I hope this e-update finds you healthy and safe. I wanted to share some updates regarding some exciting personal news, legislative issues, and the state budget process.
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Evan Goyke State Representative 18th Assembly District
Welcome Miguel Christopher Goyke
Over the years of being a neighbor and going door to door, I have gotten to know many of you and your families. I wanted to share a very exciting announcement about mine! On Sunday, May 23rd, my wife Gaby and I celebrated the birth of our first child– Miguel Christopher Goyke. We are proud new parents, not getting any sleep, and look forward to seeing you out and about in our community soon!
Joint Finance Committee
This session I serve as the Senior Assembly Democrat on our state’s budget-writing committee, the Joint Committee on Finance. As you know and have seen in the news, the committee has been debating and creating our next State budget. My Democratic colleagues and I have continued to advocate for the important investments introduced by Governor Evers in February. Some of these provisions include expanding BadgerCare eligibility to more of our neighbors, investing more in K-12 and higher education, and taking advantage of federal dollars coming to Wisconsin to help us recover from the pandemic.
The Joint Finance Committee concluded its work this week. The new version of the budget bill will be forwarded to the Legislative Reference Bureau to be written and then sent to the Assembly and Senate for a vote before the entire legislature prior to it being sent to Governor Evers. I expect this action to happen over the next couple of weeks prior to the July 4th holiday.
I have included below links to Budget Bulletins that have been put together following each day of action taken by the committee should you want to learn more and take a deeper dive into the information.
Thank you to all of our neighbors and community members who have contacted me about your budget priorities. Please reach out and continue to provide your feedback and thoughts as the legislature continues to shape Wisconsin’s next state budget.
Pictured above: Rep. Goyke testifying in support of Expungement Reform with his Republican co-authors Rep. David Steffen and Sen. Alberta Darling.
Reforming Wisconsin’s outdated expungement law to provide employment opportunities for our neighbors has long been a legislative priority. Important reforms to Wisconsin’s expungement law continue to progress in the legislature. I am proud to have authored this bill since my election to the legislature and continue to work toward its passage and enactment into law. I am excited to report that on Wednesday, June 16th the State Assembly passed this important bill. It now goes before the State Senate for a vote by the full body.
I am excited about the continued positive response this policy has received and the bi-partisan effort to get the expungement process modernized. Information about the bill can be found HERE. We are very hopeful that the bill will be successful, creating more opportunities for thousands of Wisconsinites with a prior conviction.
Juneteenth in Milwaukee
Juneteenth is a day of celebration and remembrance. In 1971, Milwaukee celebrated its first Juneteenth Day that emphasizes ancestry, heritage, and unity. This year, Milwaukee will celebrate its 50th Juneteenth Day on Saturday, June 19.
Juneteenth Parade: Beginning at 8:00 AM from North 14th and West Atkinson Avenue and will travel to West Burleigh Street and North Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
Opening Ceremonies and Festival:Beginning after the Parade at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive between West Burleigh Street and West North Avenue from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. There will be vendors, entertainment, community resources, food, and beverages. All attendees will be required to wear face masks.
*The 2021 Juneteenth Parade will be broadcast live on Milwaukee’s TMJ4.
Additional opportunities to celebrate this important holiday have been compiled by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and can be found HERE.
Pride Month
June is Pride Month! One of the ways I am celebrating the LGBTQ+ community this month is by signing on to the Equality Agenda that was introduced this week by the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus. I am a proud cosponsor of the Equality Agenda and will continue to fight for equal rights for all.
