Inflation Reduction Act: A Win for Wisconsin Workers and Families

Opportunity Wisconsin calls on Senators Baldwin and Johnson to support this historic investment in our economy, climate, health care, and middle class

Friday, August 5, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—As the U.S. Senate prepares to vote on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, Opportunity Wisconsin is calling on Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson to support the bill, which would make historic investments in our economy, climate, health care and middle class.

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“In the coming days, our elected representatives will have the opportunity to take a historic vote to lower costs for Wisconsin workers and families. Not only does the Inflation Reduction Act lower health care and energy costs, while also lowering the deficit, but it also cracks down on corporations to make sure they pay their fair share in taxes.

“While he’s been in the U.S. Senate, Ron Johnson has looked out for himself and people like him, at the expense of working Wisconsinites. Now, he has the opportunity to vote for a bill that will help level the playing field and give Wisconsin workers and families a fair shot to get ahead. We’re calling on both Senator Johnson and Senator Tammy Baldwin to support this bill when it comes up for a vote in the Senate.”

Learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

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[ICYMI] Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson calls for subjecting Medicare and Social Security to annual budget talks

Senate Majority Leader Schumer: “Well, you know what happens when we make things discretionary around here? All too often they get cut or even eliminated.”

Thursday, August 4, 2022

MILWAUKEE, Wis.—According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, on Tuesday Senator Ron Johnson suggested that Social Security and Medicare should be put on the chopping block and subjected to the partisan whims of Congress and its annual budget negotiations.

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“Senator Johnson and his Republican colleagues want to turn Medicare and Social Security into a political football. Wisconsinites work their whole lives paying into Social Security and Medicare, but Senator Johnson wants to be able to take those guarantees away when they retire. Senator Johnson, who once called Social Security a ‘Ponzi Scheme,’ wants to be able to use these lifelines for so many as a bargaining chip that he and his Republican cronies will only fund in exchange for their priorities. We’ve seen time and again how Johnson and his allies use congressional negotiations to cut important programs’ funding or simply let them expire. Now, Senator Johnson wants to add Social Security and Medicare to that mix. It’s time for Senator Johnson to stand up for Wisconsin workers and families instead of standing on the side of the wealthy and well-connected.”   

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Ron Johnson calls for subjecting Medicare and Social Security to annual budget talks

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson indicated Tuesday that Medicare and Social Security should be subjected to annual budget deliberations, a move that could upend guaranteed benefits relied upon by millions of Americans.

Johnson, who is running for a third term in November in a race that could shape the balance of power in the Senate, made his comments during an interview on the Regular Joe Show, hosted by Joe Giganti.

Federal spending is in two baskets — discretionary spending which comes in annual appropriations in areas like defense and public works and mandatory spending that is generally governed by statute and includes entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare that provide guaranteed benefits.

During the interview, Johnson was asked about the PACT Act — aid to veterans who have been exposed to toxic burn pits — and a controversy over discretionary vs. mandatory spending.

In his answer, Johnson suggested that he seeks to turn everything in the federal budget into discretionary spending — including Social Security and Medicare — so that programs can be evaluated and fixed.

"Defense spending has always been discretionary," Johnson said. "VA spending is discretionary. What's mandatory are things like Social Security and Medicare. If you qualify for the entitlement you just get it no matter what the cost. And our problem in this country is that more than 70 percent of our federal budget, of our federal spending, is all mandatory spending. It's on automatic pilot. It never ... you just don't do proper oversight. You don't get in there and fix the programs going bankrupt. It's just on automatic pilot.
…
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized Johnson on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

“Just yesterday, the junior senator from Wisconsin argued that instead of strengthening Medicare and Social Security, we should put them on the chopping block. Hear that, citizens of Wisconsin, citizens of America? The junior senator from Wisconsin wants to put Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block.”

“He has argued that the benefits which millions of Americans rely on every day shouldn’t be guaranteed but should be subject to partisan infighting here in Washington. He would like to revoke the guarantee of Medicare and Social Security and make them discretionary. Well, you know what happens when we make things discretionary around here? All too often they get cut or even eliminated.”

Read more from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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Tomorrow’s January 6 Hearing a Reminder Sen. Johnson Continues to Stand With Insurrectionists Who Tried to Overturn Election

"Opposing a violent insurrection shouldn’t be controversial, yet Senator Johnson continues to surprise us."

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—As the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol prepares to hold a primetime hearing tomorrow evening, Senator Ron Johnson continues to stand with the insurrectionists who violently stormed the Capitol. Previous hearings unveiled the bombshell revelations that Senator Johnson attempted to hand Vice President Mike Pence a slate of fake electors in a harebrained scheme by Senator Johnson to stop the electoral count and overturn the will of Wisconsin voters. Senator Johnson has continued to stand with the insurrectionists since last year’s attack on the Capitol. In fact, just yesterday he announced his opposition to the appointment of Sopen Shah, a nominee to be federal prosecutor for Wisconsin because of comments Shah made critical of the January 6 insurrection. 

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director:
“Tomorrow evening we’ll undoubtedly learn new disturbing details about the January 6 insurrection that cost at least seven people their lives. Unfortunately, instead of condemning this unprecedented attack on the Capitol, Senator Johnson has stood in lockstep with the insurrectionists, defending their actions and joining their denials of the 2020 election results. Even worse, Senator Johnson directly participated in this attempted coup on January 6 when he unsuccessfully tried to hand Vice President Pence a slate of fake electors. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, now he’s trying to block an exceptionally qualified nominee to be a federal prosecutor for Wisconsin because she’s been critical of Senator Johnson’s allies who illegally and violently attacked the Capitol. Opposing a violent insurrection shouldn’t be controversial, yet Senator Johnson continues to surprise us. It’s time for Senator Johnson to stop putting politics over the people of Wisconsin.”

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[NEW VIDEO] Critical Tax Relief Senator Johnson Should Actually Support: Child Tax Credit

The Expanded Child Tax Credit, implemented one year ago today, reduced child poverty by about 40% and benefitted 1.1 million Wisconsin children. Johnson voted against it.

Friday, July 15, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today, on the one year anniversary of the first expanded Child Tax Credit payment, Opportunity Wisconsin released the third 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. Today’s video also highlights the expanded Child Tax Credit, critical tax relief included in President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan. The provision reduced child poverty by 40% in America, benefitting 1.1 million children in Wisconsin. Senator Johnson voted against the expanded Child Tax Credit and other lifesaving provisions of the American Rescue Plan.    

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. 

Full Video Script:

MELISSA: Lawmakers want to say that they're doing things to help small businesses. There are a few things that have supported us. And those things Ron Johnson tends to vote against. Something as simple as the child tax credit was immensely helpful. It immediately gave our working parents the ability to continue going to work. 

SETH: Senator Ron Johnson voted against critical tax relief for working families when they needed it most. The Child Tax Credit allowed millions of families to afford child care so that they can continue to work and earn a living while raising their families.  It reduced child poverty by about 40%, benefiting 1.1 million children in Wisconsin.

MELISSA: Senator Johnson is out of touch with what life is like for the rest of us here in Wisconsin. I don't see that he goes to work every day, committed to working for people like those in my community. Our government should work for us.

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: “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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