FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
NEW: Rep. Van Orden dodges another in-person town hall, opts for screened Zoom questions instead
Opportunity Wisconsin will still hold in-person town hall meeting Thursday with hundreds of Van Orden’s constituents who demand answers
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Congressman Derrick Van Orden is once again refusing to meet his constituents at an in-person town hall tomorrow, scheduling a registration-only Zoom meeting at the same time and asking constituents to submit their questions ahead of time. While Van Orden appears at his tightly-controlled virtual event, hundreds of his constituents will gather in Eau Claire to share their concerns about issues including Medicaid, Social Security, tax reform, and more.
Last week a grassroots group of Van Orden’s constituents delivered an invitation to his office to join an in-person town hall meeting at 3:30 PM Thursday in Eau Claire. Since receiving the invitation, Van Orden and his office have refused to respond. Today, Van Orden announced a competing virtual town hall at the same time, where participants are required to register in advance and are asked to submit questions.
“It’s unfortunate that Congressman Van Orden continues to hide from tough questions and refuses to meet constituents in-person. Hundreds of people he represents will be ready and willing to hear from him tomorrow in Eau Claire and he’s still welcome to change his mind and accept our invitation – we’ll be there regardless,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “With Congress considering cuts to Medicaid, reduced access to Social Security benefits, and more tax breaks for those at the top, Congressman Van Orden’s constituents deserve an opportunity to hear where he stands.
Media interested in covering Opportunity Wisconsin’s in-person town hall tomorrow should rsvp to press@opportunitywisconsin.org. Members of the public can RSVP online here.
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