Lena Taylor

Lena Taylor
Wisconsin State Senate District 4
Incumbent
In office
2005 - Present
Term ends
January 2, 2017
Years in position	8
Party	Democratic
Compensation
Base salary	$49,943/year
Per diem	$88/day
Elections and appointments
Last election	November 6, 2012
First elected	2004
Next election	November 8, 2016
Term limits	N/A
Prior offices
Assembly Member, Wisconsin State Assembly
2003 - 2005
Education
Bachelor's	University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, 1990
J.D.	Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, 1993
Personal
Birthday	07/25/1966
Place of birth	Milwaukee, WI
Profession	Columnist, Milwaukee Courier
Websites
Office website

Lena Taylor (b. July 25, 1966) is a Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Senate. She has represented District 4 since 2004. Previously, Taylor represented the 18th district in the Wisconsin State Assembly from 2003 to 2004. She also ran for Milwaukee County Executive in 2008 but was defeated by Scott Walker.

Taylor graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee with a B.A. in English in 1990. She went on to earn a law degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in 1993. She worked as an attorney in the Wisconsin Public Defender's office for a few years before opening her own law firm in 1996 called Taylor and Associates Law Office.

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Taylor served on the following committees:

Wisconsin Committee Assignments, 2013
• Agriculture, Small Business, and Tourism
• Economic Development and Local Government
• Elections and Urban Affairs
• Joint Review on Criminal Penalties

2011-2012

At the beginning of the 2011 legislative session, Taylor served on the following committees:

2009-2010

At the beginning of the 2009 legislative session, Taylor served on the following committees:

Issues

Legislative walkout

Taylor and the 13 other Democratic senators participated in a legislative walkout on February 17, 2011 in opposition to Assembly Bill 11 - a Republican-sponsored bill aimed at limiting collective bargaining rights, compensation and fringe benefits of public employees. The Democratic departure left the Senate one vote shy of a quorum. Reports confirmed the senators fled to a hotel in Rockford, Illinois. State police were dispatched by Governor Scott Walker (R) to retrieve the senators, but were unable to cross state lines. The 14 state senators who left the state are being described as the "Badger 14" or "Fab 14."

On February 22, speaking from the basement of an Illinois hotel, Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller provided the minority response to Gov. Scott Walker, saying, "The governor has the tools at his disposal to put this issue to an end. As soon as he is willing to take a compromise, we will go back to work in an instant." Miller stated that the legislators payed for the trip themselves, and that no taxpayer money was spent.

Walker called on the Democratic senators to return to the state by March 1 in order to vote to restructure the state's debt. If they did not, he stated he may have to start cutting state jobs, saying:

It’s not just a number, it’s not just a budget, it’s ultimately a real person with a real family, so I’m going to push that back as far as I can. We’ve got to have real numbers to balance the budget to avoid layoffs. My hope is those 14 state senators … realize that in the end, it’s much better off to avoid those cuts, it’s much better off to avoid the most dire consequences that will come if we don’t pass this bill.

The Democratic senators said they would not return until the governor was willing to compromise on the budget-repair bill.

Democrats threatened with arrest

Republicans passed a unanimous resolution on March 3 finding the missing legislators in contempt and threatening them with arrest. It gave them until 4 p.m. to return or the sergeant-at-arms was ordered to take "any and all necessary steps, with or without force, and with or without the assistance of law enforcement, by warrant or other legal process, as he may deem necessary in order to bring that senator to the Senate chambers."

The constitutionality of that resolution was unclear, however, as the Wisconsin Constitution only allows for the arrest of legislators while in session if they are suspected of committing a felony, treason, or breach of the peace. Jim Palmer, executive director of the Wisconsin Professional Police Association, said the resolution was an "unreasonable abuse of police power."

Sen. Jon Erpenbach provided the Democratic response, stating, "All 14 of us remain in Illinois, very strong in our convictions. Issuing arrest warrants at 4 p.m. isn't going to solve the problem. This is a debate about protection of the middle class in Wisconsin; that is what the Republicans should be focusing on."

The move by Republicans came the day after they issued fines of $100 a day for not showing up at the Capitol, along with taking away parking spaces. The week before Republicans also passed a rule suspending direct-deposit of paychecks. Sen. Erpenbach found a way around this by granting power of attorney to two of his aides, giving them power to, among other things, pick up his paycheck. In the end Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald mailed the check to Erpenbaach.

Meeting/possible compromises

On March 7, Democratic leader Sen. Mark Miller sent a letter to the governor and senate majority leader asking for a meeting near the Wisconsin-Illinois border to restart talks on the collective bargaining issue. Gov. Walker responded at a press conference, calling the letter "ridiculous," and saying that several meetings between the two sides have taken place, but that Miller has stood in the way of a compromise.

Sen. Chris Larson said, "Dems will return when collective bargaining is off the table. That could be soon based on the growing public opposition to the bill and the recall efforts against Republicans."

On March 8, the Governor's office released an email exchange dated March 6 between Eric Schutt, Walker's deputy chief of staff, and Democratic Senators Cullen and Jauch. The exchange discusses possible compromises on the bill, including allowing unions to bargain for wages beyond inflation rates, permitting collective-bargaining on certain economic issues, allowing public workers to collectively bargain workplace safety issues, and limiting collective bargaining agreements to 2 years or less.

Republicans pass bill

2011 Wisconsin Senate Recalls
Senators Facing Recall
Robert Cowles • Alberta Darling • Sheila Harsdorf • Dave Hansen • Jim Holperin • Randy Hopper • Dan Kapanke • Luther Olsen • Robert Wirch
Other Recall Information
Recalls by Year • Recall Law in Wisconsin • Recall laws in other states • Recalls in Wisconsin • 2011 Scott Walker Budget Repair Bill • Protests over Budget Repair Bill • Wisconsin Government Accountability Board • Recall timeline • Election Results

In a surprise maneuver, Senate Republicans on March 9 passed controversial reforms to the collective bargaining rights of public sector workers. In a process that took just over two hours, Republicans passed the bill by a vote of 18-1, with Sen. Dale Schultz (R) casting the only no vote.

Republicans skirted the need for a quorum by removing the sections of the bill that had to do with appropriating funds. With these removed, the bill only needed to be passed by a simple majority -- rather than requiring a quorum of 20 senators. At 4 p.m. on March 9 a conference committee on the budget-repair bill was convened. Two hours later the committee met and advanced the new measure without debate. Immediately following that, the Senate met and passed the new version, also without debate. It was then sent to the Assembly.

The only Democrat present at the meeting, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca (D), attempted to stop the proceedings, stating that the committee was in violation of the state's open meeting law. According to the law, most public bodies are required to give 24 hours notice before a meeting. The two hours notice that the committee provided led Barca to declare, "Mr. Chairman, this is a violation of law! This is not just a rule — this is the law." Ignoring Barca, Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R) ordered the vote taken as shouts of protest rang from the galleries.

The bill was given a stay by Dane County Court Judge Maryann Sumi. On May 26, 2011, Sumi struck down the legislative actions leading to the bill eliminating public employee collective bargaining on the grounds that it violated the state's Open Meetings Law. The state Departments of Justice and Department of Administration appealed the decision to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. On June 14 the Wisconsin Supreme Court overruled the district court decision, stating it "exceeded its jurisdiction, invaded the legislature’s constitutional powers...and erred in enjoining the publication and further implementation of the act."

Recall campaigns

In the wake of events surrounding the bill, both Democratic and Republican senators were targeted by active recall campaigns. Recall sponsors filed signatures on petitions targeting 6 Republican state senators and 3 Democratic state senators. Challenges were filed in all 9 of those campaigns, and the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board approved the six campaigns against Republicans at meetings on May 23 and May 31, and approved the three campaigns against Democrats on June 8. Democrats held onto the 30th district seat on July 19. Republicans lost two seats in the August 9 recalls, but held onto four. Two incumbent Democrats successfully retained their seats on August 16.

Elections

2012

Taylor won re-election in the 2012 election for Wisconsin State Senate, District 4. Taylor was unopposed in the August 14th primary election and defeated David King (I) in the general election on November 6, 2012.

Wisconsin State Senate, District 4, General Election, 2012
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Lena Taylor Incumbent	86.1%	64,064
	Independent	David D. King	13.6%	10,154
	-	Scattering	0.3%	208
Total Votes				74,426

2010

See also: Wisconsin State Senate elections, 2010

Taylor's seat was not up for election in 2010.

2008-State Senate

On November 4, 2008, Lena Taylor won re-election to the Washington State Senate, District 4. She ran unopposed.

Lena Taylor raised $233,854 for her campaign.

Wisconsin State Senate, District 4 (2008)
Candidates		Votes
Lena Taylor (D)		66,751

2008-Milwaukee County Executive

Lena Taylor ran for Milwaukee County Executive during the 2008 Spring General Election against Scott Walker. Taylor was defeated on April 1, 2008.

2008 Milwaukee County Executive Election Results.
Candidates		Percentage
Scott Walker		57.74%
Lena Taylor		40.40%
Scattering		0.17%
Total votes		170,251

Legislation

• Sen. Taylor entered the Senate declaring that education was her top priority.

• She was one of the main sponsors of the Mortgage Mediation Act and legislation which would increase communication and warnings regarding home foreclosures .

• She helped introduce a bill which would let individual judges decide whether or not to suspend a person's driver's license for being convicted of drugs.

• Other information about Sen. Taylor's legislative and voting records can be found on the Wisconsin Legislature website or Project Vote Smart.

Past and current endorsements

Sen. Taylor's policies are supported by these interest groups, according to Project Vote Smart:

• Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin
• ACLU of Wisconsin
• Wisconsin AFL-CIO
• Wisconsin Association of School Boards

...and others

She was also endorsed by:

• The Democratic Party of Wisconsin
• Former senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold
• Citizen Action of Wisconsin
• The AFSCME Milwaukee District 48 Union

She endorsed Barack Obama in 2008 before he became President.

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Taylor is available dating back to 2004. Based on available campaign finance records, Taylor raised a total of $483,849 during that time period. This information was last updated on May 31, 2013.

Lena Taylor's Campaign Contribution History
Year	Office	Result	Contributions
2012	Wisconsin State Senate, District 4		$81,939
2010	Wisconsin State Senate, District 4		$24,131
2008	Wisconsin State Senate, District 4		$233,854
2006	Wisconsin State Senate, District 4		$29,280
2004	Wisconsin State Senate, District 4		$114,645
Grand Total Raised			$483,849

2012

Taylor won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2012. During that election cycle, Taylor raised a total of $81,939.

Wisconsin State Senate 2012 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Lena Taylor's campaign in 2012
Sias, Thelma A	$1,100
Ribman, Darcy L	$1,000
Frinzi, James	$1,000
Herzing, Henry	$1,000
Fuller, Howard L	$1,000
Total Raised in 2012	$81,939
Source:Follow the Money

2010

Taylor was not up for election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2010. During that election cycle, Taylor raised a total of $24,131.

Wisconsin State Senate 2010 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Lena Taylor's campaign in 2010
United Transportation Union	$1,000
Mcgriff, Deborah M	$1,000
Steamfitters Local 601	$1,000
Wisconsin Insurance Alliance	$1,000
Ironworkers Local 8	$1,000
Total Raised in 2010	$24,131
Source:Follow the Money

2008

Taylor won re-election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2008. During that election cycle, Taylor raised a total of $233,854.

Wisconsin State Senate 2008 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Lena Taylor's campaign in 2008
Taylor, Lena C	$7,997
Wisconsin Democratic Party	$3,149
Earle, Peter G	$3,000
Banks, Emile	$3,000
Burt, Ricky	$3,000
Total Raised in 2008	$233,854
Source:Follow the Money

2006

Taylor was not up for election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2006. During that election cycle, Taylor raised a total of $29,280.

Wisconsin State Senate 2006 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Lena Taylor's campaign in 2006
At&T	$1,250
Amalgamated Transit Local 998	$1,000
Aninye, Steve	$1,000
Association of State Prosecutors	$1,000
Centene Corp	$1,000
Total Raised in 2006	$29,280
Source:Follow the Money

2004

Taylor won election to the Wisconsin State Senate in 2004. During that election cycle, Taylor raised a total of $114,645.

Wisconsin State Senate 2004 election - Campaign Contributions
Top contributors to Lena Taylor's campaign in 2004
Taylor, Lena C	$31,886
Wisconsin Education Association Council	$1,100
Mughal, Naheed A	$1,000
White, Mardree	$1,000
Wisconsin Bankers Association	$1,000
Total Raised in 2004	$114,645
Source:Follow the Money

External links

Suggest a link

Wikipedia® has an article on:

Lena Taylor

• Wisconsin Senate Biography
• Project Vote Smart biographical profile
• Project Vote Smart legislative profile
• Campaign contributions: 2012, 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004
• Vote-WI profile of Taylor

Personal

Sen. Taylor was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

References

Political offices
Preceded by Gwen Moore	Wisconsin State Senate District 4 2004–present	Succeeded by NA