Dear Friends and Neighbors, 

A new year, and a new legislative session, is upon us. On Monday, January 4, I was honored to be sworn in for my second term as a state senator. I am proud to represent and serve families in the 6th Senate District and want to thank you for entrusting me to again represent you in the Legislature. With COVID-19 remaining a threat to our health and economic wellbeing there is no shortage of work to be done. I will continue to serve Milwaukee in a way that recognizes the unique needs of our community and fight for our shared prosperity.

Through the continuation of these monthly updates, I hope to share information that is timely and relevant to your interests. As always, please let my office know what issues are important to you!

Sincerely, 

LaTonya Johnson
State Senator

I am honored to be serving you in the 6th Senate District for a second term. Throughout my first term as state senator, my office knocked on thousands of doors to learn about the legislative priorities of our community, volunteered with numerous non-profit organizations, and held civic engagement events through my EMPOWER-MKE programming. I will use the information gathered through these experiences to help inform my legislative agenda during the 2021-2022 legislative session.

Last session, I also passed over a dozen legislative proposals despite being in the minority party. With COVID-19 still threatening our health and wellbeing, I am committed to your safety first and foremost, which is why I am limiting in-person activities. That said, it is critically important to me to remain informed about your priorities, and ensure that you know your state senator. More about me and my background are available on my website, here. For real-time updates on state and local happenings, connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Committee Assignments for the 2021-22 Legislative Session

Senate Minority Leader Janet Bewley has placed her trust in me to ensure that our families are being properly and equitably represented in our upcoming budget by reappointing me to the Joint Finance Committee (JFC). JFC is the committee responsible for drafting our state budget, a process that will soon be more heavily underway. Look for more updates on the state budget in February's newsletter. We are facing some of the most challenging times our state has ever faced. I am committed to working closely with Governor Evers and both houses of the Legislature, across the aisle, to fight for a budget that supports all of us, not just a select few.

In addition to the Joint Finance Committee I will be serving on the following committees for the 2021-22 Legislative Session:

• Senate Committee on Housing, Commerce & Trade
• Senate Committee on Human Services, Children & Families 
• Senate Committee on Labor & Regulatory Reform

How to Stay Informed and Engaged
If 2020 taught us one thing, it is the importance of staying up-to-date on local, state, and federal news. In order to have a successful democracy, we must each do our part by keeping informed about government affairs as well as communicating thoughts and opinions to elected officials. In January 2020, I sent a comprehensive newsletter on how to state informed and engaged in the legislative process. The newsletter is also available for your review, here. 

Tune-in to the State of the State Tonight!
Each year, the governor of Wisconsin provides legislators and citizens an update on the overall wellbeing of the state and lays out a vision and plan for the future. Unlike in most years, 2021 will feature an entirely virtual State of the State to maintain proper health and safety standards. Tune in tonight to hear Governor Evers' State of the State Address, which will be viewable here.

Welcome, Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde!
Within each senate district, there are three assembly districts. The 6th Senate District contains Assembly Districts 16, 17 and 18. I would like to extend a warm welcome to my new legislative colleague Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde who is the new representative for the 17th Assembly District that was previously represented by now Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley. Rep. Moore Omokunde has been actively serving the Milwaukee community as a county supervisor since 2015. I am confident that State Representative Supreme Moore Omokunde will continue to make positive and effective changes in Milwaukee and all across our state. I am looking forward to working closely with him in this upcoming term! You can find Rep. Moore Omokunde's legislative contact information, here. 

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 
On January 18, we recognized the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Each year, our community comes together to host a variety of events and programming opportunities in order to acknowledge the importance of MLK Day. This year will feature virtual celebrations, such as the 24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration hosted by the YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee and a variety of events and discussions hosted by the Milwaukee Public Library.

Events at our Nation's Capital 
Like many of you, I watched the horrifying events that took place at the U.S. Captiol on January 6. The violence that took place was unacceptable. The lack of leadership we saw from the president was dangerous and must be taken seriously. For these reasons, I signed onto a letter to Vice President Pence calling on him to use the authority provided by the 25th amendment of the Constitution to remove the president from his post. Read the letter, here.

Legislative Black Caucus to Host Virtual Black History Month Events
As in previous years, the Legislative Black Caucus will be hosting a variety of programming to observe Black History Month in February. Black History Month is an opportunity to reflect on the history, culture, and progress of African Americans. This year, the Black Caucus will focus on a specific topic each week. Topics will include economic development, health and mental health, education and families, and criminal justice. Keep an eye on the Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus Facebook page for details about this programming!

Legislative Black Caucus Statement on Jacob Blake Decision

The recent decision not to charge the officer who shot Jacob Blake denied Jacob and his family justice, and it denied the Kenosha community the opportunity to even decide for themselves what justice under the law looks like. You can read the Legislative Black Caucus's statement on this decision, here.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore.............................414-297-1140
Governor Evers.....................................................608-266-1212
Milwaukee Common Council...............................414-286-2221
Milwaukee County Board....................................414-278-4222
Milwaukee Police Department.............................414-933-4444
Poison Control......................................................800-222-1222
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program..............800-815-0015
Medigap Helpline.................................................800-242-1060
Consumer Protection Hotline..............................800-422-7128
Department of Health Services............................608-266-1865
Workforce Development......................................608-266-3131
Public Service Commission..................................800-225-7729
SeniorCare Wisconsin.........................................800-657-2038
WI Commissioner of Insurance Complaints.......800-236-8517

For other useful phone numbers, click here!