Opportunity Wisconsin Hosts Community Roundtable in Milwaukee to Demand an Economy that Works for ALL Wisconsinites

On the heels of President Trump’s destructive budget proposal, Milwaukee area residents gathered with Alderwoman Chantia Lewis and Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson to discuss how his economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at Coffee Makes You Black in Milwaukee  to uplift the stories of working- and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda. This event comes days after President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget, which significantly slashes programs and services aimed at supporting Wisconsin’s workers, while giving a leg up to the wealthy and well-connected. 

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“We are not going to see any change until we start seeing a change in these issues - like wages, affordable housing, and jobs that allow you to make ends meet,” said Chantia Lewis, President of My Lewis Company, City of Milwaukee Alderwoman, and Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee member. “There are people who say that the economy is booming, but that’s not true.”

In 2027, Wisconsinites with the lowest incomes are expected to pay more in taxes because of President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, while the wealthiest 1 percent of residents will receive nearly $8,000 in savings. 1 in 4 Wisconsinites will ultimately see a tax increase under this law. This year, Wisconsin’s top 1 percent, those earning more than $542,700 - will get a nearly $40,000 tax cut, but in comparison, those earning less than $23,900 will get a measly $30 tax cut.

“This [since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted] is the first time in my life that I’ve ever owed taxes, because I couldn’t take advantage of credits that I had in the past when I was a public school teacher,” said Marcelia Nicholson, Vice President of the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization (MASH) and Vice-Chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. “For that job, I invested money into supplies for the kids, but this past year I was only able to deduct $250, even though I invested around $2,000 into supplies, and I couldn't get a tax break for that, but wealthy folks get tax breaks for buying boats.”

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. 

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

“I’ve worked several jobs across Milwaukee, and dealt with not being able to take one paycheck home..and I started a business because of that,” said Milwaukee small business owner Brittany Thomas. “But it takes money to make money. To sustain a business it takes money and if I'm not making enough money with my 9-to-5 to pay my bills, I can’t sustain the business. I had 2 or 3 jobs at one time and still could not pay my rent at times. As a business owner, when I made a profit, I had to decide if it would be put back into my business or if it would go to bills like my home, food, and lights. It was definitely a struggle.”

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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WDJT: Community roundtable discuss impact of Trump policies in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The coalition Opportunity Wisconsin held a roundtable at Coffee Makes You Black on Milwaukee’s north side.

Community members and local officials gathered for the small, yet lively discussion. The topic was President Trump's economic policies on a range of topics from jobs, healthcare and student loans.

"We're seeing that it's a trickle-down negative effect," Alderwoman Chantia Lewis said.

The group says while Trump touts how great the economy is, the working and middle class are struggling.

"He made many promises to the middle class and the lower class that he would lower taxes, provide more jobs, and we found overwhelmingly, that that was a lie. He's broken all of those promises," said Marcelia Nicholson, vice-chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

The Trump administration doesn’t see it that way. Anna Kelly, Trump Victory spokesperson said in a statement, "Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Wisconsin has added more than 37,000 jobs, elevated more than 35,000 Wisconsinites out of poverty, and lifted more than 96,000 people off of food stamps. President Trump’s pro-growth policies are benefiting Wisconsin workers, businesses, and families alike.”

However, small business owners at the roundtable said it’s been difficult to make ends meet. "When I make a profit from my business, do I take that profit and put it back in my business or do I buy food, groceries and lights?"

Ultimately, those at the coffee shop said they want to see policies benefit more Americans.

Opportunity Wisconsin plans to continue roundtable discussions throughout the state with hopes of sparking legislative change.

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Story originally published by WDJT.

WQOW: Roundtable discussion focuses on impact of Trump’s economic agenda

Eau Claire (WQOW) - Community members and local political leaders met today to discuss how President Trump's economic agenda is impacting workers in the Chippewa Valley.

The non-profit Opportunity Wisconsin hosted a roundtable discussion Wednesday morning in Eau Claire. One of the main topics brought up was concern over the cost of living. Those in attendance said the President's tax cuts have been a boon for big business, but have not helped small businesses or taxpayers who are trying to make ends meet.

"Her husband had to quit his job because their childcare cost was more expensive than their mortgage," said Eau Claire City Council member Kate Beaton of one of the people in attendance Wednesday. "Which is insane to me. It really raises kind of the point that our wages are not keeping up with the cost of living."

However, those on the President's side of the aisle point to the U.S.' continued economic growth, saying the President's policies are working.  

"His regulatory and tax reform is why this economy is booming," said Treasurer of the Republican Party of Wisconsin Brian Westrate. "It truly is. Decreasing that highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, bringing that down to 15 percent, that's where this boom ultimately has come from."

Westrate admitted some aspects of the current economic climate are concerning to him, such as deficit spending and the current national debt, but all in all believes the President's policies will only benefit American workers.

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Story originally published by WQOW.

WEAU: Community round table discusses tax cuts and the impact on western Wisconsin

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -- A little more than two years ago, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. 

While the White House advertised cutting over $5.5 trillion dollars in taxes over ten years, there are those not in favor of the cuts.

Wednesday, members of a group called "Opportunity Wisconsin" organized a community round table at Shift Cyclery and Coffee Bar.

Eau Claire City Council member Kate Beaton, who was at the event, says the cuts have had a negative impact on the Chippewa Valley.
"When people in our community have to choose between rent and going to the doctor, that is unacceptable. It does not mean a booming economy and what we're doing here today is trying to show those impacts of our community on the vast majority of people in Eau Claire and in Wisconsin and in the nation, show those impacts in the stories of people here in Eau Claire."

In response, Wisconsin Republican Party Treasurer Brian Westrate tells WEAU the cuts have had a positive impact here in western Wisconsin, and is just part of the president's overall economic success.

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Story originally published by WEAU.

Opportunity Wisconsin Hosts Community Roundtable in Eau Claire to Demand an Economy that Works for ALL Wisconsinites

On the heels of his destructive budget proposal, Eau Claire area residents gathered to discuss how President Trump’s economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar in Eau Claire to uplift the stories of working-and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda. This event comes days after President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget, which significantly slashes programs and services aimed at supporting Wisconsin’s workers, while giving a leg up to the wealthy and well-connected. 

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“Everything is deteriorating,” said Altoona resident Maria Guzman. “You’d have to have no commonsense not to see what's going on right outside our doors. You see businesses closing down, it’s all going downhill. We are all taxpayers, and that should mean something.”

President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts drastically reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, which provided a massive break to Wall Street giants, like private equity firm Sun Capital Equity, and kept tax loopholes in place that they and other hedge funds exploit to buy out jobs and bankrupt small businesses. 

Shopko, a Wisconsin-based company, was taken over by Sun Capital Equity. Instead of keeping the company afloat, Sun Capital Equity ultimately led Shopko to declare bankruptcy last year — all Shopko stores are now closed, including a location that had called Eau Claire home for decades. This resulted in 2,725 jobs stolen from Wisconsinites, 52 closed stores, and a closed support center. 

“Everything has gone up in price, but the last few years we've had the same federal minimum wage,” said Eau Claire resident Judy Gatlin. “It's simple math, and it’s not working.“

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. 

“We don't talk about the fact that people are holding three jobs because [they] are so low-paid,” said Eau Claire resident Breana Stanley. “Low wages exist and poverty exists.”

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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Opportunity Wisconsin Hosts Community Roundtable in Green Bay to Demand an Economy that Works for ALL Wisconsinites

On the heels of his destructive budget proposal, Green Bay area residents gathered to discuss how President Trump’s economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at Kavarna Coffeehouse in Green Bay to uplift the stories of working-and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda. This event comes the day after President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget, which significantly slashes programs and services aimed at supporting Wisconsin’s workers, while giving a leg up to the wealthy and well-connected. 

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“I’ve lived in Green Bay for 40 years, and worked at Shopko Stores since moving to Green Bay, until last year when it closed,” said Jim Jordan. “We all of a sudden were not a viable company. We had been bought out by a venture capital organization a few years ago that had a reputation for buying out and chopping up companies. We were surprised by how long we were actually able to keep the company, but we were so surprised by how quickly everything fell apart...The speed of how it all transpired was the most shocking.”

Shopko, a Wisconsin-based company, was taken over by Wall Street private equity firm Sun Capital Equity. Instead of keeping the company afloat, Sun Capital Equity ultimately led Shopko to declare bankruptcy last year — all Shopko stores are now closed. This resulted in 2,725 jobs stolen from Wisconsinites, 52 closed stores, and a closed support center. 

President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts drastically reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, which provided a massive break to Wall Street giants like Sun Capital Equity and kept tax loopholes in place that they and other hedge funds exploit to buy out jobs and bankrupt small businesses. 

“[People are saying] our economy is booming, but it's just not booming for everyone,” said Steve McFarland, Greater Green Bay Labor Council President. “A gas station employee is receiving the minimum wage, which is nowhere near the [living] wage. Some of these folks will have 2 or 3 jobs, thinking that that additional [income] may put them where they need so that their kids won't be hungry at school.”

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. 

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

“We were raised to save money,” said Connie Jordan. “I used to teach financial literacy, and you teach that, ‘out of your income, you try to save 10%,’ but when you live day-to-day how are you supposed to save? Where are we going to be 10-15 years out? What is the future going to look like when you can’t save into retirement, and are living hand to mouth? The whole economy is impacted by that.”

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

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President Trump’s Budget Proposal: Gutting Safety Net for Wisconsin Workers to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

President Trump releases budget proposal outlining continued cuts to programs helping Wisconsin’s middle class, while boosting billionaires and big corporations  

MADISON, Wis. — Today, President Donald Trump released his 2021 budget that will serve as a roadmap for his allies in Congress over the coming year, and into the future. President Trump’s proposal significantly slashes programs and services that support Wisconsin workers such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while shifting these funds to help foot the bill for his tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected.  
The proposal cements this administration’s track record of tax cuts and giveaways for the wealthy. The president’s budget calls for an additional $1.4 trillion to extend the tax cuts for the wealthy to 2035, which nonpartisan economic experts agree will disproportionately benefit the wealthy. 

Trump plans to pay for these tax cuts for the wealthy by continuing to slash safety net programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — today’s proposal outlines $2 trillion in cuts to these programs. Experts anticipate these cuts would lead to a reduction in both benefits and the number of people enrolled in the Medicaid program. 

“Over the past three years we have seen the devastating impacts of President Trump’s economic agenda across Wisconsin,” said Kirk Bangstad, Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee member. “As a small business owner, I know that budgets are a reflection of your priorities and your values. This proposal from President Trump is no different, as it continues to demonstrate he does not value our friends and neighbors struggling to make ends meet, and instead prioritizes the same big businesses that have already wreaked havoc on workers across the Badger State.”  

Under the 2017 tax law championed by President Trump and his allies, 1 in 4 Wisconsinites will ultimately see a tax increase. The tax law also drastically reduced the corporate income tax rate, providing a massive windfall for large corporations. Instead of the benefits trickling down to workers, companies like Wisconsin’s own Kimberly-Clark enriched their shareholders while laying off 74 workers in Neenah and shutting down a once profitable plant.  

About Opportunity Wisconsin Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.
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Working Wisconsinites Will Be Watching Tonight

Tonight, President Trump will deliver his third State of the Union address. For Wisconsinites like us, the stakes couldn't be higher. Over the past three years, Wisconsin has seen a record number of family farms file for bankruptcy, longtime manufacturers lay off workers or shutter their plants altogether, wages remain stagnant, and health care costs continue to climb. Here in Wisconsin, President Trump has a lot of explaining to do.

In 2016, Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Wisconsin in more than 30 years. Wisconsinites, who had seen our state’s economy weakened by the loss of manufacturing jobs—once a mainstay in the Badger State—were drawn to Trump by his promise to bring industry and jobs back to the upper midwest. 

But now that he’s president, Wisconsinites have seen that Trump’s rhetoric was nothing more than empty campaign promises. In fact, the economic policies championed by the Trump administration and his allies in Congress have actively hurt Wisconsin working families’ bottom line. 

Take the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act - a law that promised tax relief for the middle class, but instead delivered major tax breaks to big corporations and the already wealthy. Now, workers here in Wisconsin are still facing skyrocketing living costs, and wages that are not keeping up. Folks are working multiple jobs, saving every penny, cutting corners where possible, and still struggling to make ends meet.   

This massive tax giveaway for big corporations was supposed to “trickle down” to workers. But if you ask around in our communities, that benefit is nowhere to be found. Instead, companies are using their tax breaks to enrich their shareholders and executives — Wisconsin’s own Kimberly-Clark used their tax cut to fund plant closures and lay off 74 employees in Neenah. By the time the law is fully phased in, 1 in 4 Wisconsinites will pay more in taxes while the wealthiest 1 percent will see a tax cut. 

Many anticipate that President Trump will use his State of the Union tonight to say his first tax cut helped working families and that more sweeping tax cuts for the wealthy are needed. But for workers here in Wisconsin, more trickle down is not the answer. 

To add insult to injury, President Trump also blocked a federal minimum wage increase for Wisconsin workers, a move that denied more than 800,000 of our family, friends and neighbors a pay increase. Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high. Tonight, Wisconsin families expect to hear how President Trump is going to take meaningful, bipartisan action to curb the rising prescription drug costs, not launch another campaign to take health care coverage away.

Wisconsinites can’t afford any more of President Trump’s economic policies. His trade wars, tax cuts for the wealthy, and cozy relationships with Wall Street have led many Wisconsinites to fall further and further behind. Tonight, Wisconsin families want to hear how the President is going to fight for them, not the 1 percent.

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This op-ed originally appeared in the Cap Times.

Kirk Bangstad, Owner, Minocqua Brewing Company; Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee

Anna Landmark, Co-Owner and Cheesemaker, Landmark Creamery; Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee  

Chantia Lewis, President, My Lewis Company.; Alderwoman, City of Milwaukee; Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee   

Mark Westphal, Industrial Electrician, Essity Tissue Corporation; President, Fox Valley Labor Council; Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee