FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
Billboard and advertising blitz calls on Congressman Derrick Van Orden to hold in-person town halls with constituents
After dodging constituents last week, Van Orden has doubled down in recent days and continues to insult constituents who deserve answers from their congressman
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Mobile billboards, digital billboards, full-page newspaper ads, and digital ads from Opportunity Wisconsin are joining the chorus of Congressman Van Orden’s constituents who are demanding he hold in-person town hall meetings to answer their questions.
Last week Van Orden abruptly pulled the plug on a scheduled event with members of his staff, saying too many constituents were interested in joining the event to express their concerns about rising prices due to tariffs, funding cuts for Medicaid and SNAP, and more tax handouts for corporations and billionaires. In the days since, Van Orden has doubled down on avoiding his constituents by threatening to prosecute them for showing up uninvited and comparing constituents’ demands to tactics from “Nazi Germany.”
Mobile billboards traveled across the district last weekend, highlighting Van Orden’s avoidance of questions from the constituents he represents in Congress. Similarly branded “Missing: Have You Seen Our Congressman?” digital billboards also went live this week in high-traffic areas. Opportunity Wisconsin will also run full-page newspaper ads this week in key newspapers, with accompanying digital ads.
Opportunity Wisconsin has also launched www.WhereIsDVO.com, where constituents can sign a petition asking their congressman to hold town hall meetings.
Similar creative is appearing across the Third District on mobile billboards, digital billboards in high-traffic areas, newspaper ads, and targeted digital ads
Congressman Van Orden’s avoidance of tough questions comes after Republicans in Congress gave a green light to massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical programs last week. Van Orden joined Republicans in passing a budget resolution which will force $1.5 trillion in cuts, including cuts to these successful and crucial programs. These cuts, along with newly enacted tariffs on key trading partners, are all designed to fund new tax breaks for the ultra-rich and big corporations, while leaving working families with little relief.
“Congressman Van Orden apparently doesn’t want to explain why he supports cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and so many popular programs that his constituents rely on,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “While other Wisconsin Republicans are willing to face their constituents and explain their positions, Derrick Van Orden has refused. He hasn’t just refused, he has threatened constituents, thrown outrageous insults, and doubled down. We’re joining his constituents in demanding that he reverse course, hold open, in-person meetings with the people he represents, and explain his positions on cutting essential funding that his constituents rely on, tariffs that are raising already high prices on groceries and gas, and more tax handouts to corporations and billionaires.”
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