Congressional Republicans’ debt limit extremism leads to US credit rating downgrade as new federal funding deadline approaches

Fitch Ratings: “repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management.”

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – Months after Congressional Republicans, including Reps. Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and Tom Tiffany risked our economic recovery by pushing the country to the brink of default, Fitch Ratings cited the weaponization of debt limit negotiations as a key factor in their decision to lower the credit rating of the United States.

In April, Wisconsin’s Republican congressmen all voted for the “Default on America Act,” a devastating plan that would have forced the United States to default for the first time in history unless massive cuts were made to programs including health care, food assistance, and even care for veterans. Fitch pointed to the politicization of debt limit negotiations as a key factor in their decision to downgrade the nation’s credit rating, writing, “the repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management.”

While President Biden successfully negotiated an agreement to avoid a fiscal disaster earlier this year, Congress will face a tight deadline to avoid a government shutdown when they reconvene next month. If Congressional Republicans once again refuse to negotiate and fail to pass next year’s federal budget by September 30th, the federal government could shut down, jeopardizing our economy as it continues to recover.

“Republicans in Congress have already done enough damage to our economy by forcing their extreme agenda at all costs, even pushing us to the brink of default,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “When Congress reconvenes next month, it’s critical that they pass a budget that funds the federal government without jeopardizing the programs and services that working families in Wisconsin depend on.”
 

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Fact Check: Rep. Bryan Steil hides his record on Social Security and Medicare at Kenosha listening session

Congressman refuses to tell constituents the truth about an extreme plan to cut benefits and raise the Social Security retirement age

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – Congressman Bryan Steil is focused on one thing during the August Congressional recess: Misleading his constituents about his real record on Social Security and Medicare.

According to the Kenosha News, Rep. Steil told constituents last week, “There was this big push to try to scare people that what conservatives were doing was going to cut Medicare and Social Security. Not true. We didn’t cut it. And I’m here to tell you, I’m not going to cut it.”

Unfortunately, Rep. Steil is hiding the facts about his own record. Steil didn’t tell his constituents that he’s a member of the Republican Study Committee, which recently released an extreme budget proposal that would make major changes to Social Security and Medicare. If passed, the budget would raise the Social Security retirement age and cut Medicare and Medicaid benefits for many Wisconsinites.

He also failed to mention that the Republican Study Committee’s budget would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s improvements to Medicare’s prescription drug coverage, including a $35 monthly cap on insulin costs, allowing Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices, and forcing big pharmaceutical companies to pay rebates when they increase prices higher than the rate of inflation.

“Congressman Steil’s record of supporting cuts to Social Security and Medicare is clear and his constituents aren’t going to be fooled by his empty promises,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Instead of misleading the people he’s supposed to represent, Congressman Steil should tell the truth about this extreme budget and explain why he continues to choose the side of big drug companies instead of working families and seniors here in Wisconsin.”
 

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Rep. Steil begins August recess by running away from his record on Social Security and Medicare

Rep. Steil’s votes to keep prescription drug prices high and ties to an extreme budget that raises the Social Security retirement age highlight his true positions

Friday, August 4, 2023

KENOSHA, Wis. – With the August congressional recess underway, Rep. Bryan Steil must know that his record on Medicare and Social Security is deeply unpopular – because he’s doing everything he can to hide it.

Holding listening sessions in Kenosha and Janesville this week, the congressman posted on Twitter multiple times to tout that he was working “to protect Social Security and Medicare,” but his record in Congress shows the truth. 

Rep. Steil previously voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which strengthened Medicare benefits by capping insulin costs at $35 per month, allowing Medicare to negotiate for prescription drug prices, and creating a program that forces big pharmaceutical companies to pay rebates when they increase prices higher than the rate of inflation. Thanks to these reforms, more Wisconsinites are already filling insulin prescriptions.
 
Steil is also a member of the Republican Study Committee, which recently released an extreme budget proposal that would make major changes to Social Security and Medicare. The budget would repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s improvements to Medicare’s prescription drug coverage and jeopardize health care for millions by slashing the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid. The budget also includes a provision that raises the Social Security retirement age.

While he tries to distract his constituents from his real record on Social Security and Medicare, Rep. Steil hasn’t said whether he supports the pharmaceutical industry’s legal efforts to stop Medicare from negotiating prescription drug prices. He has also failed to support newly-introduced legislation which would extend many of the Inflation Reduction Act’s drug pricing reforms to even more Americans.

“In Congress, Representative Steil has stood in the way of relief for Wisconsin seniors struggling with high prescription drug costs and is part of an extreme group fighting to slash benefits and raise the Social Security retirement age,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “It’s no surprise that he’s running away from these wildly unpopular positions, but he owes his constituents an honest answer about why he is fighting on the side of big pharmaceutical companies instead of for working families and seniors in the 1st Congressional District.”

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Vice President Kamala Harris’ visit highlights the success of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Infrastructure projects and programs backed by the Biden-Harris administration are already benefiting Wisconsinites, despite Rep. Steil’s opposition to the IRA and BIL

Thursday, August 3, 2023

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – As Vice President Kamala Harris visits southeast Wisconsin today, communities and families across the state are already seeing relief thanks to programs backed by the Biden-Harris administration that were opposed by Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation.

“Thanks to President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, Wisconsinites are already feeling relief from rising costs and witnessing historic investments that are strengthening our economy,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Whether it’s lowering prescription drug prices or investing in the state’s infrastructure and workforce, Wisconsinites are grateful to have leaders in the White House who have prioritized working families and investments in our future.”

Vice President Harris’ visit to Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District also highlights Congressman Bryan Steil’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law as both programs continue to support working families, seniors, and communities in Wisconsin.

Recent data shows that 298,750 Wisconsinites will save an average of $474 thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act’s annual cap on out-of-pocket health care costs, and more than 181,000 Wisconsinites are already saving an average of $531 on monthly health insurance premiums thanks to the law.

Earlier today telecom company Nokia also announced it would begin manufacturing new fiber-optic products in Pleasant Prairie to be used for high-speed internet projects nationwide. This is expected to create up to 200 new jobs in Wisconsin and will supply equipment for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, which was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

In addition to these investments, more than $235 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding has already been announced for more than 150 local road and bridge projects across the state. 

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New ad highlights Rep. Van Orden’s votes for massive corporate tax breaks

WATCH: “Derrick Van Orden is not looking out for families like mine, he’s not standing up for the people in this district.”

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – While Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s intimidation of high-school pages draws national attention, Opportunity Wisconsin is highlighting the congressman’s equally disturbing record of voting to give massive tax breaks to large corporations. The new ad comes as Congress begins its August recess and House Republicans prepare to advance an extreme tax plan that provides additional handouts to the wealthy and big corporations when they reconvene.

“Congressman Derrick Van Orden should fight for working families in the Third Congressional District. Instead, he continues to support massive tax breaks for large corporations,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “As House Republicans prepare to pass a new tax package with even more giveaways for those at the top, Congressman Van Orden has the opportunity to speak out and start fighting for his constituents.”

The new ad features Tim and Darin, dairy farmers in the 3rd Congressional District, who both highlight Rep. Van Orden’s votes to give large corporations massive tax cuts, while working families and farmers in his district are left behind.
 

Click here to watch the ad

The ad will begin running on digital platforms in the Third Congressional District this week as part of Opportunity Wisconsin’s previously-announced seven-figure media buy across the state.

Full Transcript of “Easy Passes”: 

Darin: On a family farm, everyone pitches in. 

Tim: There’s no easy passes, not in this business. 

VO: But Derrick Van Orden is handing out easy passes to a special few. He voted for massive tax cuts for large corporations. 

Darin: It’s not right that those of us that play by the rules get left behind.

Reporter: More than 400 dairy farms in Wisconsin closed last year. 

Tim: Derrick Van Orden is not looking out for families like mine, he’s not standing up for the people in this district.

Darin: We deserve better. 

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ICYMI: “58 years later, we must still fight to protect Medicare and Medicaid”

Op-ed highlights Congressman Bryan Steil’s opposition to improving Medicare benefits and lowering prescription drug prices

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

JANESVILLE, Wis. – In case you missed it, Janesville small business owner Ann Roe recently authored an op-ed highlighting the importance of protecting Medicare and Medicaid benefits as the programs turned 58 at the end of July. 

The op-ed highlights Congressman Bryan Steil’s opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped insulin costs for Medicare recipients and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices. Rep. Steil is also a member of the Republican Study Committee, which recently released a budget proposal that would roll back the Inflation Reduction Act’s improvements to Medicare.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites depend on Medicare and Medicaid to access affordable, high-quality health care. We expect our members of Congress to find solutions to strengthen these programs and protect benefits for seniors and working families, not stand in the way of efforts that are already making life-saving prescriptions more affordable.”
 

Ann Roe: 58 years later, we must still fight to protect Medicare and Medicaid

[ . .]

Being born a year after President Johnson signed these programs into law in 1965, I’m fortunate to have never known a world where Medicare and Medicaid don’t exist. But despite their success and the hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites who depend on them for care, I’ve witnessed countless elected officials threaten these benefits or stand in the way of efforts to strengthen them.

Recently, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare beneficiaries are seeing even more relief when it comes to prescription drug prices. The law capped insulin costs at $35, gave Medicare the ability to negotiate drug prices, and established a program that forces drug companies to pay a rebate when they raise prices by more than the rate of inflation. Already thousands of Wisconsinites are benefiting from these improvements to Medicare.

But if Republicans in Congress, including Rep. Bryan Steil, had their way, many of these benefits could be on the chopping block. Steil opposed the Inflation Reduction Act, voting to keep drug prices high, and even voted against additional legislation that would’ve capped the cost of insulin. He also is part of the extreme Republican Study Committee, which recently announced a budget proposal that would roll back the protections in the Inflation Reduction Act and once again prohibit Medicare from negotiating for lower prescription drug prices.

[. . .]

More than ever, we should be demanding that our elected officials work together to strengthen these programs, improve benefits, and ensure every Wisconsinite has affordable and high-quality health care. It’s time for Rep. Steil to fight to preserve and protect Medicare and Medicaid to make sure they’re here for another 58 years.

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Opinions Rep. Derrick Van Orden should share instead of yelling at Senate pages

Thursday, July 27, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – According to a new report from Punchbowl News, Congressman Derrick Van Orden spent Wednesday night yelling at Senate pages while giving a late-night tour of the Capitol:
 

Punchbowl News: 

Van Orden, a freshman, was giving a tour for several dozen visitors around midnight when he happened upon Senate pages lying on the floor of the Rotunda, taking photos of the dome.

Van Orden cursed out the pages, who are in their last week of service, calling them “lazy shits” and told them to “get the fuck up” off the floor, according to sources.

Since Congressman Van Orden isn’t quiet about offering his opinions – even to teens at midnight in the Capitol rotunda – Opportunity Wisconsin has suggestions for more pressing concerns that his constituents would like answers to:

1. Does Rep. Van Orden support the new Republican tax plan? Congressional Republicans are advancing a new tax plan that gives massive handouts to the wealthy and big corporations and could add $1 trillion to the deficit. Rep. Van Orden hasn’t taken a position on the bill.

2. What does Rep. Van Orden think about big pharmaceutical companies suing to repeal measures that will lower prescription drug costs? Some of the largest drug makers are “throwing the kitchen sink” to stop Medicare from negotiating lower prescription drug prices. So far, Rep. Van Orden hasn’t said whether he supports rolling back these provisions that will make prescriptions more affordable for Wisconsin seniors.
   

3. Will Rep. Van Orden support giving 28 million Americans a long-overdue raise? This week a new bill was introduced in Congress to gradually raise the minimum wage to $17 by 2028. Rep. Van Orden hasn’t said whether he believes hardworking Wisconsinites should see a higher minimum wage. 

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “While it seems that Congressman Van Orden doesn’t hesitate to share his opinions with Senate pages, he has kept his constituents in the dark about where he stands on critical issues coming before Congress. As he spends next month in Wisconsin during recess, we hope he has the opportunity to take a position on issues that actually impact the working families he’s supposed to represent.”

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ICYMI: Cap on insulin costs leads to more Wisconsinites filling prescriptions

Price controls in the Inflation Reduction Act make life-saving medication more affordable for Wisconsin seniors

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – With insulin costs capped at $35 for Wisconsin seniors on Medicare, a new study shows thousands more Wisconsinites are now filling prescriptions for the medication. 

The Inflation Reduction Act, which Wisconsin congressmen Bryan Steil and Tom Tiffany voted against, included multiple measures to help lower the cost of prescription drugs. In addition to capping insulin prices, the bill also allows Medicare to negotiate lower prescription drug prices and Wisconsinites are already benefiting from a measure that forces drugmakers to pay rebates when they increase prices higher than the rate of inflation.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Before the Inflation Reduction Act many Wisconsin seniors were forced to ration their insulin or pay hundreds out-of-pocket to fill their prescription. Today, thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, thousands of Wisconsinites are already feeling relief with insulin prices capped and the Inflation Reduction Act reducing the costs of many life-saving medications. Seniors deserve an answer from Republicans in Congress, including Representatives Bryan Steil and Tom Tiffany, who voted to keep prescription drug prices high and unaffordable.”


Spectrum News: Study: Medicare beneficiaries have filled more insulin prescriptions under the Inflation Reduction Act

Medicare beneficiaries have filled more insulin prescriptions since the Inflation Reduction Act went into effect, according to new study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and the University of Southern California Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

The Inflation Reduction Act went into effect in Jan. 2023. The act put a $35 cap on out-of-pocket costs on insulin for seniors who use Medicare. This included those who use insulin pumps, according to the American Diabetes Association.

“Many Americans are concerned with the cost of insulin because people with diabetes are at great risk of serious health problems, including nerve damage, heart attack and stroke,” John A. Romley said. “This new policy has the potential to do two things: save money for people who are taking insulin, and help people afford insulin to begin with.” He is a study co-author, and associate professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy and Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy.

[. . .]

“Our analysis suggests that this policy meaningfully reduced the number of Medicare beneficiaries who were not filling their insulin because of the cost — which would have potentially put their health at risk,” said Rebecca Myerson, study lead author and assistant professor of population health sciences at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.

[. . .]

Once the cap was enacted, an average of 366,928 Medicare enrollees’ out-of-pocket costs were $35 or less. Before the cap, that number was previously 340,509, according to the study. More people on Medicare were saving money under the legislation.

When looking at those without Medicare, once the cap was enacted, an average of 242,733 patients’ out-of-pocket costs were $35 or less. Before the cap, that number was previously 220,867, according to the study. Those who are not on Medicare are paying more money out-of-pocket, on average.

“After adjusting for differences in the study sample, the analysis suggests that Medicare beneficiaries filled about 50,000 more insulin prescriptions per month that were below $35, and about 20,000 of these fills would not have taken place if not for the policy,” UW School of Medicine and Public Health said in a statement.

[. . .]

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