Opportunity Wisconsin launches new campaign to hold Reps. Steil and Van Orden accountable for votes against Wisconsin families

Grassroots campaign to highlight congressmen’s support for the wealthy and big corporations, instead of fighting for Wisconsin workers and families

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin today announced the launch of a new grassroots campaign to hold Representatives Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden accountable for choosing the wealthy and big corporations, over the working families they’re supposed to represent. 

Beginning this week, the group will host grassroots events in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts to highlight Reps. Steil and Van Orden’s recent votes and their continued refusal to fight for working people in our state. Just last week, both Congressmen voted for Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s “Default on America Act,” a devastating plan that cuts food assistance from seniors, reduces access to care for veterans, and threatens millions in education and child care funding. 

“Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden consistently choose the wealthy and big corporations over what’s best for Wisconsin families. Whether it’s opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowers out-of-control drug costs and caps the price of insulin for seniors, or voting to let the wealthy and corporations keep cheating on their taxes instead of paying their fair share, Congressmen Steil and Van Orden have turned their back on working people,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Wisconsinites expect better from their representatives and they’re ready to make their voices heard. Opportunity Wisconsin is committed to holding these Congressmen accountable and working with our grassroots coalitions in the 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts to demand that Reps. Steil and Van Orden start fighting for working families.”

Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents committed to fighting for an economy that works for everyone. Since launching in 2020, the organization has built a network of grassroots supporters and storytellers who have elevated the real consequences of economic policies that put the wealthy and big corporations first.

In addition to grassroots events holding the Congressmen accountable, Opportunity Wisconsin is launching a seven-figure paid media campaign in Wisconsin’s 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts.

To learn more about Opportunity Wisconsin, visit OpportunityWisconsin.org or stay connected on Twitter at @OpportunityWI and on Facebook at Facebook.com/OpportunityWI.

###

Representatives Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted for dangerous cuts to Wisconsin schools, families, and seniors

Wisconsin Congressmen vote for Speaker McCarthy’s default plan that protects big corporations and wealthy tax cheats, while leaving working families, seniors, and veterans behind

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Representatives Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted in favor of Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s “Default on America Act," a devastating plan that protects big corporations and wealthy tax cheats at the expense of Wisconsin families.

“Wisconsinites expect their representatives to do what’s best for families, seniors, and veterans, but Representatives Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden have once again chosen to protect the big corporations and wealthy tax cheats instead,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “This plan contains devastating cuts to food assistance, education, and child care, slashes rental assistance for seniors and veterans, and weakens public safety. If this plan becomes a reality, too many Wisconsin families will be left without the tools they need to succeed. Opportunity Wisconsin will continue to hold Representatives Steil and Van Orden accountable for their votes against working people and call on the Congressmen to make sure those at the top pay their fair share.”

Representatives Steil and Van Orden voted for the plan, which caps future spending at previous levels, despite the fact that it will slash funding for programs Wisconsinites depend on, including:
 

• Cutting health care for 2 million Americans and food assistance from more than one million seniors.

• Reducing access to veterans’ care and increasing wait times for veterans’ benefits.

• Slashing rental and housing assistance programs that hundreds of thousands of families, seniors, and veterans depend on.

• Threatening a 22 percent cut to education, child care, and opioid treatment programs.
   

Meanwhile, the plan also repeals portions of the Inflation Reduction Act designed to crack down on tax cheating by the ultra-wealthy and big corporations and gives a $6 billion tax break to Big Oil. 

###

Extreme Anti-Abortion Measures Next on the Docket for Van Orden and Steil

House GOP to vote on anti-abortion measures, despite their promises to address rising costs for Wisconsin workers and families

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

MADISON, Wis.—After voting earlier this week to help wealthy people and big corporations cheat on their taxes, Wisconsin Representatives Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are moving on to their next order of business: extreme anti-abortion measures. This comes as even their fellow Republican colleague, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, said these bills are “tone-deaf at this point.” The recently-published MAGA Guidebook noted that Rep. Van Orden supports banning abortion even in cases of rape or incest, and said that “life begins at conception” and the number of abortions in the U.S. amounts to “genocide.” One of the bills under consideration would open the door to civil lawsuits against and prison sentences of up to five years for physicians and strip away the freedom of families to make their own medical decisions. 

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director: 
“Despite promising folks in the Badger State that they were committed to addressing rising costs on behalf of Wisconsin workers and families, Representatives Van Orden and Steil are instead prioritizing an extreme and out-of-touch agenda. Wisconsin residents overwhelmingly support access to abortion care and yet Van Orden and Steil are choosing to ignore the voices of those they represent. We’re calling on Representatives Van Orden and Steil to stand up for Wisconsin workers and families and stop these extreme attacks on our freedoms.”    

# # #

Van Orden and Steil to Help Wealthy Tax Cheats in First Order of Business

Repeal of provision in the Inflation Reduction Act would help wealthy people and big corporations cheat on their taxes, at the expense of Wisconsin taxpayers

Monday, January 9, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—After a chaotic start to their tenure leading the House of Representatives, the very first bill House Republicans are bringing to the floor will help wealthy people and big corporations cheat on their taxes, at the expense of Wisconsin workers and families. Eliminating this provision of the Inflation Reduction Act means that super-wealthy and business tax cheats will be able to continue to avoid paying some $160 billion a year – increasing the federal deficit by $114 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Opportunity Wisconsin is calling on Representatives Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil to vote against this out-of-touch proposal.  

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director: 
“Last year, President Joe Biden and elected leaders like Senator Tammy Baldwin passed landmark legislation to make the wealthy and big corporations pay their fair share, including preventing them from cheating on the taxes they already owe. And now, instead of working to bring down costs for folks across the Badger State, House Republicans are prioritizing the wealthy and well-connected over Wisconsin workers and families. We’re calling on Representatives Van Orden and Steil to make clear where they stand by rejecting this partisan play by House leadership and instead put the people of Wisconsin first.”

# # #

Two Years Later, Van Orden Still Deceiving Public About Role in Capitol Insurrection

New footage shows Rep.-elect Derrick Van Orden lying about his whereabouts on January 6, 2021

Van Orden listed as “Chief Insurrectionist” in new MAGA Guidebook

Friday, January 6, 2023

MADISON, Wis.—Two years ago today, Representative-elect Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) breached a restricted area on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol as part of the January 6th insurrection, attempting to overturn the will of Wisconsin residents. Just yesterday, Van Orden was caught once again lying to a fellow veteran about his whereabouts on that day. Earlier this week, Van Orden was prominently featured in the new MAGA Guidebook for his role in the insurrection and his extremist policy positions that would hurt Wisconsin workers and families.    

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“Representative-elect Van Orden has yet to even take his oath of office, but has already failed residents of western Wisconsin by continuing to deny his role in the January 6th insurrection. Van Orden was elected to represent his entire district and yet he has pledged to carry the MAGA mantle with his extremist views and policy positions. Opportunity Wisconsin is calling on Rep.-elect Van Orden to put politics aside and commit to representing the people of Wisconsin when (if?) he is finally sworn into office.” 

According to the new MAGA Guidebook, Van Orden:

• Breached police barricades at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th to “stand up for electoral integrity.”

• Called COVID-19 relief a “disaster” and “wasteful,” but a non-profit he works with and a business he co-owned received hundreds of thousands of dollars in relief funding. 

• Supports banning abortion even in cases of rape or incest and said that “life begins at conception” and the number of abortions in the U.S. amounts to “genocide.” 

# # #

Wisconsin Seniors and Working Families Seeing Big Savings Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act

As of January 1, Wisconsinites are saving on essentials like prescription drugs, energy bills, and health care

Thursday, January 4, 2023

MADISON, Wis.—Thanks to President Biden and Congressional Democrats, as of January 1, 2023 Wisconsin seniors and working families are now saving big thanks to key programs in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that are now in effect.  These programs will save Wisconsinites money on essentials like prescription drugs, energy bills, and health care, giving folks in the Badger State, including seniors living on fixed incomes, more breathing room in their budgets. Unfortunately all Congressional Republicans, including Congressman Bryan Steil, voted against this historic law. 

 Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“Thanks to our elected leaders like President Joe Biden and Senator Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin seniors and working families now have a bit of breathing room in their budgets. The Inflation Reduction Act now provides serious savings on everything from prescription drugs to energy costs. While this landmark law is delivering for the Badger State, House Republicans have consistently stood in the way of lowering costs for hard working American people. We’re calling on Wisconsin Representatives Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to put politics and corporate lobbyists aside to back these reforms that lower costs for Badger State families." 

Inflation Reduction Act provisions now in effect: 

• Insulin Cap: The cost of insulin is capped at $35/month for seniors on Medicare. 

• Free Adult Vaccines: All recommended vaccines for adults, like shingles, will be free of charge for seniors.

• Prescription Drug Rebates: Drug manufacturers will need to pay rebates to Medicare if their price increases for certain drugs exceed inflation.

• New Electric Vehicles: Families who buy a new EV made in the U.S. can get a tax rebate of up to $7,500.

• Used Electric Vehicles: For the first time, families can get a tax rebate of up to $4,000 for buying a used electric vehicle.

• Home Energy Upgrades: Families will get a 30% rebate for home energy improvements.

# # #

On Trump Tax Law Anniversary, Wisconsin Workers and Families Still Waiting on Benefits

Opportunity Wisconsin calls on House Republicans to reject any attempt to make law permanent and instead support policies like the expanded Child Tax Credit

Monday, December 19, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Five years ago this Thursday, December 22, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) was signed into law by President Donald Trump after receiving support from Representatives Mike Gallagher and Glenn Grothman, in addition to Senator Ron Johnson. As House Republicans prepare to take the majority next Congress, Opportunity Wisconsin is calling on Representatives Gallagher and Grothman, as well as Representatives Bryan Steil, Tom Tiffany, and Scott Fitzgerald to reject any attempts to extend provisions of the TCJA and instead focus on passing policies that support Wisconsin workers and families, such as the expanded Child Tax Credit. 
 
Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:
“Not only did House Republicans like Representatives Gallagher and Grothman support a tax scam that disproportionately benefits the wealthy, but it was done at the expense of working Wisconsinites. Meanwhile, Representatives Gallagher and Grothman, as well as Representatives Bryan Steil, Tom Tiffany, and Scott Fitzgerald continue to stand against laws to bring new, good-paying jobs to the state, bring down the costs of health care and prescription drugs, and cut taxes for families with children. We’re calling on our Congressional delegation to oppose any extension or expansion of the Trump tax scam and instead address the economic needs of their constituents by supporting proven policies like the expanded Child Tax Credit.”

This anniversary comes as Congressional Republicans are sharing plans to make permanent several provisions in the TCJA. Reports indicate they will also push for scrapping some of the law’s tax increases on corporations. Many economists have indicated this move would make inflation worse. In fact, economists have determined that a provision championed by Senator Johnson delivered an average of just $20 to middle-income families, while it was a boon of $25,700 to the wealthiest one percent. In April, Senator Johnson admitted that the tax loophole benefitted his family business and his wealthy donors.

# # #

President Biden Signs Baldwin’s Historic Respect for Marriage Act into Law

Bipartisan bill becomes law despite WI Congressional Republicans’ refusal to support basic rights and freedoms for same-sex and interracial couples

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

MADISON, Wis.—Today President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act into law during a White House ceremony celebrating the historic legislation which guarantees basic rights and freedoms for same-sex and interracial couples. Despite overwhelming support for the bill among Wisconsinites and bipartisan backing from Republicans in Congress, Representatives Scott Fitzgerald, Glenn Grothman, and Tom Tiffany recently joined Senator Ron Johnson in voting against the commonsense measure.  

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director: 
“Wisconsin families are incredibly lucky to have elected leaders like Senator Tammy Baldwin and President Biden fighting for their basic freedoms and rights. The bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act gives those in same-sex and interracial marriages the peace of mind and respect they deserve. It’s incredibly disappointing that Representatives Fitzgerald, Grothman, and Tiffany have sided with Senator Johnson’s outdated and out-of-touch position, putting extreme politics over the people of Wisconsin. We’re calling on these elected leaders to start working on behalf of the people they represent.”  

# # #