Game-Changing Relief For Wisconsin Nearing The Finish Line

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Despite Senator Ron Johnson’s Obstruction, Wisconsinites Will Soon Receive Badly-Needed COVID Relief 

MADISON, Wis.— Today Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the American Rescue Plan, a bill that will provide over $20 billion in relief to Wisconsinites across the state. A recent survey from Opportunity Wisconsin and Change Research found broad support from Wisconsinites for the American Rescue Plan, with large bipartisan majorities in favor of many of the bill’s provisions. 

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:

“Today, Wisconsin workers and families are one step closer to receiving the economic relief they desperately need to help them recover from pandemic. We’re grateful to our elected officials, like Representatives Gwen Moore, Mark Pocan, and Ron Kind, who today put Wisconsin families over partisan DC politics. The American Rescue Plan will benefit Wisconsinites who need it most, which stands in stark contrast to those who benefitted from the 2017 tax giveaway to the wealthy—a $1.9 trillion bill Senator Johnson eagerly supported.”

See highlights from the American Rescue Plan in our breakdown here: 

American Rescue Plan: What’s In It For Wisconsin?

On Saturday, the American Rescue Plan passed the U.S. Senate, despite Senator Johnson’s inexplicable delaying tactics that forced Senate staff to read the bill aloud, wasting hours of the Senate’s valuable time for no apparent gain, while Badger State residents continued to struggle. Last month, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a $1M statewide TV ad campaign featuring Wisconsin residents urging Senator Johnson to stop blocking COVID relief checks for Badger State families and workers.

American Rescue Plan: What’s In It For Wisconsin?

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Despite Senator Ron Johnson’s Obstruction, Wisconsinites Will Soon Receive Relief That Will Be A “Game-Changer”

MADISON, Wis.— Ahead of an expected vote in the House of Representatives, today Opportunity Wisconsin released highlights of how the Badger State stands to benefit once the American Rescue Plan is signed into law. A recent survey from Opportunity Wisconsin and Change Research found broad support from Wisconsinites for the American Rescue Plan, with large bipartisan majorities in favor of many of the bill’s provisions.

“To say the American Rescue Plan is a ‘game-changer’ would be an understatement. Whether it’s $1,400 direct payments, expanded vaccine access, or aid to small businesses, the American Rescue Plan provides badly-needed relief to Wisconsin workers and families who have been hit hard during the pandemic,” said Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director. “It’s outrageous Senator Johnson voted against such a critical piece of legislation at a time when his constituents are struggling.” 

American Rescue Plan: What’s In It For Wisconsin  

A few highlights of what Wisconsinites can expect to see from the American Rescue Plan

• Total: The American Rescue plan would provide $20 billion in relief to Wisconsinites – money that would go to families, small businesses, and cities across the state.

• Direct Relief. A provision that would send $1,400 checks to American families who need it most would give $7.8 billion to Wisconsin families, helping 4 million adults and 1.5 million children in the state. 

• Child Tax Credit. Tax cuts in the American Rescue Plan provide 98 percent of Wisconsin’s families with children an average tax break of $2,510.

• Earned Income Tax Credit. 349,000 Wisconsinites claimed the EITC in 2020. However, workers without children were only able to claim a maximum of $529 dollars. The American Rescue Plan raises this maximum amount to $1,500. Approximately 214,000 childless workers in Wisconsin would gain $214 million from the expanded EITC benefit.

• Food Assistance. The American Rescue Plan would extend the 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits passed in December through at least September. Families would receive an additional $27 per person per month, and in Wisconsin, 30 percent of that increase would go to the neediest households – those with income below 50 percent of the federal poverty level. As of mid-December 2020, there were 723,000 people receiving SNAP benefits. That would bring an additional $20 million into the state and help ease the food insecurity in Wisconsin. 

The American Rescue Plan would benefit those who need it the most. This stands in stark contrast to those who benefitted from the 2017 millionaires tax cut, a $1.9 trillion bill Senator Johnson eagerly supported.  

(Image Source: Steve Rattner) 

On Saturday, the American Rescue Plan passed the U.S. Senate, despite Senator Johnson’s inexplicable delaying tactics that forced Senate staff to read the bill aloud, wasting hours of the Senate’s valuable time for no apparent gain, while Badger State residents continued to struggle. Last month, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a $1M statewide TV ad campaign featuring Wisconsin residents urging Senator Johnson to stop blocking COVID relief checks for Badger State families and workers.  

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Surprising No One, Senator Johnson Votes Against Relief for Wisconsin Workers and Families

Saturday, March 6, 2021

Despite Johnson’s Attempted Obstruction, Badger State Will Soon Receive $1,400 Checks, More Vaccines, and Small Business Aid

MADISON, Wis.— Opportunity Wisconsin today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill that will provide billions for Wisconsin small businesses, extend eviction moratoriums, expand vaccine distribution, invest billions to help reopen schools, and distribute $1,400 checks to struggling Wisconsinites who need it most. The bill passed, despite Senator Ron Johnson’s inexplicable delaying tactics that forced Senate staff to read the bill aloud, wasting hours of the Senate’s valuable time for no apparent gain while Badger State residents continue to struggle.

Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director:

“True to his word, Senator Johnson led the resistance to providing urgently needed relief for Badger State residents. With thousands of Wisconsin lives lost and even more out of work, our friends and neighbors across the state deserve a senator who is going to put them first. We’re grateful for elected leaders, like Senator Tammy Baldwin, who listened to their constituents and voted to help communities recover from the pandemic’s devastation. Unfortunately, Senator Johnson instead prioritized political ploys over the Wisconsin people.”    

The American Rescue Plan has overwhelming popular support in the Badger State, particularly provisions that provide relief for small businesses, extend eviction moratoriums, reduce health care costs, and provide $1,400 direct payments. Recent polling from Opportunity Wisconsin and Change Research showed that a 57% majority of Wisconsinites, including 14% of Trump supporters, believed that Senator Johnson should have supported the American Rescue Plan. Only 34% of Wisconsinites wanted Senator Johnson to oppose it.

Last month, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a $1M statewide TV ad campaign featuring Wisconsin residents urging Senator Johnson to stop blocking COVID relief checks for Badger State families and workers.

NEW: Senator Johnson Plans to Delay COVID Relief Through Senate Stunt

Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Report: Johnson “will ask for a reading of COVID-relief substitute on Senate floor,” expected to delay process of advancing critical legislation by 10 hours 

MADISON, Wis.— Today Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement after news broke that U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is preparing to ask for an alternative COVID relief bill to be read aloud on the Senate floor, a political ploy that is expected to require ten hours and will only delay relief for struggling Wisconsinites. Wisconsin is poised to receive over $20 billion in relief that will go to support families, small businesses, and cities and towns across the state as they recover from the devastation of the COVID pandemic.   

Meghan Roh, Program Director:

“Let’s be clear, Senator Johnson is now doing everything in his power to delay urgently-needed COVID relief for millions of Wisconsin workers and families. It is unconscionable. At a time when folks around the Badger State are barely scraping by, often being forced to choose between keeping the heat on and putting food on the table, Senator Johnson has decided to put politics over the Wisconsin people. Senator Johnson is either completely out-of-touch with the struggles of his constituents or he simply doesn’t care. He should forgo this pointless stunt and support this urgent legislation that Wisconsinites need.”   

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Senator Johnson Doubles Down on Hypocritical Opposition to COVID Relief for Wisconsin Families

Monday, March 1, 2021

Wisconsinites have been urging Johnson to change his position and support COVID relief, including $1,400 direct checks to struggling residents

MADISON, Wis.— Today Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement after U.S. Senator Ron Johnson doubled down on his opposition to the COVID relief package, which passed the House early Saturday morning and is currently being considered by the Senate. In his comments, Senator Johnson bemoaned the amount of relief being provided to Wisconsin families and workers, saying, “This isn’t money we have.”

Meghan Roh, Program Director:

“It’s rich to hear Senator Johnson complain about cost when he had absolutely no issue voting for a massive tax giveaway just a few years ago. And speaking of rich, Senator Johnson’s wealthy corporate donors were some of the only people who benefitted from those tax breaks, while working Wisconsinites saw next-to-nothing. Now, when it comes to providing meaningful financial relief for Badger State residents devastated by COVID-19, Senator Johnson can’t seem to justify the expense. As the Senate considers critical relief legislation this week, we urge Senator Johnson to listen to Wisconsinites and support $1,400 direct checks, other urgent measures to help us get through this pandemic.”  

In 2017, Senator Johnson eagerly supported a $1.9 trillion tax giveaway to America’s billionaires. Yet in December, he led the charge to stop a bipartisan effort to provide relief checks to Wisconsinites, with Politico writing that Johnson was “the guy who twice shut down...stimulus checks that would have gone to hundreds of thousands of his constituents.” Recently, Senator Johnson argued against additional COVID relief, claiming Wisconsinites have “excess savings.” 

Last month, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a $1 million statewide TV ad campaign, featuring Wisconsin residents calling on Senator Johnson to support COVID relief checks. The campaign also included a full-page ad in Senator Johnson’s hometown newspaper, highlighting his hypocrisy. 

The ad read, in part:

“Senator Johnson gave a boatload of tax breaks to his wealthy corporate donors. But he’s blocking badly needed COVID relief checks for the rest of us.”    

A provision in the American Rescue Plan to send $1,400 checks to American families who need it most would give $7.8 billion to Wisconsin families, helping 4 million adults and 1.5 million children in the state. 

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As COVID Relief Passes House, It’s Time for Senator Johnson to Put Wisconsin People Over Politics

Saturday, February 27, 2021

MADISON, Wis.— Today Opportunity Wisconsin released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, a significant step in providing much-needed economic relief to the Badger State. The bill, which includes $1,400 COVID relief checks for Wisconsin workers and families, now heads to the Senate where Senator Ron Johnson has been a vocal opponent of providing direct relief to Wisconsin residents. Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a $1 million statewide TV ad campaign featuring Wisconsin residents calling on Senator Ron Johnson to support COVID relief checks.    

“This vote was a significant and promising step toward the $20 billion in relief that will go to support Wisconsin families, small businesses, and cities across the state,” said Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin program director. “Badger State residents are struggling and things like direct payments will play a significant role in helping folks get back on their feet. We’re calling on Senator Johnson to put the Wisconsin people over politics, and vote to support this critical piece of legislation.”

Last night, Opportunity Wisconsin held a virtual roundtable with residents from across the state to discuss their struggles during the pandemic and the provisions in the COVID relief legislation that would help them most.

When asked how a COVID relief check would help him, Eau Claire bar manager Andrew Gehrke responded, “It would allow me to pay for things that I’ve had to put on credit, little things like gas and groceries that add up. We’re talking about a few thousand dollars that can make a huge difference in people’s lives, and people like Ron Johnson are denying it. I don’t think we can do enough in this situation. We’re not going to look back and say ‘oh, we did too much.’” [WATCH] 

A provision in the American Rescue Plan to send $1,400 checks to American families who need it most would give $7.8 billion to Wisconsin families, helping 4 million adults and 1.5 million children in the state. In 2017, Senator Johnson eagerly supported a $1.9 trillion tax giveaway to America’s billionaires. Yet in December, he led the charge to stop a bipartisan effort to provide similar relief checks to Wisconsinites, with Politico writing that Johnson was “the guy who twice shut down...stimulus checks that would have gone to hundreds of thousands of his constituents.” Just earlier this month, Senator Johnson argued against additional COVID relief, claiming Wisconsinites have “excess savings.” 

WATCH: Senator Johnson’s Constituents Speak Out, “Listen To Us. Hear Our Stories.”

Friday, February 26, 2021

Badger State residents gathered for a virtual roundtable to share their stories of struggle as Congress considers COVID relief legislation

VIEW/DOWNLOAD FULL VIDEO 

LA CROSSE, Wis.— As the House of Representatives prepares to vote on the American Rescue Plan later today, last night Opportunity Wisconsin convened residents from across the state on Facebook LIVE to discuss their struggles during the pandemic and the provisions in the COVID relief legislation that would help them most. The conversation came as Opportunity Wisconsin runs a $1 million statewide TV ad campaign featuring Wisconsin residents calling on Senator Ron Johnson to support COVID relief checks.   

When asked how a COVID relief check would help him, Eau Claire bar manager Andrew Gehrke responded, “It would allow me to pay for things that I’ve had to put on credit, little things like gas and groceries that add up. We’re talking about a few thousand dollars that can make a huge difference in people’s lives, and people like Ron Johnson are denying it. I don’t think we can do enough in this situation. We’re not going to look back and say ‘oh, we did too much.’” [WATCH] 

A provision in the American Rescue Plan to send $1,400 checks to American families who need it most would give $7.8 billion to Wisconsin families, helping 4 million adults and 1.5 million children in the state. In 2017, Senator Johnson eagerly supported a $1.9 trillion tax giveaway to America’s billionaires. Yet in December, he led the charge to stop a bipartisan effort to provide similar relief checks to Wisconsinites, with Politico writing that Johnson was “the guy who twice shut down...stimulus checks that would have gone to hundreds of thousands of his constituents.”

“Listening to your constituents, I think is huge, and actually hearing from all different sectors of the state to understand, because obviously the sector he’s listening to isn’t the right one,” said Tricia Peterson, a Juneau daycare center owner who is featured in one of Opportunity Wisconsin’s ads urging Senator Johnson to stop blocking COVID relief. [WATCH]  

Just earlier this month, Senator Johnson argued against additional COVID relief, claiming Wisconsinites have “excess savings.” Last night’s roundtable participants strongly disagreed.

“To Ron Johnson, I would say, stop thinking about your income, stop thinking about your savings account, and start thinking about what other people are going through. Listen to us, hear our stories, and understand that we are not trying to game any system - right now there is no system to game,” said Amy Midle, a Madison DJ, in response to Senator Johnson’s comments. “We just want to be able to live and not stress out and not need to worry about where our next month of rent or our next heat payment is coming from. That’s all. It’s not that hard to give the constituents what they actually need.” [WATCH]      

Nearly 18 percent of Wisconsinites have reported that eviction or foreclosure were likely in the next two months and close to 1 in 3 residents have expressed difficulty in covering usual household expenses. 

“If they are working 3 jobs to pay their bills and they don’t have health care, how are they going to save?” asked Dr. Selika Ducksworth-Lawton, UW-Eau Claire professor and Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee member. “Even beyond this bill, this country can’t do this anymore. Our people have been pushed to the limit and COVID exposed the faultlines, and we have to have a change and we have to take care of our citizens.” [WATCH]

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WATCH: New TV Ad from Opportunity Wisconsin Features La Crosse Area Resident Calling on Senator Johnson to Support Relief Checks

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

“Ron Johnson has done everything he can to stop us from getting relief.” 

New ad [“Lorin”] is third installment in Opportunity Wisconsin’s $1M statewide campaign, which received national attention during last week’s launch  

MADISON, Wis.— Opportunity Wisconsin today launched its third ad as part of  a $1 million statewide TV ad campaign calling on Senator Ron Johnson to stop blocking relief checks for Wisconsin families as part of COVID relief legislation. The ads are blanketing most of the state for the next several weeks leading up to an expected vote in March on the American Rescue Plan. The ad campaign kicks off Opportunity Wisconsin’s 2021 work holding Senator Johnson accountable and urging him to support legislation that will help Wisconsin families.  

The new spot features Lorin, a restaurant general manager from Warrens. Lorin, his wife, and kids are now living paycheck to paycheck after using their savings  during the pandemic. In the ad, Lorin urges his fellow Wisconsinites to call Senator Johnson and demand that he back relief checks. The ad is running alongside previous ads, “Jessica” and “Tricia,” in the Milwaukee, Green Bay, Madison, and La Crosse markets. Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin also took out a full-page ad in the Oshkosh Northwestern, Senator Johnson’s hometown newspaper, to make sure he heard the message about relief checks loud and clear. 

“My wife and I did have money saved for emergencies. Your savings can only bail you out for so long. Senator Ron Johnson has done everything he can to stop us from getting relief and he just did it again,” said Lorin, in the new ad. “He just voted against $1,400 checks for people who work for a living. When you’re slowly sinking, just to get your head back above water for a little bit makes a big difference.”    

[WATCH LORIN'S FULL AD]

A provision in the American Rescue Plan to send $1,400 checks to American families who need it most would give $7.8 billion to Wisconsin families, helping 4 million adults and 1.5 million children in the state. In 2017, Senator Johnson eagerly supported a $1.9 trillion tax giveaway to America’s billionaires. Yet in December, he led the charge to stop a bipartisan effort to provide similar relief checks to Wisconsinites, with Politico writing that Johnson was “the guy who twice shut down...stimulus checks that would have gone to hundreds of thousands of his constituents.” And just earlier this month, Senator Johnson argued against additional COVID relief, claiming Wisconsinites have “excess savings.” His constituents highlighted in these ads would strongly disagree.     

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