Here & Now

Taylor Disputes "Political Shenanigans" Against Her

Frederica Freyberg:

In our first look tonight, Milwaukee State Senator Lena Taylor describes her removal from the powerful legislative Joint Finance Committee as a “political lynching.” The democratic senate minority leader removed Taylor following a legislative human resources investigation that found Taylor violated policies on retaliating against an employee for use of family and medical leave and violated antibullying provisions with her behavior toward her office staff. Taylor is required to complete antiharassment and interpersonal communication training. Her removal from Joint Finance also coincides with an incident at a Milwaukee bank, which resulted in Taylor being ticketed for disorderly conduct. Senator Taylor joins us now from Milwaukee. And, senator, thanks very much for being here.

Lena Taylor:

Thank you for having me.

Frederica Freyberg:

Why do you refer to your removal from Joint Finance as a political lynching?

Lena Taylor:

For clarity, I said several things in the way that the matter has been handled. I believe really has a lot of political shenanigans that are going on, and it really is not anything to do with my performance on the committee. There is no justification to remove me from the committee. Nothing has changed my work, my outcome and my service to my constituents. And I disagree with the findings that happened in the report. And I believe that, very candidly, that that investigation and the process is a kangaroo process that needs to have changes.

Frederica Freyberg:

I want to get to that report in a moment but given the human resources findings about retaliation and bullying, Senator Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling said this, “No matter the workplace we need to protect an employee’s right to bring forward concerns and ensure everyone is able to work in a safe, productive and welcoming environment.” That seems reasonable, doesn’t it?

Lena Taylor:

It does. As a matter of fact, I believe that’s what I did. I disagree with the report. I think it was a disgruntled employee who, very candidly, could not do the work and in some situations was unwilling and refused to do what was needed, including, very candidly, you got to show up to get paid. And I think most people feel that. And I think very candidly that that’s what my issue was.

Frederica Freyberg:

And so that’s your version of the employee who took medical leave.

Lena Taylor:

Very candidly, when an employee — you know, without getting into all the HR components, because Im not really certain how far I can go with that, you know, and dealing with the issues of requesting an increase and they didn’t get it and then went out on medical leave and didn’t what to do what they needed to do. There are just a number of issues to this. I believe it’s a disgruntled employee that should have been fired.

Frederica Freyberg:

What about — go ahead.

Lena Taylor:

Im sorry. And I don’t believe that a — that what the Senate and the HR department decided to do with the no-show/no-work policy for the individual that makes more than $80,000 a year, I didn’t agree with that.

Frederica Freyberg:

So you didn’t agree with paying that individual $80,000?

Lena Taylor:

I didn’t agree with giving that — I did not agree with the process that happened. I did not agree with the concept of giving an employee an opportunity to work and to not have to do work and not have to show up for work and that on taxpayers’ dollars. And I disagreed with them in that regard. And I disagree that the employee should not have been let go. I disagree with the reports. And I respect what has been stated. And I think those inflammatory words that were used is not a reflection of my office and the environment. We’ve helped a lot of people. A lot of people have worked in my office. People have even come back, Frederica, on multiple times to work with me. And we’ve done great work and we will continue to do that great work.

Frederica Freyberg:

As for the bank incident, where you referred to a teller as a “house n-word” when is that appropriate?

Lena Taylor:

So three things. First, I did not use “n-word,” which everyone keeps saying, number one. Number two, the issue and the encounter with the bank teller, very candidly, was — my transaction was done. I then asked for the superior’s name that I spoke with. And I was denied that. And my parting comment to the teller, I do not believe rises to a disorderly conduct. And I believe that the person who was in charge of the branch was dishonest with the officer and I believe the officer had bias in his report shows that bias and conflict. And so does the body cams.

Frederica Freyberg:

So you did not say “house n-word.”

Lena Taylor:

I did not say “house n-word” and I’ve said in several occasions what was said and I respect what it sounds like, but when you get done, that’s not what was said. And if you look in the police report, there are multiple words that have been stated that were said. And so in the end, I think what Im saying to you Frederica is whether or not in the transaction as the way it was suggested. It was suggested that I came in the bank and I was flailing my arms and pointing at people and blah, blah, blah. And that’s not what happened. And it also is saying that I used words, Frederica, that I did not use. But, more importantly, I think the most important part is the entire thing was not deescalated. There was no community policing. And there was just flat out misinformation. And I asked the officer, “Are you going to talk to me in part of this investigation?” How do you make a decision of what you’re going to do without ever interviewing me personally, without asking me my name or my ID.? And more importantly, without viewing the video? And I think if you do, you see maybe there’s some discrepancy in what was said.

Frederica Freyberg:

Unfortunately, we need to leave it there. We may like to follow up with you going forward. But Senator Taylor, thanks very much for taking the time.

Lena Taylor:

Thank you for having me. I want to say, listen, I respect that the bank teller was, you know, upset. Clearly I too was offended by the disrespect that happened in the bank. But it doesn’t make it right. And I receive that. But in the end, I hope that when someone African-American goes into a place and asks for a superior, that they should be able to get that and not be made into something that it is not.

Frederica Freyberg:

All right. Senator Taylor, thank you.

Lena Taylor:

Thank you.