FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
Following Supreme Court Hearing on Challenges to Trump's Tariff Authority, Wisconsinites Call on Reps. Van Orden and Steil to Oppose Cost-Raising Tariffs
Wisconsin small businesses struggle as tariffs drive up costs on everyday items, while Van Orden and Steil continue to support policies that raise prices for working families
MADISON, Wis. – Following oral arguments in front of the U.S.Supreme Court yesterday on whether President Trump has the authority to unilaterally impose sweeping tariffs, Wisconsin small business owners and working families are calling on Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil to oppose tariffs that have driven up costs on everything from groceries to building materials. While paying the price of costly tariffs, the ongoing Republican government shutdown is also throwing families into chaos as funding for SNAP is threatened and healthcare costs skyrocket because of the refusal of Republicans in Congress to extend healthcare tax credits.
The Republican tariffs, which have been backed by Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil, have forced dramatic price increases across the economy. As tariffs on goods, including groceries, clothing, and other essentials skyrocket, working families are left picking up the tab.
Kate Felton, an Eau Claire small business owner, is already seeing the impact of tariffs on her bottom line and her customers' ability to afford her products.
"Many of the brands I work with to stock my store have notified us of mandatory price increases on their products explicitly because of tariffs. It has always been hard to succeed as a small business but as brands increase the prices of my products and people have less money due to increasing prices everywhere else, how is a small business supposed to succeed now? Small businesses bring a unique identity to our communities, they employ local people and stimulate our local economy," said Felton.
Both Van Orden and Steil have previously voted to protect Trump's tariffs and have consistently supported policies that raise costs for Wisconsin families. Forcing family budgets even tighter, earlier this year both congressmen also voted for the Republican Tax Law that forces massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP—meaning families will pay more out-of-pocket for food and healthcare just to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
"Wisconsinites are being squeezed from every direction—tariffs are raising prices at the grocery store and checkout lines, while Congressmen Van Orden and Steil vote to cut the programs that help families afford food and healthcare," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "Working families shouldn't have to pay more for everything just so billionaires can get tax breaks. It's time for Van Orden and Steil to stand up to Trump's cost-raising tariffs and start fighting to lower costs for Wisconsin families instead of making life more expensive."
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