On 88th anniversary of Social Security, Wisconsin Republicans are plotting to slash benefits and raise the retirement age

Reps. Bryan Steil and Tom Tiffany are members of the Republican Study Committee, which proposed a budget that jeopardizes retirement security for many Wisconsin seniors

Monday, August 14, 2023

MADISON, Wis. – As Social Security marks 88 years since being signed into law, extreme proposals from Republicans in Congress would jeopardize benefits for Wisconsin seniors.

Earlier this year, the Republican Study Committee released their proposal for the 2024 federal budget which would slash Medicare benefits and make drastic changes to Social Security, including raising the retirement age. Congressman Tom Tiffany helped author the budget and Congressman Bryan Steil is a member of the committee that proposed it. 

Another plan introduced by Congressman Derrick Van Orden earlier this year, and featured in Opportunity Wisconsin’s latest ad, would also slash benefits and make it more difficult for seniors to retire.

Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh: “Wisconsinites have paid into Social Security their entire career with the expectation that these benefits will be there when they choose to retire. Unfortunately, Republicans in Congress continue to propose drastic changes that would threaten these benefits and make it more difficult for Wisconsin seniors to retire. Every member of Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation owes their constituents an answer about where they stand on these extreme proposals. It’s time for Congress to find ways to strengthen Social Security benefits, not propose new ways to weaken them.”

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New ad highlights Rep. Van Orden’s plan to slash Social Security and Medicare

WATCH: “I always looked forward to retirement, Derrick Van Orden should not be able to take that away.”

Thursday, August 10, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Ahead of the 88th anniversary of Social Security next week, a new ad from Opportunity Wisconsin highlights Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s support for a plan that would slash benefits and jeopardize retirement security for Wisconsin seniors.

Click here to watch the ad

“Hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites depend on Social Security to pay their bills and retire with the financial security they’ve earned, but Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted to slash those benefits and make retirement more difficult,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Instead of working to slash benefits that working families have paid into their entire career, Rep. Van Orden needs to start fighting for families and seniors in the Third Congressional District.”

The new ad features Joni, a retired factory worker from Adams, Wisconsin, who depends on Social Security benefits to pay her bills and make ends meet in retirement. Like many Wisconsinites who have paid into Social Security throughout their career, she depends on these payments to afford her home, car, and other essentials.

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:

JONI: I worked in a factory as a machine operator for almost 30 years. You would go home tired, your feet would hurt. It was a long day. I paid into Social Security with every paycheck. Derrick Van Orden’s plan would slash Medicare and Social Security. Social Security pays the majority of my bills. If I were to lose Social Security, I probably wouldn’t be able to afford my home or my car. I always looked forward to retirement, Derrick Van Orden should not be able to take that away.

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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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