ICYMI: House GOP funding bills would hurt hard-working Wisconsinites

White House Fact Sheet: Congressional Republicans would slash school funding, degrade Medicare services, worsen Social Security wait times, and more

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, a new Wisconsin-specific White House fact sheet outlines the devastating consequences of government funding proposals introduced by House Republicans.

Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, including Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany, have refused to speak out against these proposals, even though they would harm the working families they represent. By demanding extreme cuts to programs including school funding, preschool, and administration funding for Social Security and Medicare, House Republicans are also turning their backs on the previous bipartisan budget agreement that averted a default earlier this year. 

While the Republican cuts would be devastating for families and seniors in Wisconsin, House Republicans would also add at least $100 billion to the deficit by gutting measures to force wealthy tax cheats and big corporations to pay their fair share, and another $500 billion to the deficit if their proposed corporate tax giveaway was made permanent. 

“If Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany want to help working families and seniors here in Wisconsin, they need to oppose these extreme bills that would have devastating consequences for our state,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Letting the wealthy and big corporations off the hook for paying their fair share, while slashing school funding and increasing wait times for Medicare and Social Security recipients is wrong. Wisconsinites expect our members of Congress to reject these harmful cuts and keep their promise.”

STATE FACT SHEET: House Republicans’ Funding Bills Would Have Devastating Impacts for Hard- Working Families Across Wisconsin [PDF]

In Wisconsin, the House Republican bills would:

• Slash Funding for Schools with Low-Income Students: House Republicans’ 80 percent cut to Title I funding would impact 388,200 students in schools that teach low- income students by forcing a reduction of up to 3,100 teachers, aides or other key staff.

• Eliminate Preschool Slots for 820 Children: House Republicans’ cut to Head Start would mean as many as 820 children in Wisconsin would lose access to high-quality preschool— undermining their education, leaving fewer children ready to enter kindergarten ready to learn, and making it more difficult for parents to join the workforce.

• Raise housing costs for over 200 households: The proposed cuts would eliminate funding for Housing Choice Vouchers for 200 households in the state of Wisconsin.

• Degrade Medicare Services: The House Republican’s cut to the administration of the Medicare program would force roughly 1,269,000 seniors and people with disabilities in Wisconsin to endure longer wait times when they call the Medicare call center, potentially increasing average wait times from five to more than nine minutes. This reduction in funding would also make it harder to pay hospitals and doctors on time, causing financial challenges for health care providers across the country, especially independent and rural providers. And it would limit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ ability to oversee the safety of Wisconsin nursing homes, reducing inspections by at least 10 percent.

• Worsen Social Security Wait Times: House Republicans’ reduction for the Social Security Administration would impact the roughly 1,381,000 Wisconsinites receiving Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits. These cuts would cause people applying for disability benefits to wait approximately 9 months on average for a decision, more than doubling wait times from pre-pandemic levels. At funding levels this low, Social Security Field Offices could be forced to shorten the hours or days they are open to the public, or in some cases close altogether.

• Deny 4,200 Workers Access to Job Training and Workforce Development Services: House Republicans’ $4 billion in cuts to job training programs at the Department of Labor would result in 2,900 fewer adults receiving job training and employment services in the state of Wisconsin. House Republicans’ cuts would also deprive 1,400 youth from accessing programs providing the skills and training to support their transition to full-time careers. These harmful cuts would deprive businesses of the skilled workforce they need to thrive, and would cut off workers’ pathways to good jobs.

 

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As Congress reconvenes, Republican proposals would raise costs and hurt Wisconsin families

Congress must pass a budget in September to avoid a government shutdown and give working families the support they deserve

Friday, September 15, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – As Congress reconvenes this week Republicans are leading the charge toward a government shutdown by refusing to back down from policies that put the wealthy and big corporations first. 

Just months after Wisconsin Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany led the country to the brink of default by supporting the extreme “Default on America Act,” Congressional Republicans are once again pushing for policies that raise costs for Wisconsinites and give massive handouts to those at the top.
  
With less than three weeks to pass a federal budget, Republicans are standing by extreme demands that make steep cuts to programs, including funding for food assistance programs for children and infants, farms, and affordable housing. They are also pushing to help wealthy tax cheats and big corporations avoid paying their fair share, keeping the burden on working families here in Wisconsin. With these demands, progress has stalled on the appropriations bills that must be passed before the end of the month. 

These spending proposals deliver far less than the funding agreed to by Republicans and Democrats in the debt limit agreement earlier this year, while containing extreme policies that make their passage unlikely. Congress has also failed to pass a new Farm Bill, which Wisconsin family farmers and producers depend on as they make decisions about their operations for the next five years. 

Wisconsinites are demanding that Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany stop placing their extreme demands ahead of what’s best for working families and seniors in the state, and begin working to avoid a government shutdown:

“When our members of Congress are more concerned about protecting billionaires and big corporations over the working families they’re supposed to represent, our economy and communities suffer,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “These extreme policies will hurt working families by raising costs and making drastic cuts to programs they depend on.”

“Forcing a government shutdown while pushing to cut Social Security and Medicare and pass tax breaks to corporate special interests and the ultra-wealthy isn’t right,” said Deborah Cromer, a La Crosse retiree who depends on Social Security and Medicare. “We expect Congressman Van Orden to find common ground to avoid a shutdown, not push an extreme agenda that hurts our state and families like mine.”

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With abortion care available, Wisconsinites won’t forget Republican congressmen who stood in the way of access

Access to basic reproductive care will also increase economic security for Wisconsinites who have the freedom to decide when to start a family

September 14, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – With Planned Parenthood’s announcement that they will begin offering abortion care again in the state, Wisconsinites will once again have access to basic reproductive care without the extreme financial burden of traveling out-of-state and spending thousands out-of-pocket to access basic reproductive care. 

“No Wisconsinite should face a massive financial burden just to access the basic health care services they need. Today’s announcement from Planned Parenthood is an important step toward restoring reproductive freedom for everyone in our state. Wisconsinites won’t forget that since Roe v. Wade was repealed, Republicans like Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany have stood in the way of restoring access,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Their refusal to protect abortion access at the federal level left Wisconsinites without the care they deserve, or forced them to spend thousands traveling out-of-state to access care that should be available closer to home.”

Data shows those who have had to travel out-of-state for abortion care have been forced to pay up to $10,000, making this option out of reach for many working families. Other studies have shown that those who are denied access to abortion care are more likely to face ongoing financial stress, including unpaid debts and lack of full-time employment. Until access in Wisconsin is restored to the same level as before Roe v. Wade’s repeal, families will continue to face financial burdens. 

In addition to making care unavailable to Wisconsinites, the repeal of Roe v. Wade has exacerbated the state’s OB-GYN shortage as residency programs report a decline in enrollment due to the inability of residents to receive training in-state. 

Wisconsin’s members of Congress have continued to stand in opposition to reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade, which would expand access to abortion care in the state. Last year, Congressmen Steil and Tiffany voted against the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would have guaranteed abortion access and reproductive freedom at the federal level. Each of these congressmen also voted to ban travel reimbursements for abortion care for servicemembers in states where access was banned, and voted to ban abortion care at VA medical centers across the country. Congressman Van Orden has also been outspoken against abortion access, even comparing abortion to genocide and voting for a bill that takes away families’ freedom to make their own medical decisions and threatens to put doctors in prison. 

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ICYMI: Crack down on wealthy tax cheats to begin despite GOP attempts to stop it

New funding in the Inflation Reduction Act will make sure the ultra-wealthy and big businesses pay their fair share

Tuesday, September 12, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, the IRS has announced a new effort is underway to crack down on the ultra-wealthy and big businesses who have refused to pay their fair share of taxes.

This program is made possible with funding included in the Inflation Reduction Act, which was opposed by Wisconsin’s Republican delegation in Congress. In addition to opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, House Republicans – including Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany – voted multiple times earlier this year to stop this program and protect wealthy tax cheats who owe millions to the federal government.

“Wisconsinites work hard and they pay their fair share – it shouldn’t be any different if you’re a millionaire or big corporation, but that’s exactly what Republicans in Congress want to see,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Congressmen Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany would rather protect wealthy tax cheats instead of giving the federal government the valuable resources they need to hold them accountable.”

Republicans have continued to mislead people about the law’s funding for additional IRS resources, falsely stating that this would be used to hire 87,000 new IRS agents. These claims have been found “patently untrue,” and the program is designed to use new technology and experienced auditors to examine only the most extreme tax evaders at the top who owe millions.


Associated Press: The IRS plans to crack down on 1,600 millionaires to collect millions of dollars in back taxes

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS announced on Friday it is launching an effort to aggressively pursue 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes.

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel said that with a boost in federal funding and the help of artificial intelligence tools, the agency has new means of targeting wealthy people who have “cut corners” on their taxes.

“If you pay your taxes on time it should be particularly frustrating when you see that wealthy filers are not,” Werfel told reporters in a call previewing the announcement. He said 1,600 millionaires who owe at least $250,000 each in back taxes and 75 large business partnerships that have assets of roughly $10 billion on average are targeted for the new “compliance efforts.”

Werfel said a massive hiring effort and AI research tools developed by IRS employees and contractors are playing a big role in identifying wealthy tax dodgers. The agency is making an effort to showcase positive results from its burst of new funding under President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration as Republicans in Congress look to claw back some of that money.


“New tools are helping us see patterns and trends that we could not see before, and as a result, we have higher confidence on where to look and find where large partnerships are shielding income,” he said.

In July, IRS leadership said it collected $38 million in delinquent taxes from more than 175 high-income taxpayers in the span of a few months. Now, the agency will scale up that effort, Werfel said.

[. . .]

The federal tax collector gained the enhanced ability to identify tax delinquents with resources provided by the Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in August of 2022. The agency was in line for an $80 billion infusion under the law, but that money is vulnerable to potential cutbacks by Congress.

House Republicans built a $1.4 billion reduction to the IRS into the debt ceiling and budget cuts package passed by Congress this summer. The White House said the debt deal also has a separate agreement to take $20 billion from the IRS over the next two years and divert that money to other non-defense programs.

With the threat of a government shutdown looming in a dispute over spending levels, there is the potential for additional cuts to the agency.
 

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As Rep. Bryan Steil heads back to Washington, a new billboard reminds him of his votes to keep prescription drug costs high

Steil has voted multiple times against capping insulin costs while accepting thousands from Big Pharma

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

RACINE, Wis. – When Congressman Bryan Steil heads back to Washington at the end of recess, he’ll be reminded of his votes against capping insulin costs thanks to a new billboard from Opportunity Wisconsin. 

The billboard highlights Rep. Steil’s multiple votes against capping insulin costs at $35. He not only voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which included the cap and additional measures to reduce out-of-pocket health care costs, but he also voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill that was written specifically to cap insulin prices. 

While voting to keep prescription drug costs high, Rep. Steil has raked in over $100,000 in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, including thousands of dollars from pharmaceutical special interests who are suing to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s provision allowing Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices.

As the August congressional recess wraps up, the billboard will be displayed near the airport to give the congressman a final reminder that Wisconsinites expect him to stand up to Big Pharma and fight for lower prescription drug prices. 

“As Congressman Steil returns to Washington, Wisconsinites are demanding that he start fighting for working families and seniors,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “It’s time for him to stand up to Big Pharma and work to make prescription drugs more affordable for Wisconsinites.”

Diana Tijani, a Kenosha senior who uses insulin added, “I don’t think Wisconsinites should be forced to choose between making ends meet or putting food on the table and accessing the care and prescriptions they need, but if Rep. Steil had his way, that’s exactly the choice that many Wisconsinites would continue to face. It’s time for Rep. Steil to start fighting for his constituents and work to lower costs – we expect better.”

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Medicare will lower the prices of 10 life-saving drugs thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act

Wisconsin’s Republican congressmen and their Big Pharma Buddies oppose the law that cuts costs for consumers (and drug companies’ profits) 

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – Today the Biden administration announced an initial list of ten prescription drugs that will be subject to price negotiations thanks to a provision in the Inflation Reduction Act. Giving Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices will mean more financial security and peace of mind for Wisconsinites who are able to afford the life-saving medication they need.

Big Pharma has already filed eight lawsuits to block negotiations and shield drug companies’ historic profits. That’s unsurprising given that the top 8 drug companies made $110 billion in profits last year, and the largest drug companies paid their CEOs an average of $36.4 million.   

Tens of thousands of Wisconsin Medicare enrollees currently rely on the prescription drugs which will soon be subject to price negotiations. Eliquis, the most commonly used prescription included on the list, is currently used by 68,000 enrollees in Wisconsin, who are paying $534 per year out-of-pocket prior to Medicare’s negotiations. Additional state-specific data on the prescriptions included in this announcement is available here.

Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation have all opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, despite the fact that allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices could ultimately bring down costs by as much as 50 percent. Since the law’s passage, Wisconsin has already seen an increase in insulin prescription refills.

Congressman Bryan Steil, who has taken more than $100,000 from the pharmaceutical industry since taking office, has recently received criticism from constituents who have watched him side with corporations instead of working families and seniors. In a letter to the editor in the Kenosha News, one constituent wrote, “While working families are fighting rising costs, Steil has focused his attention on how he can support the wealthy and big corporations, and help them pay less. Instead of listening to the issues of Wisconsin working families, he’s listening to the billionaires who make large donations to his campaign, and that isn’t right.”

“Nobody should be forced to choose between buying groceries and paying for their prescription drugs,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites are already seeing relief and more money in their pockets. Now, allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prices will deliver relief to even more seniors in our state. It’s time for Wisconsin’s Republican congressmen—including Reps. Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany—to protect consumers instead of their Big Pharma buddies.”

Congressional Republicans have failed to speak out against these companies.
 

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President Biden’s economic agenda is already lowering costs and creating jobs for Wisconsinites

As Republicans take the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin shows that President Biden and Democrats in Congress are already helping families and communities succeed

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – With national attention on Wisconsin today, Opportunity Wisconsin is highlighting the success of policies that are already supporting working families, growing the middle class, and making our state stronger. 

Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation has tried to undermine Democrats’ investments for working families at every turn—from opposing bills like the Inflation Reduction Act to voting to cut IRS funding to crack down on wealthy tax cheats. 

“There’s no debate about it, President Biden’s economic agenda is already delivering for Wisconsin. Today, more Wisconsinites are working than ever before, unemployment has reached record lows, and seniors have more money in their pockets thanks to lower prescription drug costs,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “President Biden and Democrats in Congress have helped achieve this by fighting for working families, instead of helping big corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Wisconsinites are already benefiting from these common sense policies and they’re demanding that our elected officials protect the progress we’ve made.”

Here are some ways Wisconsinites are already benefiting from President Biden’s economic agenda, which Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation has opposed:
 

• Insulin Prices Are Capped: The Inflation Reduction Act capped insulin costs at $35 per month for seniors. Since taking effect, research shows more Wisconsinites are already filling their prescriptions for the drug now that they’re able to afford it.

• Lower Health Care Premiums: More than 180,000 Wisconsinites are saving an average of $531 per month on health insurance premiums thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. 

• New Good-Paying Wisconsin Jobs: Investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act are putting more Wisconsinites to work. Whether it’s incentivizing new clean energy infrastructure or giving communities the resources they need to repair roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, these laws are already creating jobs for hundreds of Wisconsinites.
  

• Improved Infrastructure: Thanks to President Biden, Wisconsin communities have the resources for infrastructure repairs and improvements. In fact, anyone flying into Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport will benefit from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s investments in airport improvements across the country. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also funding the replacement of lead service lines that have plagued many Milwaukee neighborhoods.

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ICYMI: “How has Wisconsin changed since the Inflation Reduction Act?”

"There is a lot of talk and chatter about Bidenomics and I can tell you, there is a big Bidenomics boom going on in the Badger State" 

Thursday, August 17, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, Wisconsin Public Radio highlighted the success of the Inflation Reduction Act following its first anniversary this week, showing how investments from the law are already creating jobs and improving Wisconsin communities. 

The article highlights the Inflation Reduction Act’s support for clean energy projects and incentives for improvements to commercial buildings, homes, and electric vehicle infrastructure. The law is also strengthening apprenticeship programs, giving more Wisconsin workers the tools they need to succeed.

Despite the law’s success, every member of Wisconsin’s Republican Congressional Delegation continues to oppose the law, and have failed to speak out about attempts to weaken many of its provisions.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “The Inflation Reduction Act is already making Wisconsin stronger by creating jobs, supporting our manufacturing industry, and improving our state’s infrastructure. While Republicans in Congress try to obstruct the Inflation Reduction Act and prevent it from succeeding, Wisconsinites are already seeing its success and we’re demanding better from our elected officials.”


Wisconsin Public Radio: How has Wisconsin changed since the Inflation Reduction Act?

When construction began on the Badger Hollow solar farm in 2019, busloads of out-of-state workers were being dropped off in Iowa County to build the massive project.  

But work continues on phase two of Badger Hollow and other solar projects across the state. Solar panels are now being erected by in-state, union labor, said Kent Miller, president of the Wisconsin Laborers District Council. 

Miller says this is possible because of the Inflation Reduction Act, signed one year ago.  

"There is a lot of talk and chatter about Bidenomics and I can tell you, there is a big Bidenomics boom going on in the Badger State," Miller said.  

The landmark legislation, signed Aug. 16, 2022, invests in climate, clean energy and regenerative agriculture. The law provides clean energy tax credits for energy efficient commercial buildings, homes and electric vehicles.  

Developers and utility companies who hire registered apprentices and incentivize prevailing wages are also given tax credits, which has changed how Wisconsin job sites look, Miller said.  

At the Paris Solar Farm in Kenosha County, Miller said there are about 150 union workers on the job and 43 people in apprentice programs. Most of the apprentices are people of color, Miller said. 

"We’re bringing in folks who have had little experience or knowledge into the construction industry," Miller said. "By the time the project is completed, they could be pretty close to being a journey person." 

President Joe Biden was at the Ingeteam manufacturing company in Milwaukee Tuesday touting the Inflation Reduction Act.  

Biden said since the act was signed, Wisconsin companies have committed to spending more than $3 billion in manufacturing and clean energy. 

But the bill isn’t universally supported. Every Republican in Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation voted against the Inflation Reduction Act. And while Derrick Van Orden wasn’t a member of Congress at the time, he tweeted his opposition to the bill.

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"These are smart economic investments," Boushey said. "When you look at the nation overall, the president has made bold and important goals. But there are a lot of different interim goals. If we make these investments on the public side, as well as encourage private sector firms to invest in clean energy, then certainly these goals are achievable."  

Allison Carlson, president of the Wisconsin Local Government Climate Coalition, said there were early opportunities when the Inflation Reduction Act was signed for local communities including broadband expansion. 

As the law enters its second year, small businesses, local homeowners and municipalities will have even more opportunities, Carlson said.  

[. . .]
 

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