Coulee Region Women Small Business Owners Speak Out About President Trump’s Economy

Ahead of Vice President Pence’s visit to Onalaska, Opportunity Wisconsin hosts a community roundtable to discuss how President Trump’s economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at Pearl Street Books with Coulee Region women small business owners to discuss how the Trump Administration’s economic policies aren’t working for them, their families, or their community. This roundtable is part of a series of events hosted by Opportunity Wisconsin, aimed at uplifting the stories of working-and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda.

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“How do we keep going forward when we don't see the [Trump] administration helping Main Street?” asked Penny Fassler, owner of Vision of Light Stained Glass. “The big tax breaks go to those at the top — they don't go to small businesses like the one I own.” 

This year, Wisconsin’s top 1 percent, those earning more than $542,700 - will get a nearly $40,000 tax cut, but in comparison, those earning less than $23,900 will get a measly $30 tax cut. By 2027, Wisconsinites with the lowest incomes are expected to pay more in taxes because of President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, while the wealthiest 1 percent of residents will receive nearly $8,000 in savings. 

“It is about hanging in there, being tough, working really hard and really long hours,” said Chris Kahlow, owner of Jules Coffee House. “There is just no help from the President.” 

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. As of 2018, roughly three in four minimum wage workers in Wisconsin were women. 

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

“We can't rely on [President] Trump for help. We can't expect his promises to be kept,” said Olena Belka, owner of Bluffview Development Group. 

Below are some of the additional ways President Trump’s policies have hurt women in Wisconsin:

• President Trump has sabotaged protections and benefits for women workers, who now make up more than half of the workforce in the US. The Trump Administration rolled back a pay transparency rule aimed at closing the gender wage gap, which hits Wisconsin women especially hard. Wisconsin women with full-time, year-round jobs make 80 cents for every dollar paid to men – less than the national average of 82 cents. 

• President Trump has stood in the way of efforts to increase pay for women, by dramatically scaling back an Obama-era measure to broaden eligibility for overtime, leaving 4.2 million women out to dry.

• President Trump has done nothing to stem the increasing cost of child care, which has become one of the biggest costs for middle-class families in Wisconsin. Child care costs increased nearly 7.5% in 2017 to an average of around $9,000-$9,600 annually. The average cost of infant child care in Wisconsin is even higher -- $12,597 annually, which is more than the cost of undergraduate tuition at UW-Madison. 

• Even as costs go up for parents, President Trump is trying to slash funding for programs that make child care more affordable and accessible for working parents. President Trump’s FY2019 budget proposed slashing 30% from the child care development fund, which subsidizes access to early care and after-school programs for working parents. 

• While President Trump works to eliminate the Affordable Care Act in its entirety, millions of women nationally, and over 1 million women in Wisconsin could be denied insurance without the ACA’s protections for pre-existing conditions.

• President Trump has proposed cutting Social Security, which would disproportionately harm women, who have  longer lifespans and are therefore more likely to outlive their savings. Average Social Security benefits are nearly $4,000 per year lower for women than they are for men, leaving them even more vulnerable in the event of cuts.

• President Trump has tried repeatedly to slash Medicaid, the majority of whose beneficiaries are women. As of February 2018, women comprised two-thirds of all adults on Medicaid.

• Women’s uninsurance rate is quickly climbing under President Trump, likely caused by efforts by the Trump Administration and Congress to undermine the ACA.

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. 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 Hosts Community Roundtable in Milwaukee to Demand an Economy that Works for ALL Wisconsinites

On the heels of President Trump’s destructive budget proposal, Milwaukee area residents gathered with Alderwoman Chantia Lewis and Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson to discuss how his economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at Coffee Makes You Black in Milwaukee  to uplift the stories of working- and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda. This event comes days after President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget, which significantly slashes programs and services aimed at supporting Wisconsin’s workers, while giving a leg up to the wealthy and well-connected. 

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“We are not going to see any change until we start seeing a change in these issues - like wages, affordable housing, and jobs that allow you to make ends meet,” said Chantia Lewis, President of My Lewis Company, City of Milwaukee Alderwoman, and Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee member. “There are people who say that the economy is booming, but that’s not true.”

In 2027, Wisconsinites with the lowest incomes are expected to pay more in taxes because of President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, while the wealthiest 1 percent of residents will receive nearly $8,000 in savings. 1 in 4 Wisconsinites will ultimately see a tax increase under this law. This year, Wisconsin’s top 1 percent, those earning more than $542,700 - will get a nearly $40,000 tax cut, but in comparison, those earning less than $23,900 will get a measly $30 tax cut.

“This [since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was enacted] is the first time in my life that I’ve ever owed taxes, because I couldn’t take advantage of credits that I had in the past when I was a public school teacher,” said Marcelia Nicholson, Vice President of the Milwaukee Area Service and Hospitality Workers Organization (MASH) and Vice-Chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors. “For that job, I invested money into supplies for the kids, but this past year I was only able to deduct $250, even though I invested around $2,000 into supplies, and I couldn't get a tax break for that, but wealthy folks get tax breaks for buying boats.”

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. 

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

“I’ve worked several jobs across Milwaukee, and dealt with not being able to take one paycheck home..and I started a business because of that,” said Milwaukee small business owner Brittany Thomas. “But it takes money to make money. To sustain a business it takes money and if I'm not making enough money with my 9-to-5 to pay my bills, I can’t sustain the business. I had 2 or 3 jobs at one time and still could not pay my rent at times. As a business owner, when I made a profit, I had to decide if it would be put back into my business or if it would go to bills like my home, food, and lights. It was definitely a struggle.”

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. 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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WDJT: Community roundtable discuss impact of Trump policies in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The coalition Opportunity Wisconsin held a roundtable at Coffee Makes You Black on Milwaukee’s north side.

Community members and local officials gathered for the small, yet lively discussion. The topic was President Trump's economic policies on a range of topics from jobs, healthcare and student loans.

"We're seeing that it's a trickle-down negative effect," Alderwoman Chantia Lewis said.

The group says while Trump touts how great the economy is, the working and middle class are struggling.

"He made many promises to the middle class and the lower class that he would lower taxes, provide more jobs, and we found overwhelmingly, that that was a lie. He's broken all of those promises," said Marcelia Nicholson, vice-chairwoman of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors.

The Trump administration doesn’t see it that way. Anna Kelly, Trump Victory spokesperson said in a statement, "Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, Wisconsin has added more than 37,000 jobs, elevated more than 35,000 Wisconsinites out of poverty, and lifted more than 96,000 people off of food stamps. President Trump’s pro-growth policies are benefiting Wisconsin workers, businesses, and families alike.”

However, small business owners at the roundtable said it’s been difficult to make ends meet. "When I make a profit from my business, do I take that profit and put it back in my business or do I buy food, groceries and lights?"

Ultimately, those at the coffee shop said they want to see policies benefit more Americans.

Opportunity Wisconsin plans to continue roundtable discussions throughout the state with hopes of sparking legislative change.

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Story originally published by WDJT.

WQOW: Roundtable discussion focuses on impact of Trump’s economic agenda

Eau Claire (WQOW) - Community members and local political leaders met today to discuss how President Trump's economic agenda is impacting workers in the Chippewa Valley.

The non-profit Opportunity Wisconsin hosted a roundtable discussion Wednesday morning in Eau Claire. One of the main topics brought up was concern over the cost of living. Those in attendance said the President's tax cuts have been a boon for big business, but have not helped small businesses or taxpayers who are trying to make ends meet.

"Her husband had to quit his job because their childcare cost was more expensive than their mortgage," said Eau Claire City Council member Kate Beaton of one of the people in attendance Wednesday. "Which is insane to me. It really raises kind of the point that our wages are not keeping up with the cost of living."

However, those on the President's side of the aisle point to the U.S.' continued economic growth, saying the President's policies are working.  

"His regulatory and tax reform is why this economy is booming," said Treasurer of the Republican Party of Wisconsin Brian Westrate. "It truly is. Decreasing that highest corporate tax rate in the industrialized world, bringing that down to 15 percent, that's where this boom ultimately has come from."

Westrate admitted some aspects of the current economic climate are concerning to him, such as deficit spending and the current national debt, but all in all believes the President's policies will only benefit American workers.

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Story originally published by WQOW.

WEAU: Community round table discusses tax cuts and the impact on western Wisconsin

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) -- A little more than two years ago, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. 

While the White House advertised cutting over $5.5 trillion dollars in taxes over ten years, there are those not in favor of the cuts.

Wednesday, members of a group called "Opportunity Wisconsin" organized a community round table at Shift Cyclery and Coffee Bar.

Eau Claire City Council member Kate Beaton, who was at the event, says the cuts have had a negative impact on the Chippewa Valley.
"When people in our community have to choose between rent and going to the doctor, that is unacceptable. It does not mean a booming economy and what we're doing here today is trying to show those impacts of our community on the vast majority of people in Eau Claire and in Wisconsin and in the nation, show those impacts in the stories of people here in Eau Claire."

In response, Wisconsin Republican Party Treasurer Brian Westrate tells WEAU the cuts have had a positive impact here in western Wisconsin, and is just part of the president's overall economic success.

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Story originally published by WEAU.

Opportunity Wisconsin Hosts Community Roundtable in Eau Claire to Demand an Economy that Works for ALL Wisconsinites

On the heels of his destructive budget proposal, Eau Claire area residents gathered to discuss how President Trump’s economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at SHIFT Cyclery & Coffee Bar in Eau Claire to uplift the stories of working-and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda. This event comes days after President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget, which significantly slashes programs and services aimed at supporting Wisconsin’s workers, while giving a leg up to the wealthy and well-connected. 

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“Everything is deteriorating,” said Altoona resident Maria Guzman. “You’d have to have no commonsense not to see what's going on right outside our doors. You see businesses closing down, it’s all going downhill. We are all taxpayers, and that should mean something.”

President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts drastically reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, which provided a massive break to Wall Street giants, like private equity firm Sun Capital Equity, and kept tax loopholes in place that they and other hedge funds exploit to buy out jobs and bankrupt small businesses. 

Shopko, a Wisconsin-based company, was taken over by Sun Capital Equity. Instead of keeping the company afloat, Sun Capital Equity ultimately led Shopko to declare bankruptcy last year — all Shopko stores are now closed, including a location that had called Eau Claire home for decades. This resulted in 2,725 jobs stolen from Wisconsinites, 52 closed stores, and a closed support center. 

“Everything has gone up in price, but the last few years we've had the same federal minimum wage,” said Eau Claire resident Judy Gatlin. “It's simple math, and it’s not working.“

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. 

“We don't talk about the fact that people are holding three jobs because [they] are so low-paid,” said Eau Claire resident Breana Stanley. “Low wages exist and poverty exists.”

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. 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 Hosts Community Roundtable in Green Bay to Demand an Economy that Works for ALL Wisconsinites

On the heels of his destructive budget proposal, Green Bay area residents gathered to discuss how President Trump’s economic agenda has impacted working Wisconsinites  

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Today, Opportunity Wisconsin held a community roundtable at Kavarna Coffeehouse in Green Bay to uplift the stories of working-and middle-class Wisconsinites who are struggling under President Trump’s economic agenda. This event comes the day after President Trump unveiled his 2021 budget, which significantly slashes programs and services aimed at supporting Wisconsin’s workers, while giving a leg up to the wealthy and well-connected. 

View and download photos from today’s event.  

“I’ve lived in Green Bay for 40 years, and worked at Shopko Stores since moving to Green Bay, until last year when it closed,” said Jim Jordan. “We all of a sudden were not a viable company. We had been bought out by a venture capital organization a few years ago that had a reputation for buying out and chopping up companies. We were surprised by how long we were actually able to keep the company, but we were so surprised by how quickly everything fell apart...The speed of how it all transpired was the most shocking.”

Shopko, a Wisconsin-based company, was taken over by Wall Street private equity firm Sun Capital Equity. Instead of keeping the company afloat, Sun Capital Equity ultimately led Shopko to declare bankruptcy last year — all Shopko stores are now closed. This resulted in 2,725 jobs stolen from Wisconsinites, 52 closed stores, and a closed support center. 

President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts drastically reduced the corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, which provided a massive break to Wall Street giants like Sun Capital Equity and kept tax loopholes in place that they and other hedge funds exploit to buy out jobs and bankrupt small businesses. 

“[People are saying] our economy is booming, but it's just not booming for everyone,” said Steve McFarland, Greater Green Bay Labor Council President. “A gas station employee is receiving the minimum wage, which is nowhere near the [living] wage. Some of these folks will have 2 or 3 jobs, thinking that that additional [income] may put them where they need so that their kids won't be hungry at school.”

Wages have been stagnant in Wisconsin for decades — adjusted for inflation, the median wage in Wisconsin has only risen 73 cents since 1979. Instead of giving hard-working Wisconsinites a boost, President Trump blocked a federal minimum wage increase, a move that denied more than 800,000 Badger State residents a pay increase and resulted in $3 billion in lost wages. 

Many of these same workers are now facing sky-high debts and are being forced to decide between daily necessities like food and medicine just to survive. In 2017, 22 percent of Wisconsin residents stopped taking the prescription drugs they need because the costs were too high.

“We were raised to save money,” said Connie Jordan. “I used to teach financial literacy, and you teach that, ‘out of your income, you try to save 10%,’ but when you live day-to-day how are you supposed to save? Where are we going to be 10-15 years out? What is the future going to look like when you can’t save into retirement, and are living hand to mouth? The whole economy is impacted by that.”

About Opportunity Wisconsin
Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. 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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President Trump’s Budget Proposal: Gutting Safety Net for Wisconsin Workers to Pay for Tax Cuts for the Wealthy

President Trump releases budget proposal outlining continued cuts to programs helping Wisconsin’s middle class, while boosting billionaires and big corporations  

MADISON, Wis. — Today, President Donald Trump released his 2021 budget that will serve as a roadmap for his allies in Congress over the coming year, and into the future. President Trump’s proposal significantly slashes programs and services that support Wisconsin workers such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, while shifting these funds to help foot the bill for his tax cuts for the wealthy and well-connected.  
The proposal cements this administration’s track record of tax cuts and giveaways for the wealthy. The president’s budget calls for an additional $1.4 trillion to extend the tax cuts for the wealthy to 2035, which nonpartisan economic experts agree will disproportionately benefit the wealthy. 

Trump plans to pay for these tax cuts for the wealthy by continuing to slash safety net programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid — today’s proposal outlines $2 trillion in cuts to these programs. Experts anticipate these cuts would lead to a reduction in both benefits and the number of people enrolled in the Medicaid program. 

“Over the past three years we have seen the devastating impacts of President Trump’s economic agenda across Wisconsin,” said Kirk Bangstad, Opportunity Wisconsin Steering Committee member. “As a small business owner, I know that budgets are a reflection of your priorities and your values. This proposal from President Trump is no different, as it continues to demonstrate he does not value our friends and neighbors struggling to make ends meet, and instead prioritizes the same big businesses that have already wreaked havoc on workers across the Badger State.”  

Under the 2017 tax law championed by President Trump and his allies, 1 in 4 Wisconsinites will ultimately see a tax increase. The tax law also drastically reduced the corporate income tax rate, providing a massive windfall for large corporations. Instead of the benefits trickling down to workers, companies like Wisconsin’s own Kimberly-Clark enriched their shareholders while laying off 74 workers in Neenah and shutting down a once profitable plant.  

About Opportunity Wisconsin Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. Through our stories, we’re elevating the real consequences of the destructive economic policies championed by President Trump and his allies these past three years, and showing how they have made Wisconsin’s economy worse off. Join us in demanding our elected officials focus more on growing the economy for middle class folks and expanding opportunity for all Wisconsinites, not just the wealthy few. 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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