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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
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Walker signs civil service destruction
bill, includes ban the box
 Governor Walker announced today that he will sign Assembly
bill 373 into law. While I oppose this bill, the "ban the box"
provision is the silver lining included in this legislation. Banning the box
on state job applications gives people with a criminal record a fair shot at
a job. The box often deters employers from considering an applicant for a job
without any knowledge of the applicant's situation. I would much rather have
someone on the government payroll than in the government's pocket. I am very
glad this issue is beginning to gain bipartisan support. As the state bans
the box for state workers, I hope local governments and all private employers
will do the same as legislators like me and my colleagues continue the fight
for second chances.
Raising the minimum wage for tipped
employees
 In Wisconsin, tipped workers currently
make a third of the state's minimum wage. State law says that if an
employee’s wages are less than $7.25 an hour, the employer must pay the
difference to the employee. In spite of this law, one in ten tipped workers
reported not receiving the minimum wage of $7.25 after a shift. Poverty rates
for tipped workers are twice as high as poverty rates among non-tipped
workers. Also, because of low wages and higher levels of poverty, 46 percent
of tipped workers and their families receive public benefits compared to 35.5
percent of non-tipped workers. This is not right and in some cases where
workers are not being paid enough, downright unlawful. Something needs to
change. That's why I am introducing a bill that would raise the tipped worker
minimum wage by $0.95 for five years until the tipped wage reaches the
minimum wage. Tipped workers deserve to be compensated fairly.
Senate session speeding to an end
 This week, PBS ran a special called “Race matters: Why is
Milwaukee so bad for black people?” So what's the answer? Unfortunately,
there isn’t one simple answer. Every level of government, from federal to
local, could improve their work for our community. But as a community we need
to take responsibility too. Today, I live on the same block that I grew up
on, and I know from experience the problems that the PBS story talked about
are real. With Wisconsin’s 2-year legislative session coming to an end, I
want you to know I've been working very hard in the past six weeks to roll
out bills that will help address some of these problems. I've introduced over
30 bills and resolutions addressing issues from truth in corrections
budgeting, to restoring the right to vote, to substitute teacher pay equity
just in the past six weeks. As a Wisconsin state legislator I am here to
serve you, and one of the ways I do this is by introducing legislation that
will make a difference. Click here
to see my full legislative agenda.
Public hearings on long term care in
Wisconsin
 If
you care about the future of long term care in Wisconsin, mark your calendars
for March 7. On March 7, the Department of Health and Human Services will be
taking public input on their proposed plans in Eau Claire and Madison. Long
term care in Wisconsin became the focus of the 2015-2017 budget because
Governor Walker’s plans left many advocates and individuals with questions
and gave DHS all the power in crafting these plans. Wisconsinites have the
right to petition their government. Governor Walker and his administration
are violating these rights by refusing to receive written testimony while the
GOP rewrites policies that will impact thousands of Wisconsinites. These
hearings regarding long term care will be at the Florian Gardens Conference
Center in Eau Claire from 9:30-11:30 am and the Alliant Energy Center
Exhibition Hall from 4:30-6:30pm in Madison.
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Community Events:
Kohl's Art Generation Lab: Haitian Art Exhibition
highlighting one of the most notable collections of Haitian art since the
massive earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010. Saturdays in February,
12pm-3pm. More info here.
19th Annual Festival of Films in French: Selection of the best French animated shorts. February
14th, 5pm at the UWM Student Union. Details here.
Valentine Ice Cream Social: Saturday February 13, enjoy Betty Brinn Children's Museum
& an ice cream social included with paid admission to the museum. For
more details click here.
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