ICYMI: Van Orden’s votes against Wisconsin workers and families highlighted during La Crosse event

Opportunity Wisconsin also debuted a life-like puppet of the Congressman as part of new campaign to hold Van Orden accountable

Monday, May 8, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – On Friday, Opportunity Wisconsin and Climate Power, along with La Crosse area small business owners, workers, and community leaders, joined together to call on Congressman Derrick Van Orden to fight for working families instead of supporting the wealthy and big corporations. Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new campaign to hold Rep. Van Orden accountable for his votes against working people.

“Congressman Derrick Van Orden has turned his back on the hardworking people of Wisconsin. Instead, he’s a puppet for big corporations and the wealthy. Since taking office earlier this year, Rep. Van Orden has consistently voted to stand with big corporations and wealthy tax cheats instead of with hardworking Wisconsinites,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “It’s time for him to do the right thing and fight for the families, workers, seniors, and small businesses in western Wisconsin.”

Friday’s event also featured the debut of a life-like puppet of Congressman Van Orden, highlighting his allegiance to the wealthy and big corporations, over Wisconsin workers and families. 

Rep. Van Orden recently voted in favor of a dangerous plan that would give $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations, while reducing food assistance for seniors, cutting access to care for veterans, and threatening massive cuts to education and child care funding. The plan also repeals portions of the Inflation Reduction Act designed to crack down on tax cheating by the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Rep. Van Orden has voted for big corporations, and stood against working Wisconsinites, since he took office in January.

See below for additional coverage of Friday’s event: 

WIZM: Third District residents, action groups claim Rep. Van Orden’s votes make him “puppet” of corporations

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To drive home their claim that Rep. Derrick Van Orden is controlled by corporate interests, Opportunity Wisconsin and Climate Power unveiled a large puppet likeness of Van Orden at a news conference in Onalaska on Friday.

Opportunity Wisconsin says the Prairie du Chien Republican voted recently for tax breaks that would help corporations, while also voting to cut care for veterans and reduce food assistance programs for senior citizens.

Eau Claire city council member Jeremy Gragert attended the Onalaska event. Gragert says his city has to spend millions of dollars to clean up PFAS contamination in the water, taking money away from other needs such as buying city buses. He wants Congress to provide cities with more funding for mass transit.

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WATCH WKBT: Political Groups, Business Owners Slam Van Orden

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ICYMI: Kenosha News highlights Wisconsinites calling on Rep. Bryan Steil to lower drug prices

Opportunity Wisconsin joined Kenosha-area seniors, health care workers, and advocates in holding Rep. Steil accountable

Monday, May 8, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin, For Our Future Wisconsin, and Protect Our Care Wisconsin, along with Kenosha-area seniors, health care workers, and community leaders, joined together to call on Congressman Bryan Steil to fight to lower costs for working families and stand up to corporations

Participants highlighted Rep. Steil’s long record of voting against Wisconsin families. Recently, Rep. Steil voted for a dangerous plan that would give $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations, while reducing food assistance for seniors, cutting access to care for veterans, and threatening massive cuts to education and child care funding. Rep. Steil also voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered insurance premiums and capped the cost of insulin at just $35 – a drastic shift for many seniors who were paying hundreds of dollars a month for this life-saving medication.

Kenosha News: In Kenosha demonstration Wisconsin group calls on U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil to vote lower drug prices

A group of Wisconsin activists, health care workers and seniors called on U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil to work on lowering health care costs for working families during a rally Thursday afternoon in Kenosha.

Individuals with the Opportunity Wisconsin coalition gathered in Library Park, 711 59th Place, where they criticized Steil’s record in Congress. Steil, R-Janesville, represents the state’s first congressional district, which includes Kenosha County.

They criticized Steil’s vote for Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, the Republican bill which would raise the debt limit and deeply cut spending over the next 10 years.

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Opportunity Wisconsin decried Steil’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered insurance premiums and capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for some seniors.

Cierra Chesir, the southwest Wisconsin regional lead of Opportunity Wisconsin, said it’s important to hold Steil accountable for his record.

“We are wanting to hold Rep. Steil accountable for some of the votes he’s taken against lowering health care costs, more specifically prescription drugs,” Chesir said. “Every one of his constituents needs to be heard.”

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Joe Zepecki, state director of Protect Our Care Wisconsin, spoke about rising prescription drug costs during the demonstration.

“Last year, Mr. Steil had the opportunity to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which finally allowed Medicare to use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate for lower drug costs,” Zepecki said. “That legislation also capped the cost of insulin for people seniors on Medicare at $35 a month. Mr. Steil voted no. That was his choice.”

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Rep. Steil’s votes against working families highlighted at Kenosha event

Opportunity Wisconsin joins Kenosha area seniors, health care workers, and advocates in holding Rep. Steil accountable

Thursday, May 4, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Earlier today, Opportunity Wisconsin, For Our Future Wisconsin, and Protect Our Care Wisconsin, along with Kenosha-area seniors, health care workers, and community leaders, joined together to call on Congressman Bryan Steil to fight to lower costs for working families and stand up to corporations.

Participants highlighted Rep. Steil’s long record of voting against Wisconsin families. Just last week, Rep. Steil voted in favor of a dangerous plan that would give $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations, while reducing food assistance for seniors, cutting access to care for veterans, and threatening massive cuts to education and child care funding.

  Rep. Steil also voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered insurance premiums and capped the cost of insulin at just $35 – a drastic shift for many seniors who were paying hundreds a month for this life-saving medication. This was the third time Steil voted against an insulin cap in the last two years, and he’s taken over $100,000 of campaign money from the pharmaceutical industry.

This event is part of a new campaign launched this week by Opportunity Wisconsin to tell Bryan Steil: lower costs for Wisconsin families and stand up to corporations.

In addition to today’s grassroots event, Opportunity Wisconsin began airing a TV and digital ad this week, as part of a seven-figure media buy in the state, that shows the impact of Rep. Steil’s votes against capping the cost of insulin. The ad, available online here, highlights Diana’s story about how she was forced to ration her insulin prescription due to the high cost of the drug prior to the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: 

“Congressman Bryan Steil has consistently chosen the wealthy and big corporations over what’s best for Wisconsin families. By opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, he voted to keep drug prices high and reject a cap on the cost of insulin for seniors – the third time he voted against capping insulin costs in the past two years. Wisconsinites expect better from their representatives and they’re ready to make their voices heard. Opportunity Wisconsin is committed to holding Rep. Steil accountable and working with our grassroots coalitions in the 1st Congressional Districts to demand that he start fighting for working families.”

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ICYMI: White House Fact Sheet Highlights Impact of “Default on America Act” for Wisconsin

Consequences of GOP plan become clear as Opportunity Wisconsin launches new accountability campaign in 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, a new fact sheet from the White House highlights the devastating impact that the “Default on America Act,” which Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted to pass, would have on Wisconsin. 

According to the White House report, the plan contains substantial cuts to veterans’ health care, jeopardizes public safety, and increases costs for working families. Economists also estimate that the measure would “increase the likelihood” of a recession and result in nearly 800,000 fewer jobs nationwide by the end of 2024. 

In Wisconsin, the “Default on America Act” would result in cuts, including:

• Worsen wait times for the 1.4 million Wisconsin seniors on Social Security and Medicare, by forcing applicants applying for disability benefits to wait at least two months longer.

• Risk medical care for 116,000 Wisconsin veterans, which could leave them unable to receive the care they need for wellness visits and mental health services.

• Deny 10,700 Wisconsinites Access to workforce development services, depriving businesses of the skilled workforce they need to thrive, and cutting off worker pathways to good jobs

• Cut 140 rail safety inspections, meaning 430 fewer miles of track inspected in the state next year alone.

• Eliminate 5,500 preschool and child care slots in Wisconsin, reducing access to programs including Head Start.

• Strip food assistance from 24,000 women, infants, and children in Wisconsin.

Click here to read the full White House Fact Sheet

Earlier this week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new accountability campaign to highlight  Rep. Bryan Steil and Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s support for policies, including the “Default on America Act,” that hurt Wisconsin workers and seniors, while supporting wealthy tax cheats and big corporations. On Tuesday, UpNorthNews reported on the campaign launch: 

“Elected officials should fight for Wisconsin workers and their families, not the wealthy and big corporations—that’s the message of a new campaign aiming to hold Wisconsin Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden accountable for their votes and policies in Congress. 

“Opportunity Wisconsin, an issue advocacy organization, announced the launch of their grassroots campaign on Tuesday. Starting this week, the group plans to hold events in both Wisconsin’s first congressional district in southeastern Wisconsin, represented by Steil, and the state’s third district in western and southwestern Wisconsin, represented by Van Orden.”

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 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.

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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. 

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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.”    

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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.”

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