TOMORROW: Ahead of National Ice Cream Day local leaders kick off food drive and highlight SNAP cuts in partnership with Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org


TOMORROW: Ahead of National Ice Cream Day local leaders kick off food drive and highlight SNAP cuts in partnership with Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor 

With House Republicans cutting food assistance and raising grocery prices, local groups step up to support food banks and support neighbors in need


EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Tomorrow, Opportunity Wisconsin, State Representative Jodi Emerson, and local leaders will kick off a food drive in Eau Claire ahead of National Ice Cream Day this weekend. Through the end of the month, anyone who brings in a non-perishable food item to Ramone’s Ice Cream Parlor will receive a certificate for a free cone or dish. 

The food drive comes after Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted for the Republican Tax Law—which cut food assistance for Wisconsinites to pay for billionaire and corporate tax breaks. State officials have warned that as many as 90,000 Wisconsinites could lose SNAP benefits because of the law. In addition to these drastic cuts, new reports detail how tariffs are increasing the costs of food and other goods.

“No family should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from or how they’ll afford groceries, yet that is the current reality for too many Wisconsinites. Instead of alleviating this issue, Congressman Derrick Van Orden and Republicans in Congress are taking food from their constituents and raising prices to give more tax breaks to the rich,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “We are grateful to be able to support local organizations who are helping those in need and support small businesses who are so important for our state’s economic success, especially when our elected representatives are abandoning their constituents.”

Tomorrow’s kickoff event will feature remarks from local leaders about the importance of supporting food pantries and organizations working to meet the increasing needs of the community. 

FOOD DRIVE KICKOFF PRESS CONFERENCE

WHO
Opportunity Wisconsin
State Representative Jodi Emerson
Blayne Midthun, Owner of Ramone’s Ice Cream
Local Advocates and Storytellers

WHEN
Thursday, July 17, 2025
10:00 AM

WHERE
Eau Claire, exact location available upon RSVP

RSVP
Media interested in covering the press conference should RSVP to press@opportunitywisconsin.org

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ICYMI: Van Orden falsely attempts to take credit for $1 billion in hospital funding after voting to gut healthcare access last week

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 09, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org

ICYMI: Van Orden falsely attempts to take credit for $1 billion in hospital funding after voting to gut healthcare access last week

HuffPost: "Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is peddling a bizarre claim that he was key to securing $1 billion to help hospitals in his state survive the sweeping Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's tax bill. Except that he wasn't — and he voted for Trump's bill."

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, Congressman Derrick Van Orden was caught falsely taking credit for securing $1 billion to help Wisconsin hospitals survive the very Medicaid cuts he voted for in the Republican Tax Law. 

Multiple reports have exposed the fact that Van Orden played no role in the state budget negotiations that secured the funding, despite repeated claims on social media that he was instrumental in the process. In fact, Van Orden voted twice for the GOP Tax Law that is threatening funding for Wisconsin hospitals and takes healthcare from hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites. 

"Congressman Van Orden is trying to have it both ways – he votes for a bill that could kick more than 276,000 Wisconsinites off their health insurance and put rural hospitals at risk, then tries to take credit for someone else's work to fix the problems he created," said Opportunity Wisconsin Deputy Program Director Rowan Gravlin. "Van Orden can’t hide from his vote, Wisconsin families know the truth and deserve a straight answer about why he voted to gut Medicaid and take healthcare away from his constituents."

HuffPost: GOP Rep. Weirdly Lies About Helping His State Survive The Medicaid Cuts He Voted For

  • Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) is peddling a bizarre claim that he was key to securing $1 billion to help hospitals in his state survive the sweeping Medicaid cuts in President Donald Trump's tax bill. Except that he wasn't — and he voted for Trump's bill.

  • Until recently, Wisconsin had a very low provider tax rate compared to other states. Because Trump's tax bill would have frozen that tax rate at its low level, state legislators rushed to increase the rate in their budget so Wisconsin could be grandfathered into Trump's tax law at the maximum level, meaning it will now get an extra $1 billion in federal money every year.

  • But Evers' spokesperson told HuffPost on Tuesday that Van Orden played no role in the monthslong negotiations between the governor and state legislators on their budget, or on their efforts to move quickly to secure the extra $1 billion to offset Medicaid cuts.

  • "Congressman Van Orden never personally advocated to the governor or our office for the hospital assessment provision to be included in the state budget until after it was clearly already part of the state budget, he had nothing to do with the hospital assessment being part of bipartisan state budget negotiations with Republican leaders, and he had nothing to do with the fact that the governor decided to enact the state budget before the federal reconciliation bill was signed," Evers' spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a statement.

  • Van Orden didn't reach out to the governor's office until June 30, after Evers and Republican state leaders had already reached a bipartisan state budget agreement.

  • "If Congressman Van Orden wanted to take credit for supporting Medicaid and protecting Wisconsinites' access to healthcare, perhaps he shouldn't have voted to gut Medicaid and kick 250,000 Wisconsinites off their healthcare."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Derrick Van Orden claims credit for Wisconsin's extra Medicaid dollars after voting to cut the program

  • After voting for the federal measure that threatened to cause tens of thousands of Wisconsinites to lose Medicaid coverage, the battleground district Republican has attempted to take credit for securing additional Medicaid funding through the state budget.

  • Evers's office, however, said Van Orden had nothing to do with that state's scramble to secure Medicaid funding ahead of the enactment of the bill Van Orden supported that would slash federal Medicaid dollars.

  • The governor's office, though, has noted Evers had already planned to sign the state budget before Van Orden's involvement and ahead of the federal bill's enactment and had been working for months on a provision to raise the state's provider tax on hospitals.

  • "Derrick had zero role with what the state legislature and the Governor did, other than causing the problem that made them need to do something," Rep. Mark Pocan wrote on X.

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BROKEN PROMISES: Steil and Van Orden vote for Republican Tax Scam which will rip health care and food away from Wisconsinites, raise costs, and slash local jobs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, JULY 3, 2025
CONTACT: PRESS@OPPORTUNITYWISCONSIN.ORG


BROKEN PROMISES: Steil and Van Orden vote for Republican Tax Scam which will rip health care and food away from Wisconsinites, raise costs, and slash local jobs

Wisconsin Congressmen double down on massive cuts to pay for billionaire and corporate tax breaks


MADISON, Wis. – Today, Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted for the Republican Tax Scam, a devastating bill that takes health care away from Wisconsinites, raises costs for working families, and threatens thousands of good-paying Wisconsin jobs. The bill makes massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and cost-saving clean energy tax credits that help Wisconsin families survive, all to pay for new tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

Steil and Van Orden's constituents reacted to today's vote:

“Earlier this year, I sat across from Congressman Van Orden in his Washington D.C. office, and he promised that he would never vote to cut benefits for his most vulnerable constituents. Now, people like me who need Medicaid benefits to access health care and SNAP to put food on the table are left without any doubt: Congressman Van Orden broke his promise,” said Oliver Winn, Van Orden’s constituent from Eau Claire. “His vote for these devastating cuts means hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites risk having their health coverage ripped away. Our members of Congress are supposed to fight for us and work to make our lives better, but Van Orden chose tax breaks for the ultra-rich and big corporations over what’s best for us.”

“As a stroke and cancer survivor who depends on Medicaid coverage, the cuts Congressman Steil voted for today are devastating and could jeopardize my ability to afford the ongoing care I need,” said Stephanie Depew, Steil’s constituent from Kenosha. “For all of Steil’s promises that he wouldn’t cut health care and benefits for constituents like me, his multiple votes to slash Medicaid and tear down SNAP show his true priorities. Giving billionaires and big corporations another new tax break instead of being our voice in Congress is a betrayal.”

With House passage of the bill and President Trump all-but-guaranteed to sign it into law, Wisconsinites are bracing for the devastating consequences as a result of the Republican Tax Scam’s cuts, including:

"Congressmen Van Orden and Steil turned their back on working families and seniors by voting for massive cuts that could rip health care away from 276,000 Wisconsinites, just to give new tax breaks to the ultra-rich and big corporations," added Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "Van Orden and Steil had an opportunity to show their constituents that they were willing to fight for them, and instead they chose billionaires and corporations. Over the coming months, Wisconsinites are going to feel the devastating impact of this bill and will have no doubt about which members of Congress are responsible for it."


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Steil and Van Orden must vote no on Republican Tax Scam that rips healthcare away from Wisconsinites

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2025
CONTACT: PRESS@OPPORTUNITYWISCONSIN.ORG


Steil and Van Orden must vote no on Republican Tax Scam that rips healthcare away from Wisconsinites

The Senate version of the bill cuts Wisconsinites’ health care even more than the House version Steil and Van Orden voted for in May 


MADISON, Wis. – As the House begins debate on the Senate version of Republican Tax Scam today, Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil have an opportunity to stand up for their constituents by voting no on legislation that could rip health care coverage away from over 276,175  Wisconsinites, including seniors in nursing homes and children, all to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.

In Wisconsin, the impacts of the Republican Tax Scam would be catastrophic: Over 276,000  Wisconsinites could lose vital health care coverage through cuts to Medicaid and thanks to changes to the Affordable Care Act. Meanwhile, Wisconsin families, who are already struggling thanks to price increases from tariffs that Steil and Van Orden supported, could also be forced to pay over $400 more each year on their energy bills, risk taking on tens of thousands in medical debt, and insurance premiums for many families could skyrocket by as much as $1,200 per year under this Republican bill. Thousands of good-paying Wisconsin jobs are also at risk thanks to the bill’s reckless cuts to infrastructure projects, many of which are already underway.

Van Orden and Steil previously voted in favor of the House version of the Republican Tax Scam, which also included massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and cost-saving clean energy tax credits. The Senate version of the bill makes even more extreme cuts to health care, taking away coverage from even more Wisconsin families. 

"Congressmen Van Orden and Steil have a choice: stand with Wisconsin families who need access to health care and basic necessities, or prioritize new tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "This bill could rip health care coverage away from more than 276,000 Wisconsinites, including seniors and children, all so the ultra-wealthy can get even richer with new tax breaks. Wisconsinites value hard work, looking out for each other, and making our communities stronger; this bill does the exact opposite and needs to be rejected by our congressional delegation."

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ICYMI: Republican Tax Scam could saddle families with up to $22,800 in medical debt

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2025 
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org


ICYMI: Republican Tax Scam could saddle families with up to $22,800 in medical debt

CNBC: “Of the total estimated 16 million who could lose health coverage, that includes 7.8 million individuals on Medicaid and 8.2 million covered through the Affordable Care Act”


MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, CNBC highlights a new report that reveals how the Republican Tax Scam could force Wisconsin families into crushing medical debt while stripping healthcare coverage from millions of Americans. The proposal, which Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted for in the House, could increase some families' medical debt by as much as $22,800 by forcing 16 million Americans off their health insurance.

"Republicans in Congress are once again showing their true priorities – massive tax breaks for billionaires and corporations paid for by taking food and healthcare from working families. Whether it’s raising costs or ripping healthcare coverage away, the Republican Tax Scam will make it tougher for families and seniors to succeed," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "With 16 million Americans forced off of their health insurance, many of our neighbors will have no choice but to take on massive debt just to access the medical procedures and care they need to live. Wisconsin families don’t deserve to be saddled with debt, just so those at the top can receive new tax breaks they don’t need."

CNBC: Health-care cuts in GOP's budget bill may add up to $22,800 in medical debt for some families: Report

  • The Republican budget bill proposes $1.1 trillion in cuts to health care that target both Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage.
     

  • The Congressional Budget Office, or CBO, a nonpartisan legislative scorekeeper, projected that about 11 million people would lose health-care coverage due to provisions in the bill passed by the House of Representatives if it’s enacted in its current form. The CBO estimated that an additional 4 million or so would lose insurance due to expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies, which the bill doesn’t extend. Another 900,000 would lose coverage due to ACA rule changes the Trump administration proposed this spring.
     

  • Of the total estimated 16 million who could lose health coverage, that includes 7.8 million individuals on Medicaid and 8.2 million covered through the Affordable Care Act, according to Third Way.
     

  • Overall, medical debt would increase by $50 billion as a result of the budget bill changes — a 15% rise over today’s $340 billion in unpaid debts, according to Third Way.
     

  • Without coverage, families may see their medical debts increase by as much as $22,800, according to Third Way’s report. About 87% of households that previously had no medical debt would accumulate an average of $22,800 in balances. Meanwhile, 13% of households may accumulate an additional average of $8,790 in medical debt on top of $13,490 in existing balances.


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Mobile billboard visits dairy breakfasts to call out Van Orden’s votes to cut SNAP and support tariffs, raising grocery costs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org


Mobile billboard visits dairy breakfasts to call out Van Orden’s votes to cut SNAP and support tariffs, raising grocery costs


WEST SALEM & STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Over the weekend, Opportunity Wisconsin sent a mobile billboard to dairy breakfasts in West Salem and Stevens Point to thank Wisconsin farmers while calling out Congressman Derrick Van Orden for his recent votes that hurt Wisconsin farmers and working families and raise grocery costs all to pay for billionaire tax breaks.

Van Orden recently voted for the Republican Tax Scam, which includes massive cuts to SNAP, and to support cost-raising tariffs. Together, these policies would be a “double whammy” for Wisconsin families, seniors, veterans, and dairy farmers. They will slash the benefits that help Wisconsinites put food on the table and drive up grocery prices. This combination would also hit Wisconsin farmers’ bottom lines by reducing demand for the agricultural products they grow and sell. Republicans’ SNAP cuts and tariffs are intended to pay for new tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations who are already well-off.

The mobile billboards featured one slide with a thank you message for farmers and the other asking, “So why did [Rep. Van Orden] vote to slash farmers’ incomes and raise your grocery bills to pay for billionaire tax breaks?”:

The truck visited dairy breakfasts across Van Orden’s district on Saturday, appearing at the La Crosse County Interstate Fairgrounds in West Salem and at Dairy Days at Feltz's Dairy Store in Stevens Point.

"Wisconsin's dairy breakfasts are a celebration of our state's agricultural heritage and the hardworking farmers who feed our families," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "But instead of celebrating farmers and supporting working families here in Wisconsin, Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted for the devastating Republican Tax Scam that rips food away from hungry families by gutting SNAP, and has voted to support harmful tariffs that are raising the cost of food as well as the equipment and supplies our farmers need to succeed.”

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New 50% steel and aluminum tariffs take effect, threatening higher costs on everyday items, even Wisconsin beer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

New 50% steel and aluminum tariffs take effect, threatening higher costs on everyday items, even Wisconsin beer


MADISON, Wis. – Last week, President Trump doubled steel and aluminum tariffs to a staggering 50%, putting Wisconsin families at risk of paying higher prices for everyday items from beer to canned goods and cars. Congressman Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil voted to support Trump’s tariffs that are raising prices for Wisconsin families.

Even Wisconsin's craft beer industry could be particularly vulnerable to these tariff increases. According to a new report from the Brewers Association, aluminum tariffs could hit the industry particularly hard due to its reliance on aluminum cans. The group noted that even portions of domestically-produced cans include some material imported from Canada, which will force manufacturers to raise costs on breweries. Steel tariffs also threaten the industry, as most steel kegs used in the U.S. are manufactured in Europe, according to the group.

Trump’s new tariffs will have far-reaching consequences beyond beer. Prices could skyrocket on a wide range of everyday items and essentials, including other canned grocery items, building materials, cars, household appliances, and products manufactured across Wisconsin. One expert estimated that the latest increase could raise the cost of new vehicles by as much as $3,000 per vehicle. Food banks, who are also facing challenges from federal cuts and looming Republican-led cuts to SNAP, could also be disproportionately affected by the latest increase in tariffs due to their reliance on shelf-stable canned goods.

Wisconsin Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden have previously voted to protect Trump’s tariffs and voted for the Republican Tax Scam that will force massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other programs, which will also force working families to pay more out-of-pocket just to give more tax handouts to billionaires. 

"Wisconsin families are already struggling with the cost of living, doubling steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent will only make everyday items more expensive," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "These tariffs are a tax on small businesses and Wisconsin consumers who will be forced to pay at the grocery store and even their local bar – all while Republicans in Congress continue to push for new tax breaks for the ultra-rich. Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden need to demand President Trump roll back these tariffs and find solutions to lower costs for Wisconsin families and businesses."
 

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NEW: Rep. Van Orden admits his vote to cut SNAP will take food from Wisconsin kids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 2025
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org


NEW: Rep. Van Orden admits his vote to cut SNAP will take food from Wisconsin kids

“The bill introduces new work requirements for SNAP and changes the dependent age from 18 to 7 . . . Van Orden explained children are supported until first grade."


MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, Congressman Derrick Van Orden admitted that the Republican Tax Scam, which passed thanks to his deciding vote, will actually cut SNAP benefits for Wisconsin families with kids. 

In a recent interview with WQOW, Van Orden stood by his support for new bureaucratic requirements that could limit benefits to families with children. According to the report, “Van Orden explained children are supported until first grade.” Previously, Van Orden has falsely claimed the bill would not jeopardize SNAP or Medicaid benefits. 

“Congressman Van Orden has finally admitted what experts and nonpartisan officials have been saying for months: The bill he voted for will leave Wisconsin kids hungry thanks to massive cuts to SNAP,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Van Orden and Republicans in Congress are willing to sacrifice food for kids after first grade just to give new tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations who are already well-off. We expect our elected officials to look out for families and make sure they have the ability to succeed; this bill does the opposite.”

The bill makes massive cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical programs that help Wisconsin families, veterans, and seniors access basic necessities, all to pay for tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy. The GOP Tax Scam, passed by Republicans in the House with Van Orden casting the deciding vote, makes massive cuts to the SNAP program. Under just one provision alone, 114,000 Wisconsinites, including families with children, seniors, and veterans, could lose access to food. In addition to taking food away from Wisconsinites, the state could be forced to come up with $315 million a year in SNAP costs, as estimated by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. 

See more of Van Orden’s response and WQOW’s coverage below:

Transcript: “The bill also adds new work requirements to receive SNAP benefits. It also changes the dependent age for SNAP benefits. It changes them from 18 to 7 years old. I asked the congressman what the thought process was behind that change, he told me they wanted to make sure kids are taken care of up to first grade. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has said the state will lose more than 300 million dollars in food assistance. The state's Medicaid director has said these changes could cause 90,000 Wisconsinites to lose some or all assistance.

WQOW: Van Orden on SNAP, Medicaid, the 'Big Beautiful Bill' and town halls

  • Currently, all benefit costs and half of the administration costs are covered by the federal government. Under the newly passed bill each state will now have to take on 5% of the benefit costs for SNAP and 75% of the administration costs.

  • Rep. Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District voted in favor of the bill. Van Orden has been firm that he would not vote to cut Medicaid or SNAP benefits for anyone. 18 News asked him how the federal government not contributing as much to SNAP in this bill is not a cut.

  • The bill introduces new work requirements for SNAP and changes the dependent age from 18 to 7. Someone caring for a child under 7 will not have the work requirements. 

  • Van Orden explained children are supported until first grade.

  • The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports that the state may lose over $300 million in food assistance under this bill.

  • The state's Medicaid director warned that these changes could impact 90,000 Wisconsinites, potentially reducing or eliminating their assistance.

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