The Goyke Report


February 25, 2015
 
 Contact Me  

State Capitol
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708

PH: (608) 266-0645
TF: (888) 534-0018
FAX: (608) 282-3618

E-Mail: Rep.Goyke@legis.wi.gov
On the Web: goyke.assembly.wi.gov

   In The District  

On February 20th I was proud to join with community members and formally dedicate the new Progressive Community Health Center on Lisbon Avenue. As a patient and board member I am very excited about this new center in our community!

 

Rep. Goyke reading to children at the opening of the new Progressive Community Health Center

 

Milwaukee County Winter Farmers Market

 

Date: Saturdays, Nov. 1 through Apr. 11.

Location: Milwaukee

Description: The indoor Milwaukee Farmers Market starts early November, and encourages community members to buy local. The Farmer's market takes place at the Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory.

On Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM, enjoy the  wide array of Farmer's Market offerings including fresh herbs, grass-fed meats, free-range eggs, baked goods, seasonal jams, and more.

 

Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory

524 S Layton Blvd
Milwaukee, WI 53215

Rep. Goyke speaking on the Assembly floor

Energy Assistance

With winter still upon us, I encourage you to closely examine your residence to see how you can winterize and make your home more energy efficient so you can save money on heating and electric costs.

The United States Department of Energy and its Energy Saver Website provide many ideas and resources on how to save on energy costs.

Wisconsin's Focus on Energy Program helps citizens lower their energy consumption and costs by making their homes more energy efficient. Please visit their website here to learn how you can save more money on your energy bill.

  At the Capitol

Please join me in welcoming the newest addition to my staff - Raina Johnson! The 18th Assembly District is fortunate to have Raina working everyday alongside me on your behalf to help improve our community.

Raina and Rep. Goyke

I recently welcomed to the Capitol a group of Boy Scouts who came to give their annual Report to the State of Wisconsin. As an Eagle Scout, I was proud to join and host them.

Rep. Goyke speaking to the Boy Scouts in the Assembly Chamber

On January 21st Story School visited the Capitol and I was able to help show the students around the Capitol. Thank you for visiting!

Story School students learning about the "ghost" in the mural above the rostrum in the Assembly chamber

Refugees from Milwaukee who participate with the Neighborhood House's International Learning Center (ILC) recently visited the Capitol and spoke with me in the North Hearing room about expanding college aid programs for minority students. The largest contingent of visitors from the District so far this session!

Rep. Goyke with the ILC group

Employment Resource

The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) has a Skill Explorer website that provides a free job search tool allowing Wisconsin workers to search for employment opportunities that match their existing skills and training. Skill Explorer can be found by clicking here.

Workers can search for career opportunities on the Skill Explorer website by typing in their former or current job title. Skill Explorer provides a list of current openings relating to the work experience of that job through openings on Job Center of Wisconsin. Skill Explorer provides overviews explaining what each specific job entails, how much workers typically make in that position, and any special training or background needed for the occupation. Skill Explorer’s mapping function will show hot spots in the state for particular occupations, as well as allow individuals to search for current openings by county.

In addition, the City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and UMOS have partnered to fund 135 transitional job placements in City departments. There are certain requirements to apply for these jobs.

Click here for more details.

2013-2014 Blue Books

Each legislative session, the State of Wisconsin prints Blue Books and allocates a number of them to legislators to distribute to constituents back home. Blue Books are a wonderful resource to learn about and understand State Government. I still have a number of Blue Books available. If you would like one, please contact me and I can drop it off in person or mail it to you directly.

 

 
 


Friends and Neighbors,

 

I hope this communication finds you and your family well and that you are staying warm during the final weeks of winter. Spring will be upon us soon! I know I am looking forward to walking our family dog, working outside in my yard and garden, and supporting the Brewers in their new season.

 

With the new session of the legislature beginning last month, I wanted to keep you updated and informed. I have outlined below many new events, ideas, and legislation that have developed since my last communication to you.

 

As your representative it is always my goal to be as accessible as possible. If your neighborhood association, club, or community group is having a meeting, please consider inviting me to attend. We can discuss how your voices, values, and concerns influence my work in the Capitol. Please call my office at (608) 266-0645 and let me know about your local event. I’d love to visit with you in Milwaukee.


I hope this update is helpful to keep you informed of my work on behalf of our community and ideas that I am proposing. I welcome any feedback or ideas you may have. As always, please let me know if I can be of any assistance to you.


 
Evan Goyke
State Representative
18th Assembly District
 

 

Rep. Goyke Sworn In For Second Term

 

I am honored and humbled to continue representing our community here in the State Legislature. I promise that I will continue to bring the same energy and positivity I see in Milwaukee to work in Madison.

Throughout the 2015-16 legislative session I will serve as Ranking Member on the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. I will also serve as a member of the Assembly Committees on Public Benefit Reform, Judiciary, Agriculture, Constitution and Ethics, and Veterans.

 

 

Rep. Goyke inaugurated at the State Capitol

 

Legislative Council Study Committee Legislation Advances to Legislature

 

Last summer and fall I served as Vice-Chair to a Legislative Council Study Committee that looked in-depth at problem-solving courts, alternatives, and diversions. The committee examined veterans courts, drug and alcohol courts, and drunk driving courts in Wisconsin. I am proud to report that the Joint Legislative Council recently voted in favor of introducing three pieces of legislation drafted last fall by the committee.

 

The recommendations had overwhelming bipartisan support from the 16 members of the committee, which included legislators, judges, prosecutors, treatment providers and mental health advocates.

The three study committee bills will now be introduced to the full legislature for consideration by the State Assembly and State Senate. All committee materials and complete drafts of the recommendations can be found on the Wisconsin Legislative Council website.


 

Legislation I Am Working On:

 

Home Foreclosures and Abandoned Properties

I continue to lead the charge to change Wisconsin’s law related to foreclosed and abandoned homes. As I have said, our community should be empowered to solve this problem, which requires some changes to state law. Bill drafts are being worked on and I continue to meet with local and state leaders to gain their support.

Good news! The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently issued a unanimous ruling in favor of a Milwaukee widow who was foreclosed on, yet her bank never acted to sell the property.  For two years, taxes and charges on the property were filed against her even though the bank already won the foreclosure lawsuit.  The ruling allows a court to order the sale of an abandoned property when the foreclosure lawsuit has already been awarded.  These are so-called "zombie" properties and the decision is a win for our community!

A copy of the Court's decision may be found here

 

Legislation I Have Supported:

Some of the legislation I have recently supported and co-sponsored include...

  • Increasing the Minimum Wage

  • Made in America Act

  • Non-Partisan Redistricting Reform

  • Buy Wisconsin Bill

  • Voucher School Accountability

  • Creation of low-profit limited liability companies or L3C's to leverage private dollars to administer services for charitable good

 

Legislation I Fought Against:

Some of the legislation I have recently opposed include...

  • Cuts to the UW System in Governor Walker's budget proposal

  • Right to Work

  • Change in election of the Wisconsin Chief Justice

2015-2017 Biennial Budget:

Rep. Goyke's copy of the budget bill

Thank you for your engagement on the Governor's recent budget proposal for the 2015-2017 biennium. I have heard from numerous constituents in our community who are concerned about various provisions in the budget. Please know that I am continuing to review the budget in its entirety and am working with my colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to find ways to improve it and remove harmful proposals.

If you have ideas or thoughts, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

ALERT! Double-Deck Freeway Expansion Option Rejected:

As you most likely know, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) recently rejected the option to double-deck the freeway as part of its I-94 East-West corridor project. I am against the double-decking option, as are many of you, and I applaud WisDOT for this decision. I thank all of you for joining me in this opposition and for so many fellow community members appearing at the public hearings. Together our voices were heard. 

 

Long-Term Proposal Update:

Extension of Hank Aaron Trail and Re-Design of Highway 41 - On Monday, I met again with WisDOT regarding the I-94 East-West corridor project and my proposals to extend the Hank Aaron Trail and re-design of Highway 41. With the proposal to double-deck the highway being taken off the table, this cost savings could enable WisDOT to incorporate these ideas into their overall project plan. I will continue to keep you informed on these developments.

 

Welcome Daddy's Soul Food & Grille to the 18th Assembly District!

Husband/wife duo owners, Bennie and Angela Smith held a grand opening ceremony for their new restaurant; Daddy’s Soul Food & Grille in the SOHI District, at 754 N. 27th St. Daddy’s offers a wide range of soul food, comfort dishes to please any palate.

 

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