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Official Government
Communication
Dear
Friend,
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
Senator
Taylor Calls for Clear Leadership in Charlottesville
 This weekend we
witnessed hatred from white supremacists and neo-Nazis sympathizers
unfold in Charlottesville, VA. In what was billed as a rally to protest
the removal of a statue of Confederate Commander General Robert E. Lee,
the ensuing marches and chants of the organizers included shouting
"white lives matter", "the Jews will not replace us"
and baring torches reminiscent of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) of the Jim Crow
south. After all was said and done, a counter protestor, Heather Heyer
had lost her life and scores of others had been mowed down by a car or
beaten at the hands of these white hate groups. But perhaps most
disturbing was the delayed and shocking response of President Trump
during and after these tragic events.
President Trump wavered between unthinkable silence, reluctant
admonishment, to defense and near support of the actions of the White
supremacists. As the President of the United States of America, it took
three days of negative media coverage to actually reference Ms. Heyer by
name. It was clear that the President struggled to denounce the actions
and motives of the racists groups and has since received praise from
members of the KKK. And on Thursday, Trump tweeted "Sad to see the
history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the
removal of our beautiful statues and monuments." Beauty truly is in
the eyes of the beholder.
I want to be crystal clear when I say that I disagree with Mr. Trump's
response to the Charlottesville crisis. Now, more than ever, we need
strong leadership in the White House that will stand up for the rights of
every American, acknowledge the errors of our past, and work to unify our
nation. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the
day we become silent about things that matter." Charlottesville
mattered.
Senator
Taylor Calls for Improved Education
 This Thursday, I
testified at a public hearing for the Senate Committee on Education to
support three bills aimed at improving education in Milwaukee. The first
of these was Senate Bill 301, relating to creating additional courses to
be offered during summer school and interim session classes. This bill
will create more opportunities for students taking classes over the
summer and in the process, give them the chance to improve their academic
standings and explore new fields. The second bill I supported was
Assembly Bill 280 which calls for the incorporation of financial literacy
into the curriculum of public schools. Financial literacy is an important
skill that everyone should have and by not teaching it at a young age we
are putting our youth at a serious disadvantage. Studies have shown that
a discouragingly high number of young people do not have a grasp on financial
literacy, and with college debt having increased by 56% between 2004 and
2016 it's crucial that we start addressing this issue. The lessons
outlined in this bill will give young people a head start on being
financially independent later in life. The topics covered will include
understanding the difference between wants and needs, learning about
identity theft, how to open a bank account etc. Lastly, I supported
Senate Bill 299 which expands the educational programs that allow an
individual to obtain an initial teaching license. Through this
legislation we can better prepare our youth for the future and give them
a head start towards realizing and achieving their goals.
Correcting
Copper Lake Corrections
 It sickens me to
think that young females sent to juvenile detention centers like Copper
Lake School for Girls or Lincoln Hills fear for their safety. The goal of
these facilities should be rehabilitation but based on the most recent
lawsuits filed against the girl's detention center, I have come to believe
that too many of corrections staff have lost sight of those goals. Two
former inmates, both merely 16 years old, were abused by corrections
officers at the facility. One girl was attempting to inflict self-harm by
putting her head under a bed frame when a guard, allegedly stepped on the
frame himself applying more pressure. A video
was released of the second girl being pepper sprayed before she is taken
down and brought into a cell where she allegedly had her head rammed
against a wall several times. The treatment of these girls comes after a
federal judge called for an end to the abuse documented at Lincoln Hills,
the male youth correctional facility that shares a campus with the Copper
Lake. I will continue to be actively engaged with the Dept. Of
Corrections, juvenile inmates, parents and community leaders to ensure
safe facilities for these youths.
Senator
Taylor Meets With Mom's Demand Action Milwaukee
 This Thursday, I met
with Mom's Demand Action in Milwaukee to discuss the need to end
senseless gun violence and create a safer world for our children. This is
an organization, with chapters throughout the country, that was created
to garner action from legislators, companies, and educational
institutions to establish common sense gun reforms. I listened to their
policy ideas, as well as shared my own thoughts on solutions to our
shared concerns. It was humbling to hear from the members of the group,
each of whom has felt the toll of gun violence tearing apart their
community. Their stories were a reminder that we have so much work to do,
and as your Senator I fully intend to support legislation that helps end
these tragedies. In Madison I've been adamant in supporting common sense
gun legislation, one example being my stand against constitutional carry,
which would allow individuals to carry a firearm without a license or
training. Mom's Demand Action has created a network of support for those
who have lost loved ones to gun violence, and I'm thankful for the work
that they do.
Senator
Taylor Believes an Early Start Will Benefit MPS Students!
 An educated and
skilled constituency is critical to the growth of our state and economy.
This week, many of our young people returned to the classroom to continue
their academic journey. In an effort to assist their work, earlier this
year I co-sponsored a bill calling for schools across Wisconsin to adopt
an earlier start date, allowing students more time to prepare for
national and advanced placement exams in the spring. I'm thrilled to know
these are advantages that the students of the Milwaukee Public Schools
enjoy and want to wish them luck on their first day back! I hope you can
all make the best out of your year and achieve success.
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