Opportunity Wisconsin statement on President Biden’s visit to Milwaukee

Inflation Reduction Act saving Wisconsinites hundreds of dollars, investing $2.9 billion in Wisconsin’s infrastructure 

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement ahead of President Joe Biden’s visit to Milwaukee later today: 

“Policies that put working families first make our state stronger and give Wisconsinites the best opportunity to succeed. That’s why we’re excited to welcome President Biden back to Wisconsin and highlight his administration’s success. President Biden has invested in our communities, seniors, and workers to make sure our economic recovery brings everyone along, and it’s working. Today, thousands more Wisconsin seniors are able to afford the prescription drugs they need, while many of our cities and towns are benefiting from real investments to improve infrastructure and create more good-paying jobs. Instead of trying to roll back these successful programs, Republicans in Congress should work with President Biden to support working families here in Wisconsin.”

Recent data shows that 298,750 Wisconsinites will save an average of $474 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s annual cap on out-of-pocket health care costs, and more than 181,000 Wisconsinites are already saving an average of $531 on monthly health insurance premiums thanks to the law.

The president’s economic plan has also resulted in more than $2.9 billion in federal funding for infrastructure projects in the state, including funding to improve roads, bridges, access to clean drinking water, and more affordable high-speed internet access. 

Republicans in Wisconsin’s Congressional Delegation opposed the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, despite the critical investments both are making in the state.

In June, thanks to Wisconsin’s continued economic recovery, the state set a record for the highest number of people employed in history and unemployment remains at historically low levels. 
 

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ICYMI: Rep. Bryan Steil attacks Opportunity Wisconsin, but doesn’t deny support for plan to raise the Social Security retirement age

Steil’s weekly newsletter claims he’s trying to protect retirement benefits, while the Republican Study Committee budget would slash them and make retirement more difficult

Monday, August 14, 2023

RACINE, Wis. – It seems that one thing has been on the top of Congressman Bryan Steil’s agenda during the August recess – running from his record on Social Security and Medicare. After misleading constituents at listening sessions and on social media, Steil used his official Congressional newsletter last week to admit that he’s watched Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest TV ad, but didn’t deny his support for an extreme budget proposal that slashes benefits for working families and seniors.

In his newsletter on Friday, Congressman Steil wrote: 
 

“Opportunity Wisconsin” is up to the old political game of running negative ads trying to scare seniors about cuts to Social Security and Medicare. Scare tactics are nothing new to Wisconsin TV viewers. They are trying to mislead you. I oppose cutting benefits for our seniors. While there are those that want to risk your financial security with reckless spending, I’m part of the effort to control spending to protect your retirement. We proved that we could reduce wasteful spending in Washington. We did this while protecting Social Security, Medicare and veterans.

While he runs from his record, Congressman Steil forgot to mention a few facts about his record that he must realize are unpopular:
 

• Rep. Steil is a member of the Republican Study Committee, which recently released its recommendation for the 2024 federal budget. The group’s proposal would raise the Social Security age and make drastic changes to Medicare, jeopardizing retirement security for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsin seniors. 
  

• Rep. Steil also voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which made improvements to Medicare coverage, including capping insulin costs at $35 per month, giving the program the ability to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, and forcing drug companies to pay rebates when they raise certain drug prices higher than the rate of inflation.
  

• In May, Rep. Steil also voted for the “Default on America Act,” an extreme plan that pushed the nation to the brink of defaulting on our obligations for the first time in history. This plan included drastic cuts to federal programs, including cuts to medical care for veterans and increased wait times for Social Security and Medicare benefits.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Congressman Steil has a clear record on Social Security and Medicare, and he owes his constituents an honest answer for why he has stood by extreme plans that would slash benefits. While we appreciate that he’s taken time to watch our TV ad, we’d rather he use his free time to find solutions that actually support working families and seniors in the 1st Congressional District.”

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On 88th anniversary of Social Security, Wisconsin Republicans are plotting to slash benefits and raise the retirement age

Reps. Bryan Steil and Tom Tiffany are members of the Republican Study Committee, which proposed a budget that jeopardizes retirement security for many Wisconsin seniors

Monday, August 14, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – As Social Security marks 88 years since being signed into law, extreme proposals from Republicans in Congress would jeopardize benefits for Wisconsin seniors.

Earlier this year, the Republican Study Committee released their proposal for the 2024 federal budget which would slash Medicare benefits and make drastic changes to Social Security, including raising the retirement age. Congressman Tom Tiffany helped author the budget and Congressman Bryan Steil is a member of the committee that proposed it. 

Another plan introduced by Congressman Derrick Van Orden earlier this year, and featured in Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest ad, would also slash benefits and make it more difficult for seniors to retire.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Wisconsinites have paid into Social Security their entire career with the expectation that these benefits will be there when they choose to retire. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress continue to propose drastic changes that would threaten these benefits and make it more difficult for Wisconsin seniors to retire. Every member of Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation owes their constituents an answer about where they stand on these extreme proposals. It’s time for Congress to find ways to strengthen Social Security benefits, not propose new ways to weaken them.”

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New ad highlights Rep. Van Orden’s plan to slash Social Security and Medicare

WATCH: “I always looked forward to retirement, Derrick Van Orden should not be able to take that away.”

Thursday, August 10, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Ahead of the 88th anniversary of Social Security next week, a new ad from Opportunity Wisconsin highlights Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s support for a plan that would slash benefits and jeopardize retirement security for Wisconsin seniors.

Click here to watch the ad

“Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites depend on Social Security to pay their bills and retire with the financial security they’ve earned, but Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted to slash those benefits and make retirement more difficult,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Instead of working to slash benefits that working families have paid into their entire career, Rep. Van Orden needs to start fighting for families and seniors in the Third Congressional District.”

The new ad features Joni, a retired factory worker from Adams, Wisconsin, who depends on Social Security benefits to pay her bills and make ends meet in retirement. Like many Wisconsinites who have paid into Social Security throughout their career, she depends on these payments to afford her home, car, and other essentials.

The ad will begin running on digital platforms in the Third Congressional District this week as part of Opportunity Wisconsin’s previously-announced seven-figure media buy across the state.

Full Transcript:

JONI: I worked in a factory as a machine operator for almost 30 years. You would go home tired, your feet would hurt. It was a long day. I paid into Social Security with every paycheck. Derrick Van Orden’s plan would slash Medicare and Social Security. Social Security pays the majority of my bills. If I were to lose Social Security, I probably wouldn’t be able to afford my home or my car. I always looked forward to retirement, Derrick Van Orden should not be able to take that away.

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Congressional Republicans’ debt limit extremism leads to US credit rating downgrade as new federal funding deadline approaches

Fitch Ratings: “repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management.”

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – Months after Congressional Republicans, including Reps. Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany risked our economic recovery by pushing the country to the brink of default, Fitch Ratings cited the weaponization of debt limit negotiations as a key factor in their decision to lower the credit rating of the United States.

In April, Wisconsin’s Republican congressmen all voted for the “Default on America Act,” a devastating plan that would have forced the United States to default for the first time in history unless massive cuts were made to programs including health care, food assistance, and even care for veterans. Fitch pointed to the politicization of debt limit negotiations as a key factor in their decision to downgrade the nation’s credit rating, writing, “the repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management.”

While President Biden successfully negotiated an agreement to avoid a fiscal disaster earlier this year, Congress will face a tight deadline to avoid a government shutdown when they reconvene next month. If Congressional Republicans once again refuse to negotiate and fail to pass next year’s federal budget by September 30th, the federal government could shut down, jeopardizing our economy as it continues to recover.

“Republicans in Congress have already done enough damage to our economy by forcing their extreme agenda at all costs, even pushing us to the brink of default,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “When Congress reconvenes next month, it’s critical that they pass a budget that funds the federal government without jeopardizing the programs and services that working families in Wisconsin depend on.”
 

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Fact Check: Rep. Bryan Steil hides his record on Social Security and Medicare at Kenosha listening session

Congressman refuses to tell constituents the truth about an extreme plan to cut benefits and raise the Social Security retirement age

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Congressman Bryan Steil is focused on one thing during the August Congressional recess: Misleading his constituents about his real record on Social Security and Medicare.

According to the Kenosha News, Rep. Steil told constituents last week, “There was this big push to try to scare people that what conservatives were doing was going to cut Medicare and Social Security. Not true. We didn’t cut it. And I’m here to tell you, I’m not going to cut it.”

Unfortunately, Rep. Steil is hiding the facts about his own record. Steil didn’t tell his constituents that he’s a member of the Republican Study Committee, which recently released an extreme budget proposal that would make major changes to Social Security and Medicare. If passed, the budget would raise the Social Security retirement age and cut Medicare and Medicaid benefits for many Wisconsinites.

He also failed to mention that the Republican Study Committee’s budget would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s improvements to Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, including a $35 monthly cap on insulin costs, allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, and forcing big pharmaceutical companies to pay rebates when they increase prices higher than the rate of inflation.

“Congressman Steil’s record of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare is clear and his constituents aren’t going to be fooled by his empty promises,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Instead of misleading the people he’s supposed to represent, Congressman Steil should tell the truth about this extreme budget and explain why he continues to choose the side of big drug companies instead of working families and seniors here in Wisconsin.”
 

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Rep. Steil begins August recess by running away from his record on Social Security and Medicare

Rep. Steil’s votes to keep prescription drug prices high and ties to an extreme budget that raises the Social Security retirement age highlight his true positions

Friday, August 4, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – With the August congressional recess underway, Rep. Bryan Steil must know that his record on Medicare and Social Security is deeply unpopular – because he’s doing everything he can to hide it.

Holding listening sessions in Kenosha and Janesville this week, the congressman posted on Twitter multiple times to tout that he was working “to protect Social Security and Medicare,” but his record in Congress shows the truth. 

Rep. Steil previously voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which strengthened Medicare benefits by capping insulin costs at $35 per month, allowing Medicare to negotiate for prescription drug prices, and creating a program that forces big pharmaceutical companies to pay rebates when they increase prices higher than the rate of inflation. Thanks to these reforms, more Wisconsinites are already filling insulin prescriptions.
 
Steil is also a member of the Republican Study Committee, which recently released an extreme budget proposal that would make major changes to Social Security and Medicare. The budget would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s improvements to Medicare’s prescription drug coverage and jeopardize health care for millions by slashing the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. The budget also includes a provision that raises the Social Security retirement age.

While he tries to distract his constituents from his real record on Social Security and Medicare, Rep. Steil hasn’t said whether he supports the pharmaceutical industry’s legal efforts to stop Medicare from negotiating prescription drug prices. He has also failed to support newly-introduced legislation which would extend many of the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug pricing reforms to even more Americans.

“In Congress, Representative Steil has stood in the way of relief for Wisconsin seniors struggling with high prescription drug costs and is part of an extreme group fighting to slash benefits and raise the Social Security retirement age,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “It’s no surprise that he’s running away from these wildly unpopular positions, but he owes his constituents an honest answer about why he is fighting on the side of big pharmaceutical companies instead of for working families and seniors in the 1st Congressional District.”

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Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit highlights the success of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Infrastructure projects and programs backed by the Biden-Harris administration are already benefiting Wisconsinites, despite Rep. Steil’s opposition to the IRA and BIL

Thursday, August 3, 2023

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – As Vice President Kamala Harris visits southeast Wisconsin today, communities and families across the state are already seeing relief thanks to programs backed by the Biden-Harris administration that were opposed by Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation.

“Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, Wisconsinites are already feeling relief from rising costs and witnessing historic investments that are strengthening our economy,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Whether it’s lowering prescription drug prices or investing in the state’s infrastructure and workforce, Wisconsinites are grateful to have leaders in the White House who have prioritized working families and investments in our future.”

Vice President Harris’ visit to Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District also highlights Congressman Bryan Steil’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as both programs continue to support working families, seniors, and communities in Wisconsin.

Recent data shows that 298,750 Wisconsinites will save an average of $474 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s annual cap on out-of-pocket health care costs, and more than 181,000 Wisconsinites are already saving an average of $531 on monthly health insurance premiums thanks to the law.

Earlier today telecom company Nokia also announced it would begin manufacturing new fiber-optic products in Pleasant Prairie to be used for high-speed internet projects nationwide. This is expected to create up to 200 new jobs in Wisconsin and will supply equipment for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, which was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In addition to these investments, more than $235 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has already been announced for more than 150 local road and bridge projects across the state. 

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