NEW VIDEO: “I Don’t Think Senator Johnson Understands What Main Street Is.”

In the second video released this week by Opportunity Wisconsin, a small business owner and tax policy expert weigh-in on Johnson’s “crowning achievement”

Thursday, July 14, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today Opportunity Wisconsin released the second in a series of new videos highlighting how U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s ‘crowning achievement’ in the Trump tax law not only benefited his family’s business but also disproportionately benefits the wealthy at the expense of working Wisconsinites. The video series features Wisconsin small business owner Melissa Buchholz and Seth Hanlon, a tax policy expert with the Center for American Progress. With the new videos, Opportunity Wisconsin is continuing their call for Senator Johnson to stop putting politics over the people of the Badger State and start voting for policies that support Wisconsin workers and families. 

“One of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was known as the pass through deduction. Senator Johnson tried to sell it as a small business tax cut,” said Hanlon. “In reality, 60% of the benefit of this so-called small business tax cut goes to the richest 1% of Americans, people like Senator Johnson himself. It further unleveled the playing field against small business owners.”  

“I don't think that Senator Johnson understands what Main Street is,” said Buchholz. “I look at lawmakers like Ron Johnson, and I just think how do you justify this to yourself when you work to help the people on top have even more and leave the rest of us in the dust?”

Full Video Script:

SETH: Senator Johnson has been unabashed about giving tax cuts to people like himself. He continues to be proud of this tax cut that he was a key player in in 2017.

MELISSA: Tax policies generally are super important to our businesses. But we're treated less fairly than larger corporations.

SETH: One of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was known as the pass through deduction. Senator Johnson tried to sell it as a small business tax cut. In reality, 60% of the benefit of this so-called small business tax cut goes to the richest 1% of Americans, people like Senator Johnson himself. It further unleveled the playing field against small business owners.

‘MELISSA: I don't think that Senator Johnson understands what Main Street is. I look at lawmakers like Ron Jo hnson, and I just think how do you justify this to yourself when you work to help the people on top have even more and leave the rest of us in the dust?

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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NEW: Video Highlights How Sen. Johnson’s “Crowning Achievement” Isn’t Working for Wisconsin

Experts weigh in on how Johnson’s tax loophole is funneling money to the wealthy, while small businesses continue to struggle

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today Opportunity Wisconsin released the first in a series of new videos highlighting how U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s ‘crowning achievement’ in the Trump tax law not only benefited his family’s business but also disproportionately benefits the wealthy at the expense of working Wisconsinites. The video series features Wisconsin small business owner Melissa Buchholz and Seth Hanlon, a tax policy expert with the Center for American Progress. With the new videos, Opportunity Wisconsin is continuing their call for Senator Johnson to stop putting politics over the people of the Badger State and start voting for policies that support Wisconsin workers and families.    

Video Script:

MELISSA: Senator Johnson has prided himself on tax cuts for businesses. But as a small business owner, I haven't felt any of that. He's using our name but not actually doing anything that supports us. 

SETH: Senator Ron Johnson voted for tax cuts for corporations and for wealthy people like himself, and he voted against critical tax relief for working families when they needed it most.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was simply a massive tax cut for corporate America. Supporters and proponents promised that these tax cuts were for the middle class and that they would trickle down to the middle class. They weren't. They were overwhelmingly for corporations and for wealthy individuals. They've simply made the rich richer.

MELISSA: Our tax burden has not been reduced because of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The people benefitting from these tax policies aren’t even part of our communities. Yet, they’re the ones reaping all the tax benefits.

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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Sen. Johnson’s Solution for Rising Costs? Get Grandma Back to Work.

“Here's a good idea for retirees collecting Social Security right now: why not encourage retirees to get back into the workforce?”

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Yesterday, during a radio interview, U.S. Senator Ron Johnson offered his solution to address rising costs in America: tell our aging parents and grandparents to get back to work, “I mean, here's a good idea for retirees collecting Social Security right now. Why not encourage retirees to get back into the workforce?”

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Too many across the Badger State are worried about paying their bills and putting food on the table, and instead of working in good faith to bring down costs, Senator Johnson’s solution is to get grandma back to work. Our aging parents and grandparents have earned their retirement benefits, but Senator Johnson continues to attack them and not help Wisconsinites. Whether it’s supporting a Republican proposal to put Social Security and Medicare on the chopping block every five years, working to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, or his ‘crowning achievement’ in the Trump tax law that benefited his family’s business and ‘disproportionately benefits the wealthy.’

"Additionally, Senator Johnson talks about getting people back to work, but he refuses to support policies that help people do that. Whether that’s bringing new, good-paying jobs to the state, keeping folks healthy, or helping families afford the costs of working while raising a family. Instead he is suggesting we pull folks out of retirement and put them back to work. Senator Johnson just needs to keep it simple: vote for policies that help Wisconsinites, not hurt them.”     

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working  to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a Win for Wisconsin

New law comes as recent reports reveal Highland Park shooter was considering Madison as a target

Monday, July 11, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today President Joe Biden met with mass shooting survivors and victims’ families to discuss the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which he signed into law last month. The gathering comes one week after Madison, Wisconsin was very close to being the next on a long list of communities devastated by gun violence. Despite a new Marquette Law School poll showing an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents support taking action on new gun safety policies, Senator Ron Johnson voted no on the historic, bipartisan law.    

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Wisconsin has some of the weakest gun laws in the country, and an average of 641 Wisconsinites die by guns each year. We are also, unfortunately, no stranger to mass shootings and even came disturbingly close to another tragedy just one week ago today. Thankfully, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is taking a historic step to address the epidemic of gun violence in America. While there is certainly much more to be done, we’re grateful to our elected leaders like President Biden and Senator Tammy Baldwin for putting the people of Wisconsin first. We’re also calling on Senator Johnson to reconsider his blind loyalty to the wealthy gun lobby and instead start supporting policies that benefit Wisconsin workers and families.” 

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working  to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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NEW: Billboards Near Milwaukee Airport and Bradford Beach to Call Out “Florida Man” Ron Johnson for Billing Taxpayers for His Vacation Travel

Opportunity Wisconsin will be handing out FREE popsicles at Bradford Beach on Sunday from 12:30-2:30 PM or while supplies last

Friday, July 1, 2022

MILWAUKEE, Wis.—As Wisconsinites prepare for the holiday weekend, Opportunity Wisconsin is launching three new billboards reminding residents that Senator Ron Johnson is traveling on their dime while he refuses to support policies that help address rising costs. The billboards, situated near General Mitchell International Airport and Bradford Beach, come after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a report detailing how Senator Johnson has been using taxpayer dollars to fly between his vacation home in Florida and Washington, D.C. As part of the effort, Opportunity Wisconsin will be handing out FREE popsicles at Milwaukee’s Bradford Beach on Sunday, July 3rd from 12:30-2:30 PM, or while supplies last.   
    
“Wisconsin families are struggling to make ends meet and instead of working to bring down costs, Senator Johnson is spending his time in the Sunshine State - something many Badger State families can’t afford to do this holiday weekend. Since taking office, Senator Johnson’s policies have given special tax breaks to millionaires like himself. Now he’s asking us to help pay for travel from his mansion in Florida,” said Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director. “If Senator Johnson wants us to pay for his Florida vacations then he needs to vote for policies that lower health care costs, bring new, good-paying jobs to the state, and support tax cuts for families with children. It’s time for Senator Johnson to start working for the Badger State and stop putting his personal profits (and pleasure travel) over the people of Wisconsin.”

Earlier this week Chef Gregory León, a James Beard award finalist and owner of Amalinda in Milwaukee, took Senator Ron Johnson to task for blocking funding for the state’s restaurant industry and spending taxpayer money on traveling to Florida instead. On Monday, Opportunity Wisconsin released “Ron Johnson’s Fort Myers Vacation Guide,” a satirical travel blog “authored” by Senator Johnson where he writes, “If you’re a self-proclaimed cheapskate like me and looking to save a few bucks on your next vacation, I’ve taken the liberty of drafting this guide. Here are my do’s and don’ts to ensure that your next vacation to my favorite spot, Fort Myers, is a breeze.” 

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working  to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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Milwaukee Small Business Owner Takes Sen. Johnson to Task for Florida Vacations on Taxpayers’ Dime

“While most of us were trying to support our friends and neighbors by spending our dollars in our communities, our state’s senior Senator, Ron Johnson, decided to spend his vacation dollars in Florida. Even worse, he asked us to help foot the bill.”

Thursday, June 30, 2022

MILWAUKEE, Wis.—This week Chef Gregory León, a James Beard award finalist and owner of Amalinda in Milwaukee, took Senator Ron Johnson to task for blocking funding for the state’s restaurant industry and spending taxpayer money on traveling to Florida instead. On Monday, Opportunity Wisconsin launched “Ron Johnson’s Fort Myers Vacation Guide,” a satirical travel blog “authored” by Senator Johnson where he writes, “If you’re a self-proclaimed cheapskate like me and looking to save a few bucks on your next vacation, I’ve taken the liberty of drafting this guide. Here are my do’s and don’ts to ensure that your next vacation to my favorite spot, Fort Myers, is a breeze.” 

Last month the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel published a devastating report detailing how Senator Johnson has been using taxpayer dollars to fly between his vacation home in Florida and Washington, D.C. Federal records show that taxpayers footed the bill for 19 flights from Fort Myers, Florida — where Johnson purchased a home for $1.6 million in 2013 — to Washington between 2013 and May 2021.

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Heartland Signal: Travel Wisconsin, Ron Johnson

By Chef Gregory León

June 28, 2022

As a restaurant owner in Milwaukee, we rely on the boost in tourism we see in the summer to keep us in the black, pay our employees, and grow our business. Because of the pandemic, we’ve seen a dramatic drop in tourism to our state, making an already difficult situation for restaurants even more financially precarious. But we’ve gotten through these tough times, thanks to our employees, our families, and our fellow Wisconsities. We banded together, helped each other, and now we’re climbing out of the pandemic. 

But while most of us were trying to support our friends and neighbors by spending our dollars in our communities, our state’s senior Senator, Ron Johnson, decided to spend his vacation dollars in Florida. Even worse, he asked us to help foot the bill. That’s right. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently reported that Senator Johnson was charging Wisconsin taxpayers for trips from his vacation home in Florida back to Washington, D.C.. 

Pure and simple, this stinks. It certainly seems to be in violation of the law. But I’ll let others litigate that. What bothers me the most about this is that it’s apparently too much to ask our Senator to support the Wisconsin small businesses he is supposed to represent?

But this isn’t the first time Senator Johnson has put himself before us. He does it every day. He consistently voted against things that help Wisconsin families, like expanding the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, while voting to give rich people like himself more tax cuts that they don’t need. 

Just last month, he blocked critical funding for our state’s restaurant industry, an industry that supports 288,000 jobs and nearly 13,000 small businesses in Wisconsin. Of course, considering he recently said he’s “not that fond of restaurants,” we probably shouldn’t have been surprised, since Senator Johnson only seems to vote for things that personally benefit himself. 

Unfortunately, his self-servingness doesn’t stop there. Senator Johnson is very wealthy. In fact, he’s one of the richest members of Congress. Yet in 2017 he had the audacity to give himself a tax cut while he consistently voted to raise taxes on Wisconsin small business owners and families. Even worse, he went on the radio recently and complained that his wealth had “only doubled” since joining the Senate.

I don’t begrudge Senator Johnson for being wealthy. But I do resent that while he’s voting to make life harder for Wisconsin families who are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over our heads, he’s using his elected office to make himself even richer. And now, as a final insult, he’s asking Wisconsin families to help pay for his vacation travel from Florida. What’s wrong with vacationing in Wisconsin, Senator? And what’s wrong with paying for it yourself? You can clearly afford it.

Enough is enough. If Senator Johnson wants to spend his time in Florida rather than Wisconsin, fine. He can stay in Florida as far as I’m concerned. But don’t kick us when we’re already down by making us pay for it. Just as importantly, stop voting to make our lives harder just to give yourself more tax breaks you clearly don’t need. 

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Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working  to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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Roe v. Wade Overturned: Time for Senator Johnson to Step Up and Support Wisconsin Women and Families

In wake of SCOTUS decision, Senator Ron Johnson’s refusal to vote for policies that support Wisconsin families will have even more devastating consequences

Friday, June 24, 2022

MADISON, Wis.— Today the United States Supreme Court released its official opinion, overturning Roe v. Wade, triggering Wisconsin’s 172-year-old criminal abortion ban. Last month, when given the opportunity to protect the right to abortion, Senator Ron Johnson voted to block the Women’s Health Protection Act (WHPA) from moving forward in the U.S. Senate. The bill would have codified the right to abortion guaranteed currently under Roe v. Wade into law, protecting both the right and access to the vital medical procedure. 

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:

“While expected, today’s decision is devastating nonetheless. Today the U.S. Supreme Court, cheered on by Senator Ron Johnson, overturned Roe v. Wade and sent Wisconsin women back to 1849 where we will likely face a criminal abortion ban. Over sixty percent of Wisconsin residents say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and yet, Senator Johnson abdicated his duty to represent all of Wisconsin when he voted to block the Women’s Health Protection Act.  

“Today’s decision also has significant economic implications–something Senator Johnson purports to care about. Limits on our ability to make decisions about our own reproductive health isn’t just going to be ‘a little messy for some people,’ as Senator Johnson claimed, it’s going to have a direct impact on our economic security. Too many across the Badger State are worried about paying their bills and putting food on the table, and instead of working to bring down costs, Senator Johnson is choosing to support policies that we know would have very damaging effects on Wisconsin families and the economy. It’s time for Senator Johnson to stop serving himself and start supporting policies that help Wisconsin workers and families.”

While testifying before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee last month, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen laid out just how damaging overturning Roe v. Wade would be, not only for women, but for the economy, saying the landmark court case “enabled many women to finish school, that [it] increased their earning potential. It allowed women to plan and balance their families and careers. And research also shows that it had a favorable impact on the well being and earnings of children.”

In fact, according to a piece published by The Morning Brew:

• [Dr. Diana Greene Foster’s 2020 book] The Turnaway Study followed groups of women who wanted abortions for five years. Two-thirds of the group that was unable to get abortions were living in poverty within six months, compared to 45% of the group that was able to receive the procedure.

• In 1970, prior to Roe v. Wade, women’s labor force participation rate was about 43%. Scholars argue that abortion access was an important factor in raising that rate to 57.4% by 2019.

• A 2020 paper published by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that being denied abortion access causes bankruptcies and evictions experienced by women to rise by 81%, and increases the amount of debt women hold that is 30+ days past due by 78%.

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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Ron Johnson Refuses to Take Action on Gun Violence, Supports the Status Quo

Johnson votes against bipartisan deal, despite an overwhelming majority of Wisconsinites supporting common sense reforms  

June 23, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today the U.S. Senate took a historic step to preventing future gun violence in America by passing the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act by a vote of 65-33. Senator Ron Johnson voted no on the measure, despite a new Marquette Law School poll showing an overwhelming majority of Wisconsin residents support taking action on new gun safety policies.   

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:

“Wisconsin has some of the weakest gun laws in the country, and an average of 641 Wisconsinites die by guns each year. Despite this, and the Badger State’s overwhelming support for common sense reforms, Senator Johnson today voted against a bipartisan compromise to address the epidemic of gun violence. Senator Johnson has once again shown that his unwavering loyalty to powerful special interests is more important than his duty to represent the people of Wisconsin. When will enough be enough for Senator Ron Johnson?”

Since early 2021, Opportunity Wisconsin has been working  to hold Senator Johnson accountable to his constituents and to demand he vote for policies that support Wisconsin residents. In addition to holding conversations with Wisconsin workers and families across the Badger State, Opportunity Wisconsin has spent over $5 million in TV ads urging Senator Johnson to focus his work in Washington on addressing the economic needs of his constituents and to stop putting his personal profits over the people of Wisconsin.

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