Ahead of farm bill markup, Opportunity Wisconsin calls on Van Orden to reverse SNAP cuts hurting Wisconsin families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Ahead of farm bill markup, Opportunity Wisconsin calls on Van Orden to reverse SNAP cuts hurting Wisconsin families

Following SNAP cuts going into effect in March, 49,000 Wisconsinites are at risk of losing benefits

MADISON, Wis. — As the House Agriculture Committee prepares to mark up a new Farm Bill today, Opportunity Wisconsin is calling on Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who is a member of the committee, to support rolling back the SNAP cuts he voted for in the Republican Tax Law. SNAP cuts went into effect at the beginning of March, threatening food assistance for families across Wisconsin.

The Republican Tax Law, which Van Orden voted for, was the largest cut to federal nutrition programs in history. The cuts put roughly 49,000 Wisconsinites at risk of losing some of their SNAP benefits, just to give new tax breaks to billionaires. Just last week, Van Orden refused to take accountability for these cuts when approached by a La Crosse teacher visiting the Capitol. 

Today, House Democrats will offer amendments during the Farm Bill markup that would repeal these cuts and restore federal nutrition commitments. Van Orden has a clear opportunity to side with Wisconsin families and to reverse the damage he helped create.

"Congressman Van Orden voted to cut food assistance for Wisconsin families. Now, those cuts are real and they’re making it tougher for tens of thousands of Wisconsin families to put food on the table," said Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director. "Today, Congressman Van Orden has an opportunity to fix this. He must stand with the families in his district who are already feeling the pain of these cuts and vote to restore funding for SNAP."
 

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TARIFF TUESDAYS - MARCH 3RD, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org

Your weekly update on how Trump’s tariff chaos is hitting Wisconsin families and small businesses — and what Congress is (not) doing about it.

IN KENOSHA: Black-Owned Business Owners Sound the Alarm

Opportunity Wisconsin held a roundtable last week at Bigg Mike's barbershop in Kenosha, where Black-owned small business owners shared how tariffs and Republican economic policies are hitting them where it hurts. The conversation was covered by the Kenosha News — and the message was clear: these aren't abstract policy debates. They're about whether businesses can keep the lights on.

Hair product costs are up. Food costs are up. And customers — squeezed by the same rising prices — are cutting back on everything from haircuts to restaurant visits to travel. Mike Johnson, owner of Bigg Mike's, said his regulars are coming in less often. Union Park Tavern owner and state Rep. DeSmidt said eating out is now considered a luxury. And travel business owner and Opportunity Wisconsin organizer Cierra Chesir spoke about the challenges she’s facing: "My business has taken a huge hit because I have clients who consistently book trips with me every year. They've told me that they just don't have it in their budget to travel."

Javantae Peet, a Racine business owner, added a challenge unique to minority-owned businesses: "When it comes to minority businesses, most of the time we're self-funded. We don't have access to capital that our counterparts do." 

Congressman Bryan Steil voted multiple times to keep illegal tariffs in place. He has stayed silent about the new 10% global tariff that went into effect last week.

Read the full Kenosha News coverage here.

WHAT TARIFFS? Vance Visits Wisconsin, Doesn't Mention Tariffs Once

Vice President JD Vance did not utter the word "tariffs" a single time during his speech at a Plover, Wisconsin machining plant last Thursday Wisconsin Examiner — even as new tariffs were taking effect. 

The disconnect between the message and the reality was hard to miss. Sachin Shivaram, CEO of Wisconsin Aluminum, told reporters: "I can tell you from my experience running our company, from everyone I talk to in my networks — 95% of people in manufacturing, 99% do not support the tariffs. It's costing all of them, all of us, a lot of money." 

Van Orden stood on stage with Vance and said nothing about tariffs either. That's not a coincidence — it's a pattern. Both Van Orden and Steil have voted repeatedly to support Trump's illegal tariffs and block congressional efforts to challenge them. Now, with a new 10% global tariff in effect and a 150-day congressional clock ticking, Wisconsin families and businesses are still waiting for either congressman to say a word.

Read more from the Wisconsin Examiner.

BY THE NUMBERS: Majority Of Wisconsin Voters Say Tariffs Are Hurting Farmers

The latest Marquette University Law School poll — released the day before Vance's visit — makes clear that Wisconsin families aren't buying the "Golden Age" spin. Across partisan affiliations, the rising cost of living is voters' number one concern, and 55% of respondents said tariffs are hurting Wisconsin farmers. 

That's the reality that Van Orden and Steil wish they could ignore. Recent reporting shows farm bankruptcies spiking in Wisconsin as costs continue to increase. According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, bankruptcies were up 46% in 2025 compared to the previous year.

This poll is a reminder that Wisconsin families are watching their costs rise and they won’t ignore it.

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Tariff Tuesdays - February 24th, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Your weekly update on how Trump’s tariff chaos is hitting Wisconsin families and small businesses — and what Congress is (not) doing about it.

Welcome to Opportunity Wisconsin’s new weekly feature, Tariff Tuesdays! As President Trump and Republicans in Congress continue to stand by costly tariffs that are squeezing small business owners and families across Wisconsin, we’ll be highlighting the latest tariff news each week. 

NEW AD: A Wisconsin Coffee Roaster Speaks Out

Opportunity Wisconsin today released a new ad featuring TJ, co-owner and president of Wonderstate Coffee in Viroqua. Wonderstate roasts half a million pounds of coffee a year and employs 85 people — and tariffs are crushing them.

"We're roasting half a million pounds of coffee a year and we employ 85 people. But these tariffs are crushing us. You're looking at $100,000 in tariffs right here. That's on top of all of our other supplies getting more expensive. We've had no choice but to raise prices. Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted to support the tariffs. And he called them a success. That doesn't feel like success to me. All I see are higher prices. We need to tell Derrick Van Orden to stop raising our costs." — TJ, Wonderstate Coffee


THIS WEEK: Supreme Court Strikes Down Tariffs. Trump Doubles Down. Van Orden and Steil Stay Silent.

In a 6-3 ruling last Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's sweeping tariffs were unconstitutional — finding that the power to tax belongs to Congress, not the executive branch. It was a landmark decision that should have given Wisconsin's congressional delegation an opening to stand up for working families and small businesses. Instead, Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil have said nothing.

Rather than accept the ruling, Trump immediately announced a new 10% global tariff under a separate legal authority — then raised it to 15% the following day. The 10% global tariff took effect this morning. The new tariff is the legal maximum allowed under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 and can remain in place for up to 150 days before Congress must vote to extend it.

That means another vote on tariffs could be coming. And Van Orden and Steil's records offer little reason for optimism. Both congressmen have repeatedly voted to support Trump's tariffs and block Congress from challenging them — including voting against a resolution earlier this year to stop tariffs on Canada. When given a clear opportunity to stand up for Wisconsin families and small businesses, they chose to stand with the tariffs instead.

Details on how tariffs are hitting Wisconsinites are in Opportunity Wisconsin’s new reports, “Paying the Price” released yesterday. Check them out here: WI-01, WI-03


BY THE NUMBERS: The Tariff "Tax Cut" Math Doesn't Add Up

The Trump administration has been touting bigger tax refunds this year as proof that working families are coming out ahead. A new report from the Center for American Progress shows why that claim doesn't hold up.

Fewer than half of Americans making less than $100,000 will see an increased refund this year — while 93% of those making over $100,000 will. The tax law's biggest benefits flow to those earning more than $200,000.

Meanwhile, tariffs are costing the average family between $1,250 and $1,750 annually — roughly two to three times the size of the average tax refund. And for lower- and middle-income families, the expiration of Affordable Care Act health care tax credits amounts to a $27 billion tax increase this year that wipes out whatever refund bump they might see.

The bottom line: for most Wisconsin families, the tariff tax is bigger than the refund check. And Van Orden and Steil voted for both.
 

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Desperate Derrick: Rep. Van Orden Fawns Over Trump, Only To Be Ignored

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Desperate Derrick: Rep. Van Orden Fawns Over Trump, Only To Be Ignored

Van Orden repeatedly tried to get Trump's attention at the State of the Union — and was ignored. Wisconsin families wishing Van Orden paid them the same attention aren't laughing.

LA CROSSE, WI — A video from Tuesday night's State of the Union shows Congressman Derrick Van Orden making repeated attempts to get President Trump's attention as he passed through the House chamber. Trump didn't stop.

t's a fitting image. Van Orden has spent his time in Congress doing almost everything Trump has asked — voting for tariffs that raise costs for Wisconsin families, cutting food assistance for Wisconsin children and veterans, and supporting a budget that strips health care from Wisconsinites — and still couldn't get a moment of the president's time. During the State of the Union address Van Orden also cheered when Trump mentioned the millions of Americans who have been removed from food assistance, after previously saying he would not support cuts to benefits.

Van Orden voted for the Republican Tax Law that cuts Medicaid, slashes SNAP benefits, and raises costs for working families — all to fund tax breaks for billionaires. He admitted himself that the bill cuts food assistance for children. He has refused to hold open town halls to answer for any of it.

"Derrick Van Orden has spent his time in Congress voting for tariffs that raise grocery prices, cutting food assistance for Wisconsin children, and stripping health care from over 100,000 Wisconsinites — all to hand more tax breaks to billionaires,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Tuesday night we saw him desperately trying to get Trump's attention while his own constituents can't even get a town hall. Wisconsin families deserve a congressman who fights for them, not one who fights for a photo op." 
 

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New ad highlights how Van Orden-backed tariffs are squeezing Wisconsin small businesses and families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org

New ad highlights how Van Orden-backed tariffs are squeezing Wisconsin small businesses and families

WATCH: Viroqua coffee roaster TJ shares how Van Orden's support for tariffs is crushing his small business and forcing him to raise prices

VIROQUA, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin today released a new ad holding Congressman Derrick Van Orden accountable for his votes supporting tariffs that have raised costs for Wisconsin small businesses and families.

The ad features TJ, co-owner and president of Wonderstate Coffee in Viroqua. Wonderstate roasts half a million pounds of coffee a year and employs 85 people. TJ speaks directly about the impact of tariffs on his business, which have sent the cost of coffee beans soaring – on top of other rising expenses – that have left him no choice but to raise prices for his customers.

"Congressman Van Orden's votes are making life harder for Wisconsin small business owners and families alike," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "TJ and his business employ people across Wisconsin and are giving back to communities, but Van Orden's support for these reckless tariffs is crushing them. And while small businesses are struggling to stay afloat, Van Orden is out there calling the tariffs a success. That's out of touch and Wisconsin families deserve better."

Van Orden has repeatedly voted to support President Trump's tariffs and block Congress from challenging them, including voting against a resolution to remove tariffs on Canada earlier this month. Retail coffee prices have surged nearly 21% thanks to new tariffs on major coffee-producing countries. Rather than working to lower costs for Wisconsin families and small businesses, Van Orden called the tariffs "a success." 

While the U.S. Supreme Court struck down many tariffs last Friday, President Trump has quickly acted to reinstate costly tariffs and Van Orden has remained silent.

The latest ad is a continuation of Opportunity Wisconsin’s paid media buy in the Third Congressional District. “Coffee” will begin airing today on broadcast and cable in the La Crosse and Eau Claire market. In addition to the TV ad, Opportunity Wisconsin released two digital ads featuring TJ’s story, “Headache” and “Final Straw.” 

"Coffee" Transcript: 

TJ: "We're roasting half a million pounds of coffee a year and we employ 85 people. But these tariffs are crushing us. You're looking at $100,000 in tariffs right here. That's on top of all of our other supplies getting more expensive. We've had no choice but to raise prices. Congressman Derrick Van Orden voted to support the tariffs. And he called them a success. That doesn't feel like success to me. All I see are higher prices. We need to tell Derrick Van Orden to stop raising our costs."

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Ahead of State of the Union, New Report Shows How Steil and Van Orden's Records Are Raising Costs for Wisconsin Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Ahead of State of the Union, New Report Shows How Steil and Van Orden's Records Are Raising Costs for Wisconsin Families

Opportunity Wisconsin releases district-by-district analysis of the real-world impact of Trump administration policies that have been rubber-stamped by Congressmen Steil and Van Orden

MADISON, Wis. — As President Trump prepares to deliver the State of the Union Address to Congress, Opportunity Wisconsin today released new reports documenting how Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden's support for Trump administration policies is driving up costs for families, seniors, veterans, and small businesses across Wisconsin's 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts.

The reports, Paying the Price, finds that since the last State of the Union Address, both congressmen voted for the Republican Tax Law — which made the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history — and have backed sweeping tariffs that independent economists say are raising costs for Wisconsin households and businesses. Together, these policies are squeezing district families from both sides: cuts to the programs they depend on, and higher prices on the goods they buy every day.
 

Read Opportunity Wisconsin’s Report on the 1st Congressional District
Read Opportunity Wisconsin’s Report on the 3rd Congressional District

"While Rep. Steil and Rep. Van Orden have voted to cut health care and SNAP for their own constituents, they've stood firmly behind tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and tariffs that are hitting Wisconsin families and businesses hard," said Meghan Roh, Program Director of Opportunity Wisconsin. "As President Trump addresses Congress tomorrow night, we want Wisconsinites to know exactly what their representatives have chosen — and what it's costing them."

Reps. Steil and Van Orden have the opportunity to reverse course and undo the damage they have caused by restoring Medicaid and SNAP funding, bringing back the health care tax credits their constituents depend on, and standing up against tariffs that are raising costs across Wisconsin.

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Supreme Court strikes down costly tariffs Reps. Van Orden and Steil voted for

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org 
 

Supreme Court strikes down costly tariffs Reps. Van Orden and Steil voted for

Tariffs struck down as new data shows Americans are paying for 90% of tariff cost increases

MADISON, Wis. – Earlier today the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump’s costly tariffs which have sent prices for everyday items skyrocketing while Republicans in Congress, including Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil voted for the tariffs and refused to stand up for working families.

"The Supreme Court shouldn't have had to step in because Republicans in Congress voted for tariffs that are raising prices," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "For months, Congressmen Van Orden and Steil voted for and have stood by tariffs that raised prices at the grocery store and forced small businesses to increase their prices. The damage has already been done to Wisconsin families and businesses. Now it's time for Van Orden and Steil to make clear they'll oppose any future tariffs and harmful economic policies that raise costs for working families."

From March through November Wisconsin businesses had already paid $3.5 billion in tariffs, forcing them to raise prices. Recent reporting from the New York Federal Reserve found that Americans are the ones stuck paying for the cost of tariffs. In fact, researchers found “nearly 90 percent of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers.”

Throughout this crisis, Van Orden and Steil voted for Trump's tariffs instead of standing up for Wisconsin families and businesses. Last week both congressmen voted again to keep tariffs in place and backed a failed measure which would have prevented members of Congress from introducing legislation to roll them back.  In addition to backing tariffs, they have also consistently supported policies that raise costs for working families, including voting earlier this year for the Republican Tax Law that forces massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP just to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
 

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Constituents Deliver Valentine's Day Cards to Reps. Steil and Van Orden, Calling on Them to Reverse Medicaid Cuts

KENOSHA AND EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – In case you missed it, last week constituents delivered nearly 200 Valentine's Day cards to Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden calling on them to reverse their votes for devastating cuts to Medicaid. The cards, featuring messages like "Be my Valentine, don't be cruel – Cutting Medicaid isn't cool," were signed by constituents across the districts and delivered to both offices on Friday.

The Republican Tax Law that both congressmen voted for will result in 54,000 Wisconsinites losing Medicaid coverage. The law cuts Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.

View photos of the delivery here

"Cutting Medicaid isn't love—it hurts Wisconsin families who depend on this coverage to stay healthy and access care," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "Congressmen Steil and Van Orden chose to prioritize tax breaks for the ultra-rich over health care for their constituents. It's time to reverse these cruel cuts."

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