Grassroots coalition launches Kenosha diaper drive event to secure much-needed resources for the community

Opportunity Wisconsin and partner organizations announce drive as potential default threatens access to child care funding 

May 25, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin and a grassroots coalition including For Our Future Wisconsin, Family Friendly Wisconsin, and Diaper Depot & More, have launched a diaper drive to help ensure Kenosha-area families have access to these critical supplies. 

“No family should have to worry about accessing the basic supplies they need to care for their children. We're excited about this opportunity to raise awareness of this important issue and encourage people to give back to those in need,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Especially in times of economic uncertainty, community organizations like Diaper Depot & More are essential to meeting the needs of our neighbors who need extra assistance.”

Starting today, through June 9th, donations to the Kenosha Diaper Drive can be dropped off at Lively Stone Church of God in Christ, 2327 63rd Street, Kenosha. Items in the highest demand are diapers sizes 5, 6, 7 and pullups of all sizes, as well as baby wipes and diaper rash cream. In addition to encouraging community donations, Opportunity Wisconsin will make a matching donation of up to $500 to Diaper Depot & More. 

The drive comes as House Republicans, including Rep. Bryan Steil, are supporting devastating cuts to child care programs. The extreme “Default on America Act,” which Rep. Steil voted for, could strip nutrition food assistance from 24,000 women, infants, and children in the state and eliminate at least 5,500 preschool or child care slots. 

Even more troubling, if House Republicans force the nation into default, benefits for thousands of families will be delayed and interest rates on credit card debt and auto and home loans will dramatically increase, leaving families with less money to afford essential items. Wisconsin families are counting on Rep. Steil to fight for them and expect him to stop pushing the nation toward default. 

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Fact Check: Rep. Bryan Steil tries and fails to hide his record of keeping drug prices high

Congressman responds to Opportunity Wisconsin ad campaign with misleading op-ed

May 23, 2023

RACINE, Wis. – Congressman Bryan Steil is feeling the pressure as his constituents join Opportunity Wisconsin in demanding that he fight for working families instead of the wealthy and big corporations. Over the weekend, Rep. Steil resorted to a misleading op-ed in the Kenosha News in an attempt to hide his repeated opposition to lowering costs for prescription drugs and other care that Wisconsinites depend on.

“Congressman Steil owes his constituents a real explanation for his repeated votes to keep insulin prices high while protecting the wealthy and big corporations, not a misleading op-ed that attempts to hide his actual record,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Congressman Steil’s constituents and our grassroots coalition will continue to hold him accountable for his record and ask him to finally do what’s right for Wisconsin families, seniors, and workers.”
 

FACT CHECK: Rep. Bryan Steil tries and fails to hide his record of keeping drug prices high

Steil’s Claim: “I am working every day to lower costs and protect you and your family.”

The Truth: Steil voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced health care and drug costs. Rep. Steil voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced health care and prescription drug costs for millions of Americans. The legislation included a cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare recipients, gave Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices, and established a $35 monthly cap on insulin prices for seniors.

The Truth: Rep. Steil recently voted for the disastrous “Default on America Act,” the extreme Republican plan that would make cuts to nearly every federal program and RAISE costs on food, health care, rent, energy, and child care. 

Steil’s Claim: “The ad claims that I do not support lower insulin prices. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

The Truth: Monthly insulin prices are now capped at $35 for Medicare beneficiaries, thanks to a bill that Rep. Steil voted against. Before the Inflation Reduction Act, many Wisconsinites were forced to pay hundreds of dollars a month for their insulin. Today, they have relief thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act that Rep. Steil voted against.

The Truth: In the last two years, Steil has voted against capping the cost of insulin THREE times, and he’s taken more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry. Rep. Steil’s vote against the Inflation Reduction Act was only the latest example of his support for keeping insulin prices high. While repeatedly voting against a cap on insulin, Steil received more than $100,000 in campaign contributions from the pharmaceutical industry.

The Truth: In addition to opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, Rep. Steil previously voted against the Affordable Insulin Now Act, a bill designed to cap the cost of insulin at $35. Steil’s op-ed fails to explain why he opposed this targeted legislation which would’ve reduced the burden on Wisconsinites who rely on this life-saving medication.

Steil’s Claim: “In the past two years, I have voted against massive government spending bills that would increase costs.”

The Truth: Both the Build Back Better Act and the Inflation Reduction Act were paid for by closing loopholes and cracking down on tax evasion to make sure that the wealthy and big corporations are paying their fair share. At the same time, no family making under $400,000 per year will pay a penny more in taxes. 

The Truth: Rep. Steil voted multiple times to repeal funding that would give the IRS additional resources to crack down on wealthy and corporate tax cheats. The very first bill he voted to pass this year would slash $71 billion in IRS funding that was included in the Inflation Reduction Act to crack down on wealthy and corporate tax cheats. Repealing this funding could actually increase the deficit by nearly $115 billion.
 

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ICYMI: La Crosse Tribune highlights potential cuts to veterans’ medical care under Van Orden-backed default plan

“Nearly 44,000 veterans in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District — which covers much of western Wisconsin from Chippewa Falls to Platteville and Stevens Point — could be affected by across-the-board funding reductions in the House of Representatives’ spending bill.”

Monday, May 22, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – In case you missed it, the La Crosse Tribune recently highlighted how devastating cuts in the “Default on America Act,” which Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted for, could reduce access to care for tens of thousands of veterans in the 3rd Congressional District. While the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and recent fact checks detail how devastating this plan could be for America’s veterans, Congressman Van Orden continues to mislead his constituents by falsely claiming that the bill does not cut funding for veterans’ benefits.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Wisconsin veterans deserve a straight answer from Congressman Van Orden on why he voted for a devastating plan that could slash access to health care benefits and job training programs for those who have served their country. The ‘Default on America Act’ would make drastic across-the-board cuts that threaten these programs, in addition to education, food assistance for seniors, and more, while forcing the nation closer to default and protecting wealthy tax cheats.”
 

La Crosse Tribune: Proposed federal spending bill could lead to cuts in veterans’ medical care, benefits, job trainings

Fewer medical appointments and backlogged benefits could be a reality for veterans in the Coulee Region and nationwide, according to a report from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Nearly 44,000 veterans in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District — which covers much of western Wisconsin from Chippewa Falls to Platteville and Stevens Point — could be affected by across-the-board funding reductions in the House of Representatives’ spending bill.

The VA department released a fact sheet on how the House Republican spending bill would affect veterans’ operations for fiscal year 2024. The budgetary change will lead to staff reductions, fewer medical treatments and job training services, the fact sheet stated.

Congressional Republicans passed a spending bill that sets the fiscal year 2024 top line at $1.471 trillion, equal to the fiscal year 2022 level, while exempting defense spending from a reduction.

Under the assumption that funding for defense in 2024 will at least match the current baseline level of $885 billion, non-defense funding would total $586 billion, which is 22% lower than the currently enacted level of $756 billion.

Despite the claims from the department, U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, supported the legislation and said on Twitter: “There are zero cuts for vets.”


[. . .]

Under the proposal, the Veterans Benefits Administration stated it would have to eliminate more than 6,000 staff, increasing the disability claims backlog by an estimated 134,000 claims.

“Forcing veterans and their surviving loved ones to wait longer for the benefits they have earned, including pensions, life insurance, GI Bill educational support and employment services,” the department stated.

More than 80,000 jobs would be cut from the Veterans’ Health Administration leading to 30 million fewer medical appointments for care, including wellness visits, cancer screenings, mental health services and substance use disorder treatment, the fact sheet stated.

The proposed spending reduction would mean 4,200 fewer veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness would receive job training, counseling and job readiness services provided through the Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program.

The proposal would eliminate funding for Housing Choice Vouchers for as many as 50,000 veterans, putting them at greater risk of homelessness, according to the fact sheet.

[. . . ]
 

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ICYMI: PolitiFact gives “Mostly False” to claim that House Republicans’ default plan doesn’t cut veterans’ benefits

Extreme Default on America Act: “could translate to 13 million fewer health care appointments for veterans and significant cuts to benefit payments, staffing, and clinic construction, according to the [VA].”

Monday, May 15, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, a recent PolitiFact gives a “Mostly False” rating to Republican claims that cuts to veterans’ benefits are not included in their extreme default plan, which Wisconsin’s Republican Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted for last month. 

Rep. Van Orden has repeatedly made similar false claims, even saying, “The Limit, Save, Grow Act DOES NOT cut veterans’ benefits.” In reality, the bill would force drastic spending cuts for nearly every federal program and threaten veterans’ access to the health care and benefits they earned. The bill also included cuts to education, housing and rental assistance for seniors, and other health care programs across the country. 

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted for a dangerous plan that would make it more difficult for our veterans to access the care and treatment they need. Wisconsinites expect their elected officials to fight for our families, seniors, and veterans, not leave them behind.”
 

PolitiFact: Republicans Vow Not to Cut Veterans’ Benefits. But the Legislation Suggests Otherwise.

House Republicans have set themselves a tough, if not impossible, task in attempting to use a standoff over the nation’s debt limit to cut federal spending to what it was in 2022.

[. . .]

And, because there is no specific language in the House-passed measure to exempt support for veterans’ programs, the VA assumed a full, 22% cut for fiscal year 2024 compared with 2023 funding and estimated reductions as high as $29.7 billion.

That could translate to 13 million fewer health care appointments for veterans and significant cuts to benefit payments, staffing, and clinic construction, according to the agency.

[. . .]

Drafting a slimmed-down budget that spares veterans is no easy task. Most notably, the VA represents one of the largest pieces of the pie in terms of discretionary spending, and, in the House-passed Limit, Save, Grow Act, no language was included to specifically protect it.

The House GOP plan does include a specific budget rescission for unspent covid relief funds. That translates to $2 billion coming from the VA. While Congress could restore that money in the future — and it is a relatively small portion of the VA budget — it would result in a reduction in spending for veterans as the proposal stands.

House Republicans like [House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Rep. Mike] Bost have said repeatedly they intend to protect this key constituency. But so far, such protections are not evident on paper.

We rate Bost’s statement as Mostly False.
 

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ICYMI: Van Orden’s votes against Wisconsin workers and families highlighted during La Crosse event

Opportunity Wisconsin also debuted a life-like puppet of the Congressman as part of new campaign to hold Van Orden accountable

Monday, May 8, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – On Friday, Opportunity Wisconsin and Climate Power, along with La Crosse area small business owners, workers, and community leaders, joined together to call on Congressman Derrick Van Orden to fight for working families instead of supporting the wealthy and big corporations. Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new campaign to hold Rep. Van Orden accountable for his votes against working people.

“Congressman Derrick Van Orden has turned his back on the hardworking people of Wisconsin. Instead, he’s a puppet for big corporations and the wealthy. Since taking office earlier this year, Rep. Van Orden has consistently voted to stand with big corporations and wealthy tax cheats instead of with hardworking Wisconsinites,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “It’s time for him to do the right thing and fight for the families, workers, seniors, and small businesses in western Wisconsin.”

Friday’s event also featured the debut of a life-like puppet of Congressman Van Orden, highlighting his allegiance to the wealthy and big corporations, over Wisconsin workers and families. 

Rep. Van Orden recently voted in favor of a dangerous plan that would give $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations, while reducing food assistance for seniors, cutting access to care for veterans, and threatening massive cuts to education and child care funding. The plan also repeals portions of the Inflation Reduction Act designed to crack down on tax cheating by the ultra-wealthy and big corporations. Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Rep. Van Orden has voted for big corporations, and stood against working Wisconsinites, since he took office in January.

See below for additional coverage of Friday’s event: 

WIZM: Third District residents, action groups claim Rep. Van Orden’s votes make him “puppet” of corporations

[ . . . ]

To drive home their claim that Rep. Derrick Van Orden is controlled by corporate interests, Opportunity Wisconsin and Climate Power unveiled a large puppet likeness of Van Orden at a news conference in Onalaska on Friday.

Opportunity Wisconsin says the Prairie du Chien Republican voted recently for tax breaks that would help corporations, while also voting to cut care for veterans and reduce food assistance programs for senior citizens.

Eau Claire city council member Jeremy Gragert attended the Onalaska event. Gragert says his city has to spend millions of dollars to clean up PFAS contamination in the water, taking money away from other needs such as buying city buses. He wants Congress to provide cities with more funding for mass transit.

[ . . . ]

WATCH WKBT: Political Groups, Business Owners Slam Van Orden

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ICYMI: Kenosha News highlights Wisconsinites calling on Rep. Bryan Steil to lower drug prices

Opportunity Wisconsin joined Kenosha-area seniors, health care workers, and advocates in holding Rep. Steil accountable

Monday, May 8, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin, For Our Future Wisconsin, and Protect Our Care Wisconsin, along with Kenosha-area seniors, health care workers, and community leaders, joined together to call on Congressman Bryan Steil to fight to lower costs for working families and stand up to corporations

Participants highlighted Rep. Steil’s long record of voting against Wisconsin families. Recently, Rep. Steil voted for a dangerous plan that would give $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations, while reducing food assistance for seniors, cutting access to care for veterans, and threatening massive cuts to education and child care funding. Rep. Steil also voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered insurance premiums and capped the cost of insulin at just $35 – a drastic shift for many seniors who were paying hundreds of dollars a month for this life-saving medication.

Kenosha News: In Kenosha demonstration Wisconsin group calls on U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil to vote lower drug prices

A group of Wisconsin activists, health care workers and seniors called on U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil to work on lowering health care costs for working families during a rally Thursday afternoon in Kenosha.

Individuals with the Opportunity Wisconsin coalition gathered in Library Park, 711 59th Place, where they criticized Steil’s record in Congress. Steil, R-Janesville, represents the state’s first congressional district, which includes Kenosha County.

They criticized Steil’s vote for Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023, the Republican bill which would raise the debt limit and deeply cut spending over the next 10 years.

[. . .]

Opportunity Wisconsin decried Steil’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered insurance premiums and capped the cost of insulin at $35 a month for some seniors.

Cierra Chesir, the southwest Wisconsin regional lead of Opportunity Wisconsin, said it’s important to hold Steil accountable for his record.

“We are wanting to hold Rep. Steil accountable for some of the votes he’s taken against lowering health care costs, more specifically prescription drugs,” Chesir said. “Every one of his constituents needs to be heard.”

[. . .]

Joe Zepecki, state director of Protect Our Care Wisconsin, spoke about rising prescription drug costs during the demonstration.

“Last year, Mr. Steil had the opportunity to vote for the Inflation Reduction Act, which finally allowed Medicare to use its bulk purchasing power to negotiate for lower drug costs,” Zepecki said. “That legislation also capped the cost of insulin for people seniors on Medicare at $35 a month. Mr. Steil voted no. That was his choice.”

[. . .]

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Rep. Steil’s votes against working families highlighted at Kenosha event

Opportunity Wisconsin joins Kenosha area seniors, health care workers, and advocates in holding Rep. Steil accountable

Thursday, May 4, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Earlier today, Opportunity Wisconsin, For Our Future Wisconsin, and Protect Our Care Wisconsin, along with Kenosha-area seniors, health care workers, and community leaders, joined together to call on Congressman Bryan Steil to fight to lower costs for working families and stand up to corporations.

Participants highlighted Rep. Steil’s long record of voting against Wisconsin families. Just last week, Rep. Steil voted in favor of a dangerous plan that would give $6 billion in tax breaks to corporations, while reducing food assistance for seniors, cutting access to care for veterans, and threatening massive cuts to education and child care funding.

  Rep. Steil also voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which lowered insurance premiums and capped the cost of insulin at just $35 – a drastic shift for many seniors who were paying hundreds a month for this life-saving medication. This was the third time Steil voted against an insulin cap in the last two years, and he’s taken over $100,000 of campaign money from the pharmaceutical industry.

This event is part of a new campaign launched this week by Opportunity Wisconsin to tell Bryan Steil: lower costs for Wisconsin families and stand up to corporations.

In addition to today’s grassroots event, Opportunity Wisconsin began airing a TV and digital ad this week, as part of a seven-figure media buy in the state, that shows the impact of Rep. Steil’s votes against capping the cost of insulin. The ad, available online here, highlights Diana’s story about how she was forced to ration her insulin prescription due to the high cost of the drug prior to the Inflation Reduction Act. 

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: 

“Congressman Bryan Steil has consistently chosen the wealthy and big corporations over what’s best for Wisconsin families. By opposing the Inflation Reduction Act, he voted to keep drug prices high and reject a cap on the cost of insulin for seniors – the third time he voted against capping insulin costs in the past two years. Wisconsinites expect better from their representatives and they’re ready to make their voices heard. Opportunity Wisconsin is committed to holding Rep. Steil accountable and working with our grassroots coalitions in the 1st Congressional Districts to demand that he start fighting for working families.”

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ICYMI: White House Fact Sheet Highlights Impact of “Default on America Act” for Wisconsin

Consequences of GOP plan become clear as Opportunity Wisconsin launches new accountability campaign in 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, a new fact sheet from the White House highlights the devastating impact that the “Default on America Act,” which Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted to pass, would have on Wisconsin. 

According to the White House report, the plan contains substantial cuts to veterans’ health care, jeopardizes public safety, and increases costs for working families. Economists also estimate that the measure would “increase the likelihood” of a recession and result in nearly 800,000 fewer jobs nationwide by the end of 2024. 

In Wisconsin, the “Default on America Act” would result in cuts, including:

• Worsen wait times for the 1.4 million Wisconsin seniors on Social Security and Medicare, by forcing applicants applying for disability benefits to wait at least two months longer.

• Risk medical care for 116,000 Wisconsin veterans, which could leave them unable to receive the care they need for wellness visits and mental health services.

• Deny 10,700 Wisconsinites Access to workforce development services, depriving businesses of the skilled workforce they need to thrive, and cutting off worker pathways to good jobs

• Cut 140 rail safety inspections, meaning 430 fewer miles of track inspected in the state next year alone.

• Eliminate 5,500 preschool and child care slots in Wisconsin, reducing access to programs including Head Start.

• Strip food assistance from 24,000 women, infants, and children in Wisconsin.

Click here to read the full White House Fact Sheet

Earlier this week, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a new accountability campaign to highlight  Rep. Bryan Steil and Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s support for policies, including the “Default on America Act,” that hurt Wisconsin workers and seniors, while supporting wealthy tax cheats and big corporations. On Tuesday, UpNorthNews reported on the campaign launch: 

“Elected officials should fight for Wisconsin workers and their families, not the wealthy and big corporations—that’s the message of a new campaign aiming to hold Wisconsin Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden accountable for their votes and policies in Congress. 

“Opportunity Wisconsin, an issue advocacy organization, announced the launch of their grassroots campaign on Tuesday. Starting this week, the group plans to hold events in both Wisconsin’s first congressional district in southeastern Wisconsin, represented by Steil, and the state’s third district in western and southwestern Wisconsin, represented by Van Orden.”

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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