Official Government Communication Dear Friend, Welcome to my email newsletter. There is a lot happening at the State Capitol and it is my hope that this email will help you stay in touch with your government. As your Senator, I truly believe in public service. If there is anything my office can do to assist you, please feel free to contact us. Here to serve, Sen. Lena Taylor 4th District Police shootings prompt necessary conversation With recent police shootings across the country, it has become clear that there are serious issues in our police departments that still need to be addressed. The taking of a Black life is a tragedy no matter who the perpetrator is, but it is particularly disturbing when those entrusted to protect us and serve our community are the ones terrorizing us. When we can’t go a single day without a Black life being taken by the police, we know that work still needs to be done. However, this necessary reform will not be accomplished by violence like that in Dallas. As protestors have already proved, we can prompt positive change through continuing conversation, peaceful demonstration, and reform legislation.  My heart goes out to the loved ones of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile, and Jay Anderson Jr. right here in Milwaukee, as well as the Police killed in Dallas, and I pray that justice will be served. Advocates work to overthrow Wisconsin abortion restrictions Given recent rulings from the Supreme Court on the regulation of abortion clinics in Texas, local women’s health advocates have pushed to repeal similar laws in Wisconsin. While Wisconsin appealed their own laws in federal court, the final ruling was that these laws are an “undue burden” for women to access an abortion. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, we should recognize our own laws that limit care as unconstitutional.  I support these advocates in their struggle to overthrow these laws I have long opposed for limiting access to women’s health across the state. A woman’s right to choose is her own. As legislators, we have no right to dictate her choices for her. Prison spending increase surpasses schools Last week, a brief from the U.S Department of Education reported that state and local expenses on prison have increased more than expenditures on elementary and secondary education. This news is incredibly troubling: if we’re not willing to put money into our schools, we’re setting our children up to fail. With more money being channeled into the corrections system than the education system, we reinforce the school to prison pipeline that has plagued minority students in struggling schools. To keep our kids out of corrections, we must fund their opportunities for a positive future, not a prison cell. More funding to Public education is a step in the right direction. Lincoln Hills crisis continues More troubling news came out of Lincoln Hills today, where a former psychologist was revealed to face no discipline after making crass comments about an inmates breasts. Said incident, where said psychologist mocked a mentally ill inmate who had run down the hallway naked, is unacceptable. The employees at Lincoln Hills are supposed to help our kids not mock them. Where is the accountability? What’s going on in juvenile corrections is more than just a scandal, it’s a crisis. Reducing the population at Lincoln Hills by treating many of our youth here at home will help them become productive and hopeful members of our society. I am working to expand the efforts I began in January to bring community-based visits to Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake. These visits ensure the kids have a connection with positive influences from their own community. It’s clear our current system isn’t working. Let’s work to find one that helps our kids, rather than causing them more harm.	Stay in touch: Email: Sen.Taylor@legis.wi.gov     Milwaukee:  414-342-7176     Madison:     608-266-5810 Community Events: Rising Sun Camp 2016      July 10 - 15 Solomon Community Temple United Methodist Church 3295 N Dr. Martin Luther King Dr, Milwaukee Wisconsin 53212     Camp for children ages 10-14 who have one or both parents incarcerated. Contact Afi Dobbins at adobbins@wisconsinumc.org for more information. National Night Out August 2nd: 4pm-8pm at Lincoln Park Pavilion Join me for free food, live music, giveaways, community resources and fun & games for the whole family! See more details here!
	Quote of the Week: “It’s been happening forever. The only difference now is because we have video cameras to prove it.” -Kaba Bah, Madison Black Lives Matter Protestor This is an official government communication from Sen. Lena C. Taylor. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, click here to send me an email to unsubscribe.