ICYMI: “Van Orden and House GOP delay a new Farm Bill yet again”

Severe cuts to food assistance proposed by House Republicans continues to delay progress on a new Farm Bill

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

LA CROSSE, Wis. – In case you missed it, Up North News highlighted how severe cuts to food assistance in the proposed Farm Bill have stalled negotiations and threaten the passage of the legislation.

The Republican proposal, which Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted for, is estimated to cut $460 million in SNAP benefits in Wisconsin alone, raising costs for low-income families and making it tougher for them to afford groceries. With the previous version of the Farm Bill temporarily extended after its expiration last year, delaying passage of a new bill also makes it more difficult for Wisconsin family farmers to plan ahead and prepare.

According to reports, if the food assistance cuts in this bill were enacted, it would make the largest cuts to SNAP benefits since 1996. During markup of the bill in committee, Van Orden also voted against an amendment which would have stripped cuts to SNAP out of the bill.

This isn’t the first time Van Orden has voted in favor of slashing food assistance programs. Last year, he voted for the Default on America Act, which would have threatened SNAP benefits for 14,000 Wisconsinites, cut Meals on Wheels access for more than 1 million seniors nationwide, and jeopardized WIC benefits for nearly 1.2 million women, babies, and children.
 
“Congressman Van Orden voted for extreme cuts to food assistance programs that help thousands of Wisconsin families put food on the table,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Now, these extreme cuts have derailed Farm Bill negotiations and Wisconsin farmers, families, and communities are left without the certainty they deserve. It’s time for Congressman Van Orden and his Republican colleagues to support a Farm Bill that helps lower costs, supports family farmers, and helps Wisconsin succeed.”


Up North News: Van Orden and House GOP delay a new Farm Bill yet again

Passing a new Farm Bill has grown substantially less likely now that the Congressional Budget Office has told House Republicans its version falls far short of being financially balanced—and Republicans responded by digging in their heels, especially on cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The result may be another delay of updating the package of legislation that oversees everything from crop insurance to food assistance to conservation programs, as Republicans continue pushing for cuts not supported by Senate Democrats or President Joe Biden.

The Farm Bill is reviewed and modified every five years, but its 2023 renewal is already eight months late. Passage relies on agreement between widely varied contingencies: farmers, consumers, producers, urban interests, rural interests, and more.

“[For Republicans] to make the case that this Farm Bill needs to cut nutrition in order to pay for other programs, that’s just a nonstarter politically,” said Mike Stranz, vice president of advocacy for the National Farmers Union, told UpNorthNews Radio.

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities estimates the House Republican proposal could put more than 10 million people—about 1 in 4 SNAP participants, including about 4 million children—at risk of losing food assistance—including a $460 million cut to SNAP food assistance in Wisconsin. 

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SNAP is currently “the strongest lever we have against food insecurity,” said Poonam Gupta, a research associate in the Income and Benefits Policy Center at the Urban Institute, told The New Republic last month. According to the US Census Bureau’s ongoing household survey of scarcity, about 343,000 Wisconsin adults—8.5 percent of the population—report that there was either sometimes or often not enough to eat in the last 7 days. The national figure is around 10.5 percent.

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WATCH: New ad demands Congressman Steil stop voting for high credit card fees

Steil previously voted to keep credit card late fees high, protecting the credit card industry instead of supporting working families

Friday, June 14, 2024

KENOSHA, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest television ad highlights Congressman Bryan Steil’s vote in favor of keeping credit card fees high and asks him to start fighting for working families instead of protecting the credit card industry.

In April, Steil joined Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee in voting to approve H. J. Res. 122, which would repeal a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule capping credit card late fees at $8. The rule, if allowed to go into effect, is estimated to save more than 45 million Americans an average of $220 each year. 

The measure could soon face a vote in front of the entire House of Representatives, giving Steil an opportunity to vote in favor of working families instead of credit card companies and corporate special interests. Currently, a federal judge is also blocking implementation of the rule after a temporary injunction was put in place following a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and big bank special interests. The lawsuit seeks to permanently block the CFPB rule from going into effect—therefore keeping Americans’ credit card late fees high. 

The credit card industry has contributed more than $179,500 to Steil during his career, including thousands of dollars in contributions this year alone.

“Working families already face enough obstacles and excessive fees that make it tougher for them to get ahead – high credit card late fees shouldn’t be another thing standing in their way,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Congressman Steil chose to help the credit card industry, instead of fighting against high late fees that are burdening Wisconsinites. If this proposal comes in front of Congress again, we hope he’ll do the right thing and put his constituents first.”

Ad Transcript: They’re everywhere now. More and more fees on top of what you already pay. And credit card late fees are hitting working families the hardest. But Congressman Bryan Steil voted to let credit card companies keep charging higher fees … four times higher! No surprise, Bryan Steil took all this campaign money from the credit card industry. Tell Bryan Steil to stand up for working people. Stop voting for high credit card fees.

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NEW REPORT: Extending Trump-era tax giveaways will cost 50% more than previous estimates

Extending portions of the law which are set to expire would cost $4 trillion through 2034

Thursday, June 6, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – According to a new report by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, extending portions of the Trump-era tax plan, which is set to expire, would cost significantly more than previous estimates. In total, these extensions would cost 50 percent more than previously expected – topping $4 trillion through 2034.

Congress has proposed multiple pieces of legislation to extend or make permanent key components of the Trump-era tax plan, also known as the TCJA, which has primarily benefited the wealthiest Americans and big corporations. 

In Wisconsin, Congressman Bryan Steil is a co-sponsor of H.R. 976. If this bill were passed, the richest 1% of Americans would see a $44 billion tax cut in 2026 alone. Both Steil and Congressman Derrick Van Orden are also co-sponsors of H.R. 4721, which also contains major tax giveaways to those at the top. Both bills would make the pass-through business tax deduction permanent, a provision that disproportionately benefits owners of large, successful businesses, including oil and gas companies, who use this loophole to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

“We need fair tax policies that help working families and seniors get ahead. These policies prioritized the wealthy and big corporations and left Wisconsin families to shoulder the burden,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Now, Congress has the opportunity to let these costly and unfair tax breaks for the rich expire, and instead find solutions that help grow the middle class and improve the economy for everyone in our state.”

Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget: Tax Cut Extensions Cost 50% More

Extending certain parts of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) would cost $4 trillion through 2034, according to new estimates from the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) published by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). These revenue loss estimates have increased dramatically compared to prior estimates.

Comparing the cost of extending major elements of the TCJA over common years, we estimate:

• The cost of extension has grown by roughly 50 percent since the first extension estimate back in 2018, the equivalent of $1.2 trillion through 2034.

• While inflation and economic growth explain some of the difference, the costs of the tax cuts as a share of GDP have increased by about 30 percent (0.3 percentage points) since 2018.

• The higher cost of extensions is the result of both larger cost estimates for tax cuts and smaller revenue estimates for base broadening.

Major elements of the 2017 TCJA are scheduled to expire in 2025, including individual income tax rate cuts, a near-repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT), expansions of the standard deduction and child tax credit in place of the personal exemption, limits to the SALT and other itemized deductions, and cuts to the estate tax. 100 percent bonus depreciation for business equipment purchases is also phasing out. (Design your own solution with our Build Your Own Tax Extensions model).

The CBO and JCT have produced estimates on the net cost of extending most of these tax cuts at least five times – in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Each time, the nominal cost has risen.

Since each estimate covers different budget windows and a slightly different set of policies, it is helpful to focus on the large policy extensions that all estimates have in common and look to a common year – our analysis focuses on fiscal year (FY) 2028.1 In 2018, CBO estimated extensions of these policies would cost $286 billion in FY 2028; that estimate increased to $311 billion in CBO’s 2019 estimates, $340 billion in 2022, $366 billion in 2023, and $416 billion in 2024.

In other words, the annual cost of extension increased by 46 percent, or $131 billion, between 2018 and 2024. The gap is a bit higher (52 percent) through FY 2027, and – based on this and other available data – is likely to be similar or perhaps a bit lower beyond 2028.

Continue Reading

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ICYMI: Van Orden votes to advance Farm Bill, including cuts to food assistance programs

Heartland Signal: Proposed Farm Bill “would cut an estimated $30 billion from the SNAP food assistance program over the next ten years, according to a report from the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities”

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

LA CROSSE, Wis. – In case you missed it, last week Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted to advance a Republican-written Farm Bill proposal out of the House Agriculture Committee, despite billions in potential cuts to food assistance programs that support tens of millions of Americans.

According to reports, if the food assistance cuts in this bill were enacted, it would make the largest cuts to SNAP benefits since 1996. During markup of the bill in committee last week, Van Orden also voted against an amendment which would have stripped cuts to SNAP out of the bill.

This isn’t the first time Van Orden has voted in favor of slashing food assistance programs. Last year, he voted for the Default on America Act, which would have threatened SNAP benefits for 14,000 Wisconsinites, cut Meals on Wheels access for more than 1 million seniors nationwide, and jeopardized WIC benefits for nearly 1.2 million women, babies, and children.

“Food assistance programs help lower costs and support families across Wisconsin, but Congressman Van Orden voted in favor of the largest cuts to these benefits in nearly 30 years,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Congressman Van Orden should reverse his position and fight to remove these devastating cuts from the Farm Bill as it continues to make its way through Congress. The rest of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation, including Congressman Bryan Steil, should also speak out against these cuts and work to protect food assistance programs.”


Heartland Signal: Van Orden and GOP colleagues advance food stamp cuts through House Agriculture Committee

Early Friday morning, Republicans in the House Agriculture Committee advanced a bill that would cut SNAP benefits and weaken environmental protections if passed into law.

The legislation, known as the Farm Bill, passed mostly on party lines through the Republican-controlled Agriculture Committee after a vote of 33-21. Just four Democrats joined all Republicans on the committee in getting the $1.5 trillion spending bill passed.

Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R) heavily endorsed the bill during the committee and on social media, where he claimed it will “deliver for our farmers and agricultural producers.”

[. . .]

Despite overwhelming Republican support, Democrats took the GOP to task for supporting a bill that would cut an estimated $30 billion from the SNAP food assistance program over the next ten years, according to a report from the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Farm Bill will also reportedly allow states to outsource the SNAP program’s process for determining which households are eligible to private corporations, potentially making it harder for families to enroll.

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TODAY: Rep. Van Orden must vote against any food assistance cuts during Farm Bill markup

As the House Agriculture Committee begins working on the Farm Bill today, Van Orden should fight for Wisconsin families and reject cuts to SNAP

Thursday, May 23, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – After failing to finalize a Farm Bill last year, Republicans in Congress have proposed a new draft that includes potential cuts to food assistance programs. As the committee begins markup on the bill today, Congressman Derrick Van Orden should use his position on the committee to reject these cuts that will raise costs and make it tougher for families to put food on the table.

Republicans have proposed limiting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, which is used to calculate SNAP benefits for tens of millions of Americans. By prohibiting future updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, Congress would effectively be cutting SNAP benefits instead of allowing them to be updated to reflect the cost of food. For example, one study found that updates to the plan after the 2018 Farm Bill led to an increase of $317 million in SNAP benefits for Wisconsin families.

Congressman Van Orden has previously voted in favor of slashing food assistance programs. Last year, he supported the Default on America Act, which would have threatened SNAP benefits for 14,000 Wisconsinites, cut Meals on Wheels access for more than 1 million seniors nationwide, and jeopardized WIC benefits for nearly 1.2 million women, babies, and children.

Last year, Van Orden also misled constituents on the status of a new Farm Bill, telling WSAW “I’m very happy with the Farm Bill as it was passed out of the full committee and we are waiting to get that to the full floor to pass it.” At the time, as WSAW also reported, the new Farm Bill had not even been introduced at the committee level, let alone passed out of it as Van Orden claimed.

“Having a Farm Bill that protects access to food assistance programs and supports Wisconsin family farmers is essential for the success of our state and the economic security of so many families,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “As a member of the committee, Congressman Van Orden has a responsibility to fight for families here in Wisconsin, and he should vote against these devastating cuts to food assistance programs. While families are still struggling with higher costs, we shouldn’t force some of our most vulnerable neighbors to pay even more at the grocery store by cutting benefits that support them.”

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ICYMI: Op-ed and events highlight Opportunity Wisconsin’s one-year program anniversary

Opportunity Wisconsin is working to raise awareness of economic policies that support working families, and holding Reps. Steil and Van Orden accountable for their records in Congress

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, Opportunity Wisconsin is marking the one-year anniversary of its current program this month by outlining our work in an op-ed in Up North News and in-person events around the state.

Opportunity Wisconsin launched its current program in May 2023 to raise awareness of economic policies that support working families in Wisconsin and hold Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden accountable for their votes in Congress. Working with a coalition of small business owners, seniors, and community leaders across the state, the organization has held roundtable discussions, press conferences, and community events across Wisconsin. 

The group has also communicated directly with Wisconsinites as part of a seven-figure paid media effort, including television and digital ads that highlight Steil and Van Orden’s records and ask them to oppose policies that would make it harder for families and seniors to succeed.

Earlier this month, Opportunity Wisconsin also marked the program’s anniversary by sponsoring a free comedy show in Racine that highlighted current events and economic issues, and co-hosted Politics & Pints Trivia Night in Kenosha. These events, along with organizers in communities around the state, continue to engage more Wisconsinites around these important topics, like protecting Social Security and Medicare, holding big corporations and billionaires accountable, and helping lower costs for families.

More information about Opportunity Wisconsin’s programming and the outstanding questions we have for Congressmen Steil and Van Orden are available in our Up North News op-ed below:

Up North News: Opinion: One year later, Reps. Steil and Van Orden still owe Wisconsinites answers about how they’ll fight for working families
By Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director

One year ago Opportunity Wisconsin launched our latest program aimed at holding Congressmen Bryan Steil (R-Janesville) and Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) accountable for their votes in Washington, DC and asking them to fight for working families here in Wisconsin. Since then, we’ve worked with so many passionate advocates and leaders across Wisconsin to hold events, organize, and highlight the importance of policies that help families and seniors succeed – but there are still questions Wisconsinites deserve answers to.

First, let’s look back at what we’ve accomplished over the past year and how, despite gridlock in Congress and seemingly never-ending threats of a government shutdown, we brought people together around key issues.

Shortly after kicking off our program, Congressmen Steil and Van Orden both voted for the Default on America Act (what they called the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023). We highlighted this vote because it would’ve been devastating for Wisconsin families – cuts to veterans’ benefits, reduced access to Social Security and Medicare, slashing food assistance, and so much more.

We continued to highlight the success stories of the Inflation Reduction Act. From thousands of Wisconsinites who are able to more easily afford prescription drugs thanks to the law’s cap on insulin costs to hundreds of new good-paying jobs created, Wisconsinites are already benefiting from this historic legislation.

We’ve also rallied around protecting programs like Social Security and Medicare that support so many Wisconsinites and built spread awareness of proposals like President Biden’s budget, which would make these programs stronger and protect benefits. And we’ve highlighted dangerous tax plans working their way through Congress that would give even more handouts to the wealthy and big corporations, instead of delivering relief to working families.

But now, as our program enters its second year, we still have questions for Congressmen Steil and Van Orden and Wisconsinites still deserve answers:

Why does Congressman Steil continue to oppose capping insulin costs? We’ve seen the success of this cap and have heard from Wisconsinites who previously were forced to ration their prescriptions. But Steil voted against capping insulin costs repeatedly and hasn’t rejected a proposal by the Republican Study Committee, which he’s a member of, that would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s cap on costs.

Why are Congressmen Steil and Van Orden still fighting to extend Trump-era tax breaks for those at the top? Both congressmen have co-sponsored legislation that would make certain parts of the Trump-era tax plan permanent. These pieces would continue to prioritize billionaires and big businesses, giving them even more tax breaks while leaving working families and entrepreneurs behind.

Do they support President Biden’s budget, which lowers taxes for working families and helps strengthen Medicare and Social Security? Earlier this year, President Biden introduced his budget proposal which included tax breaks for working families and a plan to strengthen Social Security and Medicare by forcing the wealthy and big corporations to pay their fair share. Both congressmen have been silent on this plan.

We think there should be obvious answers to these questions because our members of Congress should be first in line to support programs that strengthen our economy by putting working families first and holding those at the top accountable. But Congressmen Steil and Van Orden both have records in Congress checkered with votes that fail to do that.

Until we have answers, Opportunity Wisconsin will continue organizing, growing our coalition, and speaking out – we hope you’ll add your voice and learn more at opportunitywisconsin.org.

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Mobile billboard asks Rep. Van Orden to vote against keeping credit card late fees high

Opportunity Wisconsin billboard will highlight a Republican proposal that would keep late fees high as Wisconsinites use credit cards to pay for summer tailgates and more

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Today, a new mobile billboard from Opportunity Wisconsin will ask Congressman Derrick Van Orden to oppose a Republican-backed measure which would keep credit card late fees high. The billboard will be at locations throughout La Crosse today to highlight the proposal that would protect high late fees that are costly to working families using credit cards for common purchases, including tailgate supplies.

Last month, Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee voted to approve H. J. Res. 122, which would repeal a rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) capping credit card late fees at $8. The measure could soon face a vote in front of the entire House of Representatives, giving Van Orden an opportunity to vote in favor of working families instead of credit card companies and corporate special interests. 

On Friday, a federal judge put a temporary injunction in place to block the CFPB rule from going into effect following a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and big bank special interests. The lawsuit seeks to permanently block the CFPB rule from going into effect—therefore keeping Americans’ credit card late fees high. 

As Congress considers a vote on H.J. Res 122, corporate special interests are working overtime to stop consumer protections that would save Americans hundreds of dollars a year. If implemented, the new cap on credit card fees is estimated to save 45 million Americans an average of $220 per year. The cap is opposed by credit card company special interests, who have contributed millions to key Republicans in Congress.

“As Wisconsinites enjoy summer, they shouldn’t have to worry about paying higher fees,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Congressman Van Orden needs to vote against this resolution. Working families shouldn’t pay more when they use their credit cards for everything from gas and groceries, to supplies for the perfect tailgate. We hope Congressman Van Orden stands up to the big banks and credit card companies and instead fights for working families who will be forced to pay more if this resolution takes effect."

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Mobile billboard highlights Rep. Steil’s vote to keep credit card late fees high

Opportunity Wisconsin billboard will highlight Steil-backed proposal that will keep late fees high as Wisconsinites use credit cards to pay for summer tailgates and more

Thursday, May 9, 2024

KENOSHA, Wis. – Today, a new mobile billboard from Opportunity Wisconsin will highlight Congressman Bryan Steil’s recent vote to keep credit card late fees high with stops in Racine, Kenosha, and near American Family Field as Brewers fans tailgate this afternoon. Under the Steil-backed proposal, working families could continue to be hit with high late fees after using credit cards for common purchases, including tailgate supplies.

Last month, Steil joined Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee in voting to approve H. J. Res. 122, which would repeal a rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau capping credit card late fees at $8. The measure could soon face a vote in front of the entire House of Representatives, giving Steil an opportunity to reverse his position and vote in favor of working families instead of credit card companies and corporate special interests. 

If implemented, the new cap on credit card fees is estimated to save 45 million Americans an average of $220 per year. The cap is opposed by the nation’s largest credit card companies and industry groups, who have contributed more than $241,000 to Steil during his career, in addition to thousands of dollars in contributions this year alone.

“As Wisconsinites enjoy summer, they shouldn’t have to worry about paying even more in fees,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “But if Congressman Steil votes again to keep credit card late fees high, working families risk paying even more after using their credit cards for everything from gas and groceries, to supplies for the perfect tailgate. Congressman Steil needs to stand up to the big banks and credit card companies and fight for working families who will be forced to pay more if this resolution take effect."

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