Legislatively Speaking
By Senator, Lena C. Taylor
Lena C. Taylor
I’m so grateful to the voters for rewarding 13 years of work on August 9th.
Elections are an opportunity to highlight the work you’ve done. Being a senator has never been about the title for me; it’s about the work.
I am not a politician; I am a public servant. Over the last thirteen years in the Legislature, my team and I have put a lot of hard work into serving you. We’ve passed 101 bills into law, brought hundreds of millions of dollars back to our community and we’ve been contacted more than 75,000 times from over 50,000 people.
The day after the election, people began asking me, “What’s next?”
The answer is simple. I’m going to keep working for you and I will continue to give a voice to the voiceless. Believe it or not, many politicians ignore their constituents. That’s where I step up. Because when I take the oath of office, I take it very seriously.
People often turn to me when their own legislators cannot help them. I sign all my letters “here to serve.” It’s not just a catchy phrase. I truly believe that the key to public service is in the service.
Many prisoners are voiceless.
Too often, prisoners are locked away and forgotten, but I have always tried to be an ear and a voice.
I take all of their correspondence and connect them with services, treatment and I’m often there with some good old fashioned tough love.
Children are often voiceless
Our babies can’t vote and they sure don’t know how to get a bill passed into law. That’s why my team and I are committed to getting the best education possible.
Currently, over 84% of Milwaukee school children are reading below grade level, and this is why I never turn down an opportunity to read to the babies.
Sure, I’ve brought more than one hundred million dollars to our public schools, but sometimes, it’s not about voting right and it’s not about bringing home the bacon.
Ending the pipeline to prisons
Sometimes, our school children become prisoners. After the federal investigation of Lincoln Hills Detention Center, I committed to finding better solutions for helping these kids reform and reenter society.
I took a group of family members and community leaders to visit the facility in January, and that was just our first visit.
Our group went back to bring those young people a mobile history museum during Black History month and we’ve planned a series of community-based visits to make sure the young adults there know that they are not forgotten.
Over the next four years, you can expect the same service that I have given over the last thirteen years, and I encourage you to reach out to me.
Even though I have no opponent in November, my name will appear on the November ballot.
That’s why my office is limited to mailings and emails of less than 49 pieces until after the November election.
In the meantime, you can still receive my Legislative Updates by checking me out on Facebook, Twitter or by visiting my website.
As my team and I plan my January agenda, I’d love to hear your feedback.
If you have an idea you think should be a law, call me at 414-342- 7176 or email me at sen. taylor@legis.wisconsin. gov.
Connect with Senator Lena C. Taylor on social media on Facebook.com/SenLenaTaylor, Twitter.com/SenTaylor or follow her at Instagram.com/Lena.Taylor.