s a damn good start.