The Goyke Report


December 11, 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

Rep. Goyke reading with Milwaukee school children

I continue to fulfill my pledge to volunteer in a school classroom in Milwaukee where I read with children. The volunteer challenge issued earlier in the school year by myself, and my colleague Rep. Kooyenga, has been a wonderful success.

 

As Chair of the Milwaukee Delegation I recently hosted a meeting of Democratic legislators in Milwaukee with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to learn more about the exciting work happening on campus.

I was joined by my colleagues from left to right:  Rep. Bowen, Rep. Brostoff, Rep. Johnson, Rep. Kessler, Rep. Riemer, and Rep. Barnes.

 

At the Capitol

The legislature's next floor period begins the week of January 10th with the legislature adjourning sometime in the early spring. Thank you to all of our community members who have written, e-mailed, and called to share their thoughts and opinions. Your engagement is important and helps me better represent our community.

Rep. Goyke signing holiday cards for our troops

I was proud to recently partner with the American Red Cross at the Capitol and help support the Holiday Mail for Heroes program which sends holiday cards to our service members and veterans.

 

The beautiful Capitol Christmas Tree

 

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.

 

New 2015-2016 Blue Books

Attention! Hot off the press! 2015-2016 Blue Books available now! 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.

If you would like one, please contact me and I can drop it off in person or mail it to you directly. Order request forms are also available on my website

 
 


Friends and Neighbors,

 

Happy Holidays to you and your family! I hope you are enjoying this holiday season in Milwaukee and taking advantage of all of the sites and events our great city has to offer.

 

The state legislature will reconvene for session in mid-January, but my work on behalf of our community continues. Throughout the summer and fall I have been working hard to prepare a package of legislation that I will introduce in the coming weeks targeting important criminal justice reforms. I also continue to work on legislation and initiatives related to our veterans, home foreclosures, and urban agriculture.

 

On the subject of criminal justice reform, this will be the most comprehensive package of legislation introduced by any legislator in recent memory. I am excited about these legislative proposals and the potential they have to improve our state. Please stay tuned for updates as these proposals are introduced.

 

I continue to add more news and daily updates to my official legislative website and Facebook page. I hope it helps keep you informed.

 

I hope this e-update is helpful. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office at (608) 266-0645.


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 speaking on the Assembly floor at the State Capitol during the November 16th debate

2016 Spring Legislative Session

As 2016 begins and the legislature convenes for its spring session I will be introducing a comprehensive package of legislation on behalf of our community related to criminal justice reform. I will also continue to work on legislation that helps our veterans, alleviates home foreclosures, and supports urban agriculture. Whether it be letters or calls to my Capitol office, personal conversations, or visits to your front porch - these are policy areas that I have identified as issues of concern for many of our neighbors.

Criminal Justice Reform:

A movement is underway in America. Decades of high incarceration rates have not led to the increased safety we believed would follow. Change is sweeping through several states and the federal government with bi-partisan support. To bring Wisconsin up to speed, I will be introducing several bills to provide a road map for reform needed in Wisconsin.

These bills range from small changes in legal processes to structural changes on how the justice system operates. I plan to introduce this reform package by the end of January. Please stay tuned for future updates here and on my legislative website.

Tobacco Store Accountability:

In my neighborhood, one store is a magnet for crime and disorder. It only sells tobacco products. Because of a loophole in Wisconsin law, our local government cannot hold the store owner accountable for the resulting chaos. I will be introducing a bill to fix this loophole. I have worked with local stakeholders and the City of Milwaukee on this proposal. I will introduce a bill that will hold tobacco store owners to a fair standard of operation.

Rep. Goyke questioning a witness during a recent Criminal Justice Committee hearing

Promoting Our Great City

This session I have been honored to serve as the Chair of the Milwaukee Democratic Legislative Delegation. As your Representative and delegation chair, I have taken the initiative to promote positive events and growth in our community. Whether it be an abandoned property now occupied, a new community garden, or a neighborhood program for our kids - these positive steps are exciting for our community.

Since my election to the legislature, I have found that the positive events you and I see every week are not known to my colleagues out state. They are often overshadowed by misunderstandings and misconceptions about our great city. I am working to change that.

Last year I went to numerous Rotary meetings throughout Wisconsin and presented to their members positive changes happening in Milwaukee. The reaction I received was amazing with many out-state Wisconsin citizens truly interested in learning more and how they can connect with our community.

As delegation chair I have taken this a step further and in early 2016 you will see Milwaukee Democrats unified and release a brief publication to promote our great city that has been a year in the making. Milwaukee's future is bright and I intend to tell its story and share our exciting future with all corners of Wisconsin.

Goyke/Kooyenga School Reading Challenge Update

Since my last e-update to you in October the school reading challenge issued by myself, and my colleague Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield), has continued to be a wonderful success. Thank you again to all of you who have contacted our offices to volunteer.

I continue to volunteer for an hour every week and I see each day the excitement from the students to have someone from the community read to them and support them in their studies. I currently am volunteering at Mary McLeod Bethune Academy on North 35th Street where I have the pleasure to read to a group of students in Ms. Schowalter's class. I have enjoyed seeing the students excel in their reading skills. Their enthusiasm to learn and read is unwavering and continues to grow each time our reading group gathers in the classroom.

Rep. Kooyenga and I continue to be very excited about this initiative and encourage you to join us! Our offices stand ready as a resource to connect you with volunteer coordinators.

A summary of our challenge may be found here.

 

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