Legislatively Speaking
By Senator, Lena C. Taylor
Lena C. Taylor
This election didn’t have the outcome I wanted, nor expected.
I didn’t expect such low turnout and I certainly didn’t expect Wisconsin would choose the first Republican presidential candidate since 1984.
I also didn’t anticipate such low voter turnout. While things look dark here in Wisconsin, there is reason for hope. I am grateful to voters for returning me to the State Senate, where I will continue to serve as Wisconsin’s 1,000th Senator. Not only that, I’m looking forward to serving with my old colleague, Jason Fields, as he won his old State Assembly seat back. Jason hasn’t even been sworn into office and he’s already bringing an unparalleled level of energy and dedication to his district.
In my career, I’ve passed 101 bills into law. Much of that work has happened with a Republican governor or a Republican Senate.
I know it doesn’t always grab headlines, but there is great opportunity to work together.
Corrections reform is an area I believe we can make great strides in working with Republicans to divert more people way from prisons, transition more inmates into successful jobs and reduce recidivism.
Building economic wealth is critical as we work to fight poverty in Wisconsin’s most segregated city. Low wage low skill jobs aren’t going to bring our community back. We need to foster innovation, bring businesses to our community and train the workforce of the future to do those jobs.
Clean drinking water is another area where we need to work together to ensure we move Milwaukee forward.
With 37,000 lead pipes bringing contaminated water into households, we must work with Republicans and Democrats to ensure we literally tear those pipes out of the ground and get the lead out.
Investing in education is another of my priorities I will be working with Republicans on.
With almost 84% of Milwaukee school children reading below grade level, we must teach our children how to read. If children can read, they can learn. If children can learn, they can succeed. That’s how we fight poverty, one book at a time.
Believe it or not, Election Day wasn’t all bad. We had some gains where Democrats didn’t used to have footing in local. Democrats actually won all around the country at every level of government and in every branch of government.
Democrats actually won the popular vote for the presidency. While Hillary Clinton didn’t make history by becoming the first woman President, several other women did break barriers.
Tammy Duckworth of Illinois will become America’s first Thai American Senator, California’s Kamala Harris will be the first black woman to serve in the US Senate in nearly 20 years and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada will be America’s first Latina Senator.
After these three victories, the US Senate will have the highest numbers of women of color ever.
Not only did Nevada put a Latina in the US Senate, a “blue wave” put Democrats in control of the state Legislature. There are other legislative bright spots too.
Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar became our nation’s first Somali-American legislator and Democrats picked up a handful of seats in the US House of Representatives.
Wisconsin even had victories that didn’t make headlines. Several public school districts approved referenda to improve their schools and give kids a better education. Let’s be honest, when the chips are down, it’s all about the kids, right?
Despite how last week turned out, I am comforted that there are new elections in two years and we have an opportunity to turn things around.
Join Senator Taylor’s email list to learn more about what’ going on at the Capitol by emailing her at Sen.Taylor@legis.wi.gov. Or, connect with Senator Taylor on social media on Facebook.com/SenLenaTaylor, Twitter.com/SenTaylor or follow her at Instagram.com/Lena.Taylor.