Congressman responds to Opportunity Wisconsin ad campaign with misleading op-ed
May 23, 2023
RACINE, Wis. – Congressman Bryan Steil is feeling the pressure as his constituents join Opportunity Wisconsin in demanding that he fight for working families instead of the wealthy and big corporations. Over the weekend, Rep. Steil resorted to a misleading op-ed in the Kenosha News in an attempt to hide his repeated opposition to lowering costs for prescription drugs and other care that Wisconsinites depend on.
“Congressman Steil owes his constituents a real explanation for his repeated votes to keep insulin prices high while protecting the wealthy and big corporations, not a misleading op-ed that attempts to hide his actual record,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Congressman Steil’s constituents and our grassroots coalition will continue to hold him accountable for his record and ask him to finally do what’s right for Wisconsin families, seniors, and workers.”
FACT CHECK: Rep. Bryan Steil tries and fails to hide his record of keeping drug prices high
Steil’s Claim: “I am working every day to lower costs and protect you and your family.”
The Truth: Steil voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced health care and drug costs. Rep. Steil voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced health care and prescription drug costs for millions of Americans. The legislation included a cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients, gave Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, and established a $35 monthly cap on insulin prices for seniors.
The Truth: Rep. Steil recently voted for the disastrous “Default on America Act,” the extreme Republican plan that would make cuts to nearly every federal program and RAISE costs on food, health care, rent, energy, and child care.
Steil’s Claim: “The ad claims that I do not support lower insulin prices. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
The Truth: Monthly insulin prices are now capped at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries, thanks to a bill that Rep. Steil voted against. Before the Inflation Reduction Act, many Wisconsinites were forced to pay hundreds of dollars a month for their insulin. Today, they have relief thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act that Rep. Steil voted against.
The Truth: In the last two years, Steil has voted against capping the cost of insulin THREE times, and he’s taken more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. Rep. Steil’s vote against the Inflation Reduction Act was only the latest example of his support for keeping insulin prices high. While repeatedly voting against a cap on insulin, Steil received more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry.
The Truth: In addition to opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, Rep. Steil previously voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill designed to cap the cost of insulin at $35. Steil’s op-ed fails to explain why he opposed this targeted legislation which would’ve reduced the burden on Wisconsinites who rely on this life-saving medication.
Steil’s Claim: “In the past two years, I have voted against massive government spending bills that would increase costs.”
The Truth: Both the Build Back Better Act and the Inflation Reduction Act were paid for by closing loopholes and cracking down on tax evasion to make sure that the wealthy and big corporations are paying their fair share. At the same time, no family making under $400,000 per year will pay a penny more in taxes.
The Truth: Rep. Steil voted multiple times to repeal funding that would give the IRS additional resources to crack down on wealthy and corporate tax cheats. The very first bill he voted to pass this year would slash $71 billion in IRS funding that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act to crack down on wealthy and corporate tax cheats. Repealing this funding could actually increase the deficit by nearly $115 billion.
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