Statement on President Biden’s State of the Union Address

Congress must work with President Biden to lower costs, hold corporations accountable, and support working families in Wisconsin

Thursday, March 7, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement on President Biden’s State of the Union address this evening:

“Thanks to President Biden and Democrats in Congress, Wisconsin’s working families and seniors are already seeing relief from rising costs, health care is more affordable, and critical investments are being made to strengthen our infrastructure and create good paying jobs. Tonight, we heard directly from President Biden about his vision for our country and the opportunity we have to support working families here in Wisconsin. It’s time for Republicans in Congress, including Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden, to work with the president to lower costs, hold big corporations accountable, and protect the programs that are helping Wisconsinites succeed – including Medicare and Social Security.”

The Biden administration and Democrats in Congress are already delivering results for working families and helping strengthen the middle class.

The Inflation Reduction Act is lowering health care costs for Wisconsinites by capping insulin costs at $35 per month. This cap is already estimated to be saving 31,000 Wisconsin seniors $600 per year. Additional prescription drug costs will also be lowered thanks to Medicare’s ability to negotiate for drug prices, and a new rebate program is already lowering costs for 48 prescription drugs whose prices were raised by big pharmaceutical companies faster than the rate of inflation. In his State of the Union address, President Biden called for many of these provisions to be expanded to even more Americans.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also strengthening Wisconsin communities and ensuring workers and families have safe and reliable infrastructure. Wisconsin has already been allocated $6.3 billion in funding for hundreds of projects, including expanded public transit systems, programs to help lower energy bills, and funding for airport projects across Wisconsin to strengthen our economy, cut costs for families, and create good-paying jobs.

Despite the success of these programs, Republicans in Congress continue to propose repealing many of the provisions that are already saving Wisconsinites money and helping our economy grow. Opportunity Wisconsin and its statewide coalition will continue calling on Wisconsin’s Congressional delegation to support working families and reject any attempt to undo the progress that has been made during the Biden administration.

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Statement on House passage of appropriations bills

Congress must also reject harmful cuts ahead of the next funding deadline on March 22nd

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement following the passage of six appropriations bills ahead of this week’s deadline:

“After months of gridlock and dysfunction created by Republicans in Congress, the House finally passed six initial appropriations bills earlier today. But after months of shutdown threats and proposed funding cuts that hurt working families and seniors, Congress has more work to do ahead of the next deadline on March 22nd. In the coming days, Republicans in Congress, including Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil, must reject harmful cuts that could cut access to Social Security and Medicare, threaten teachers’ jobs, slash support for small businesses, and more. While both Steil and Van Orden have voted for similar cuts in the past, they need to reject them and pass the remaining appropriations bills without cuts or extreme policy riders.”

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Statement on House passage of new continuing resolution

As Congressional Republicans fight to shortchange food assistance and other key programs, Congress kicks the can on federal funding again

Thursday, February 29, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh released the following statement after the House passed the latest continuing resolution earlier today:

“Congressional Republicans have had months to introduce proposals that fund the government without harmful cuts to programs that support many Wisconsinites – they’ve failed. Instead, they’ve floated plans to shortchange food assistance programs that help children and mothers, reduce access to Social Security, or force cuts to public education that threaten teachers’ jobs. With the new deadlines now moved back to March 8th and 22nd, it’s time for Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to fight for spending packages that support working families and seniors here in Wisconsin.”

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ICYMI: Republican proposals shortchange food assistance programs, threatening partial government shutdown

Congressional Republicans are targeting food assistance programs for women, infants, children, and low-income families ahead of Friday’s government funding deadline

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – With just days left to pass federal government funding packages without harmful cuts, proposals from Republicans in Congress are targeting food assistance programs that millions of Americans depend on. 

“Republicans in Congress should be finding ways to support working families and help them get ahead. Instead, these proposals shortchange programs that millions of Americans depend on, making it tougher for too many of our neighbors to put food on the table,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “With another government funding deadline at the end of this week, it’s time for Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to speak out against these harmful proposals, and work with their colleagues to pass funding packages that reject harmful cuts and extreme policies.”

Last year every member of Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation voted for the extreme “Default on America Act,” which would’ve stripped food assistance from at least 24,000 women, infants, and children in Wisconsin, while implementing strict requirements that would restrict access to SNAP benefits.

Punchbowl News: “There’s a dispute over hundreds of millions of dollars in WIC funding — Women, Infants and Children — under the Agriculture Department. The department has warned of a possible $1 billion shortfall in the program unless more money is approved, which could put millions of program participants at risk. Conservatives want to keep this funding flat.”

CNN: “If Congress continues the current funding level for the rest of the fiscal year, about 2 million eligible pregnant women, new moms and young children could be turned away, according to the left-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.”

POLITICO: “Behind the scenes, GOP negotiators have been pushing for several contentious policy riders, per our colleague Caitlin Emma: (1) cuts to agriculture programs and limits on how USDA spends money, (2) a ban on mail delivery of abortion medication and (3) a pilot program proposed by Rep. ANDY HARRIS (R-Md.) that would restrict SNAP food aid purchases.”

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ONE WEEK AWAY: Will Congress pass funding packages without harmful cuts before the March 1st deadline?

With just days left to avoid a government shutdown, Congressional Republicans must reject harmful cuts and extreme policies

Friday, February 23, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – With a March 1st deadline to pass federal government funding packages and avoid a partial government shutdown, Congressional Republicans’ continued push for harmful cuts and extreme policies is delaying action.

Recent reports detail how the demands of Congressional Republicans are delaying progress on appropriations bills. According to Punchbowl News, Republicans continue to push for strict limits on government spending and other divisive policy measures. Previous proposals backed by Republicans have contained harmful cuts that raise costs, threaten access to Social Security benefits, slash food assistance programs, and more. Earlier this week Axios reported that Republican lawmakers privately expect a partial shutdown to occur at the end of next week.

“By continuing to push for harmful cuts and conditions as part of funding the federal government, Republicans in Congress are once against pushing us to the brink of a government shutdown,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “With just one week before the deadline, Republicans in Congress need to support funding packages without harmful cuts that will raise costs for Wisconsinites or threaten the success of programs they depend on. It’s time for Reps. Bryan Steil, Derrick Van Orden, and the rest of our Republican congressional delegation to stop kicking the can down the road and support a plan that helps working families and seniors in our state succeed.”

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ICYMI: New study shows Medicare drug price negotiation to lower prices by thousands per month

Negotiated prices, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will lower costs for Wisconsin families and seniors

Thursday, February 22, 2024

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, a new study details how Medicare’s drug price negotiation, which was made possible thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, could lower prices of some critical prescriptions by thousands of dollars each month.

After the Inflation Reduction Act enabled Medicare to negotiate prices for the first time in the program’s history, Medicare selected the initial 10 prescription drugs for negotiation last year. Earlier this month, Medicare announced initial offers for negotiated prices, which would deliver significant savings to many families in Wisconsin and across the country.

The new analysis shows 30-day price reductions could be as much as $6,500, in the case of a life-saving cancer treatment, while many common heart and diabetes medications also show significant reductions:

According to the report, “Medicare drug price negotiation will meaningfully lower the prices Medicare pays for prescription drugs. Medicare and its Part D beneficiaries could save thousands on a 30-day supply of some of the negotiated drugs. Each year, Medicare will negotiate the prices of additional prescription drugs, totaling a cumulative 80 drugs by 2030. The benefits of drug price negotiation will only compound over the years, totaling $25 billion through 2031 and reducing beneficiary costs through lower premiums and cost sharing.”

“The Inflation Reduction Act is already lowering costs and helping families and seniors succeed,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Giving Medicare the ability to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices will help even more Wisconsinites keep money in their pocket and be able to afford the prescriptions they need to stay healthy.”
 

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WATCH: New ad asks Rep. Van Orden to protect Social Security and stand up to big corporations

Wisconsinites speak out on Social Security as bills in Congress threaten their hard-earned benefits

Monday, February 19, 2024

LA CROSSE, Wis. – In a new ad from Opportunity Wisconsin, Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s constituents are speaking out about a proposal that could slash Social Security and Medicare benefits and asking the congressman to start standing up to big corporations.

Watch Online

The ad features Joni and Andrew, who live in the Third Congressional District, discussing their experience paying into Social Security throughout their careers. They highlight a bill introduced by Van Orden last year which budget experts say could force programs like Social Security and Medicare to make drastic cuts. 

Republicans in Congress are also currently advancing a bill which would create a so-called “fiscal commission” that could fast-track cutting federal programs, including Social Security. Van Orden should oppose this plan.

“Wisconsinites work hard and expect Social Security to be there for them when they retire, but Congressman Van Orden’s plan would jeopardize these benefits for future generations,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “While proposing legislation that could result in harmful cuts to programs like Social Security and Medicare, Congressman Van Orden has continued to vote in favor of tax breaks for big corporations and the wealthiest Americans. It’s time for him to listen to his constituents and support economic policies that help them succeed.”

This digital ad will begin running today across the Third Congressional District and is part of a previously-announced seven-figure paid media campaign across the state.

Full Transcript:

Joni: I spent almost 30 years on my feet working hard at the factory. I paid into Social Security with every paycheck.

Andrew: I’ve been paying into Social Security since I was 16 years old. It blows my mind that Derrick Van Orden would make it harder for workers like me.

Joni: Derrick Van Orden’s plan would slash Medicare and Social Security. But Van Orden voted for huge tax breaks for corporations.

Andrew: It just doesn’t make sense to me. Derrick Van Orden should be helping us and not siding with large corporations.

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Valentine’s Day ads ask Rep. Bryan Steil: “Make us your valentine. Keep our health care costs low.”

New Opportunity Wisconsin print and digital ads highlight Steil’s votes to keep prescription drug prices high

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

KENOSHA, Wis. – This Valentine’s Day, Opportunity Wisconsin is asking Congressman Bryan Steil to keep health care costs low by opposing a bill to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions that are already saving Wisconsinites money. 

Full page newspaper ads are running across the First Congressional District this week, along with digital ads on local news sites. The ads also highlight Rep. Steil’s votes to keep prescription drug costs high. Steil voted against the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped insulin costs at $35, established a cap on out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees, and gave Medicare the power to negotiate for lower drug prices. 
 

On Tuesday, Opportunity Wisconsin also made their appeal directly to Rep. Steil, delivering custom candy hearts to his office in Bristol that say “Keep Our Costs Low” and “Oppose H.R. 812.” 

“Congressman Steil has spent his time in Washington voting with Big Pharma companies, but this Valentine’s Day we hope he has a change of heart,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Today, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, Wisconsinites have more money in their pockets and they’re able to access the affordable prescriptions they need. Repealing these successful reforms would be heartbreaking, which is why we’re asking Congressman Steil to do the right thing and work to keep our health care costs low instead.”

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