Wisconsin families and farmers are paying the price for the Republican war with Iran

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

Wisconsin families and farmers are paying the price for the Republican war with Iran

Congressmen Steil and Van Orden voted to block congressional oversight as spending on the war and costs for essential items surges 


MADISON, Wis. — With the Pentagon planning to seek $200 billion in additional funding for the ongoing war with Iran, Wisconsin families and farmers are the ones who will be left paying the price as the war sends costs soaring and threatens our economy. 

Here are some of the ways Wisconsinites are already feeling the economic pain from the war:

  • 30 Percent Jump In Fertilizer Prices: Ahead of a busy planting season, Wisconsin farmers saw fertilizer prices jump 30% in the week after the war began, as the Strait of Hormuz — through which one-third of global fertilizer ingredients pass — was effectively shut down.
     

  • Higher Food Prices: The American Farm Bureau Federation warns that delayed shipments and higher prices could force farmers to cut planting and reduce yields, ultimately driving up food costs for consumers.
     

  • Gas Price Hikes Through 2027: The U.S. Energy Department has warned that gas and diesel prices are unlikely to fall to pre-war levels until mid-2027 at the earliest, raising costs for industries from trucking and farming to airlines and retailers.
     

  • Bad News For Home Buyers: For the third week in a row, mortgage rates have climbed, making it more expensive for homebuyers to secure financing.  

"Wisconsin farmers are getting hit from every direction — tariffs, fertilizer costs, uncertainty at every turn — and Congressmen Steil and Van Orden haven't lifted a finger to help," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "They voted to cut food assistance, they voted to protect tariffs raising grocery prices, and now they've voted to give the Trump administration a blank check to keep fighting a war that's making things even harder for Wisconsin families and the farmers who feed them."

With no end to the war in sight, Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden previously voted to block congressional oversight that could rein in spending and provide relief.
 

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Steil and Van Orden once again vote to threaten Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org

Steil and Van Orden once again vote to threaten Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

After voting to cut benefits and give new tax breaks to the ultra-rich in the Republican Tax Law, Congressional Republicans advance a new threat to these programs

MADISON, Wis. — Opportunity Wisconsin called out Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden for voting in favor of new legislation that would put Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid at risk for Wisconsin families.

Today's vote is part of a troubling pattern. Last year, Steil and Van Orden voted for the Republican Tax Law, which included the largest Medicaid cuts in history, along with cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other benefits, to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and big corporations. Today they voted for legislation that would open the door to new cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, while making it far more difficult for Congress to force corporations and the ultra-rich to pay their fair share.

“Today Congressmen Steil and Van Orden once again had the opportunity to protect Wisconsin families and seniors. They chose not to,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “After voting to cut Medicaid and Medicare last year, these programs and Social Security could be on the chopping block again because of their vote today. Wisconsin families deserve representatives who fight for them and work to protect benefits, not cut them to give even more handouts to the ultra-rich.”

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Reps. Steil and Van Orden must reject new legislation threatening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Reps. Steil and Van Orden must reject new legislation threatening Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid


MADISON, Wis. — Opportunity Wisconsin today called on Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to vote against legislation that would put Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid at risk for Wisconsin families.

The House is expected to vote today on an amendment that budget experts warn could expose Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to devastating cuts. Last year Steil and Van Orden voted for the Republican Tax Law, which included the largest Medicaid cuts in history, and also cut Medicare, to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and big corporations. This new legislation would open the door to new cuts to these programs while also making it far more difficult for Congress to raise taxes on corporations and the ultra-rich.

"Wisconsin families are already getting squeezed by rising costs. We can't afford to have Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid put on the chopping block," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "This vote would threaten the health and financial security of Wisconsin seniors and working families, all to double down on tax breaks for billionaires. Congressmen Steil and Van Orden already voted for the Republican Tax Law last year, which cut Medicaid and Medicare to hand more money to the wealthy. It’s critical that they reject this legislation and stand up for Wisconsin families.”
 

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Tariff Tuesdays: March 17th 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 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.
 

NEW AD: Your Famous Family Recipes Are Costing More

Opportunity Wisconsin released a new ad, today "Recipe," holding Congressman Bryan Steil accountable for his votes for tariffs that are driving up the cost of groceries for families across the First District. The ad features Deb, a Mt. Pleasant resident, who walks through what it now costs to make her famous lasagna and the sticker shock she’s seeing at the checkout:

"My famous lasagna … costs a fortune these days. This used to be about a buck-and-a-half. Now, I think I paid about $3 for it. $8 worth of noodles. Where it really gets expensive is the meat. Cheese should not be $9 in Wisconsin. Congressman Bryan Steil supported the tariffs that are raising our prices. We need to tell Bryan Steil to stop raising our costs."

Tariffs backed by Steil have contributed to grocery prices hitting their highest point since 2022, and while the Supreme Court struck down some of President Trump's tariffs last month, prices haven't come down and new global tariffs are already in place.

Watch "Recipe" online 

BY THE NUMBERS: Tariffs Will Cost the Average Household $2,512 This Year

A new report from congressional Democrats finds that Trump's tariffs will cost the average American household $2,512 in 2026 — a 44 percent jump from the $1,745 in tariff costs families absorbed last year.

The increase comes in part because the new tariffs will be collected for a full year, and because the Congressional Budget Office has found that importers pass along the cost of tariffs to consumers — and domestic producers raise prices in turn — meaning households end up bearing essentially the entire tariff burden. 

That's $2,512 less that Wisconsin families will have to spend on groceries, rent, and school supplies, all while the Trump administration pursues new tariffs and threatens to increase global tariffs to 15 percent.

Read the full report

21 DAYS: Still Waiting for Van Orden and Steil to Say a Word

On February 24th, President Trump's new 10% global tariff went into effect raising costs on virtually everything Wisconsin families buy. Today marks 21 days since that tariff took effect. In that time, Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil have said nothing.

Not a statement. Not a press release. Not a call for the administration to provide relief.

With a 150-day clock now ticking, a vote to extend the current tariffs could be coming later this year. Wisconsin families can't afford another vote from Van Orden and Steil in favor of tariffs. They need to speak out against them and start working to refund the billions already paid by Wisconsin families and small businesses.

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NEW AD: Even famous family recipes aren’t safe from tariffs backed by Rep. Bryan Steil

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org 

NEW AD: Even famous family recipes aren’t safe from tariffs backed by Rep. Bryan Steil

"Recipe" is the latest ad in Opportunity Wisconsin's ongoing campaign holding Congressman Bryan Steil accountable for his votes for tariffs and benefit cuts

MT. PLEASANT, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin has launched a new TV ad, "Recipe," featuring Deb, a Mt. Pleasant resident, calling on Congressman Bryan Steil to stop raising grocery costs for Wisconsin families. The new ad is the latest in a series of ads featuring 1st Congressional District constituents holding Steil accountable for his repeated votes for illegal tariffs and cuts to benefits that have driven up prices across Wisconsin.

In the ad, Deb walks through the rising cost of ingredients for her famous lasagna. Whether it’s paying more for pasta sauce and noodles or meat and cheese, her experience captures what families across the district are experiencing at the grocery store. 

Tariffs backed by Congressman Steil have contributed to grocery prices hitting their highest point since 2022, and while the Supreme Court struck down some of President Trump's tariffs, prices are not coming down as new global tariffs have already been put in place to replace them and additional tariffs remain in place. Because of tariffs the average Wisconsin family will pay $1,744 more this year. Steil has refused to speak out against the new tariffs or fight to put money back in the pockets of Wisconsin families and small businesses hit hardest by rising costs.

"RECIPE" TRANSCRIPT:

DEB: "My famous lasagna … costs a fortune these days. This used to be about a buck-and-a-half. Now, I think I paid about $3 for it. $8 worth of noodles. Where it really gets expensive is the meat. Cheese should not be $9 in Wisconsin. Congressman Bryan Steil supported the tariffs that are raising our prices. That's gonna be good! But it shouldn't cost so much! We need to tell Bryan Steil to stop raising our costs."

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ICYMI: Van Orden refuses to restore SNAP cuts, protect rural hospitals, or provide relief to farmers during Farm Bill markup

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

ICYMI: Van Orden refuses to restore SNAP cuts, protect rural hospitals, or provide relief to farmers during Farm Bill markup


LA CROSSE, Wis. — During last week's Farm Bill markup in the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Derrick Van Orden repeatedly voted against his constituents, blocking efforts to restore food assistance cuts already harming Wisconsin families, rejecting relief for rural hospitals, and refusing to require basic transparency before new tariffs hit Wisconsin farmers.

Van Orden cast the following votes on amendments during markup:

"Derrick Van Orden had multiple opportunities last week to stand up for the families, farmers, and rural communities he represents and he failed," said Meghan Roh, Program Director of Opportunity Wisconsin. "Wisconsin farmers are getting squeezed by tariffs, rural hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open, and tens of thousands of Wisconsinites are at risk of losing food assistance. Van Orden needs to answer to his constituents and explain why he keeps putting the interests of big corporations and the ultra-wealthy over the people of the Third District."

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TARIFF TUESDAYS - MARCH 10TH, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 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.
 

ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP: La Crosse Small Business Owners Sound the Alarm

Last week, Opportunity Wisconsin and Main Street Action hosted a roundtable in La Crosse with small business owners from across western Wisconsin to discuss how tariffs are raising costs, hurting sales, and threatening livelihoods. The message was consistent: working families and small businesses are paying the price for tariff chaos, while Congressman Derrick Van Orden has stayed silent on new tariffs and voted multiple times for illegal tariffs that have driven costs up for months.

Mike Grady, owner of Elite Tonewoods in West Salem, told WIZM that his purchasing and sales are down about 30 percent from the prior year — and he linked that directly to the tariffs. The La Crosse Tribune also highlighted the challenges facing participants:

  • "We're still a small company, but we import almost half a million pounds of coffee a year from around the world,"said TJ Semanchin, owner of Wonderstate Coffee. "This is a product that we can't replace domestically."
     

  • "My sweet rice flour has gone up 53% in the last year, and tapioca starch has gone up 68%, unsweetened cocoa powder has gone up 43%, white premier chocolate has gone up 74% in the last year, chocolate chips have gone up 50%. That's significant," said Sarah Burns, owner of Omega Bakery in Holmen.
     

  • "I've had growth for seven years straight. This past year, I would say my purchasing was down 30% from what it would have been... I directly blame that on tariffs and uncertainty," said Grady.
     

  • "If he cares about the economy in western Wisconsin, we really need them to repeal all the tariffs," Semanchin said, speaking directly to Van Orden.

Read more: WIZM | La Crosse Tribune | News 8000

BY THE NUMBERS: Wisconsin Businesses And Consumers Paid $3.5 Billion in Tariffs

A new report puts a staggering price tag on what tariffs have cost the Badger State. Wisconsin companies and their consumers paid approximately $3.5 billion in tariffs between March and December 2025. And since President Trump began implementing tariffs during his first term, Wisconsin importers have paid $8.9 billion in total — meaning more than a third of all tariffs paid since 2018 were paid in 2025 alone.

Congressmen Van Orden and Steil have both voted multiple times for illegal tariffs and have refused to speak out as President Trump is set to implement new 15 percent global tariffs.

Read more from the Wisconsin State Journal

JOBS REPORT: Tariffs Still Aren't Creating the Manufacturing Boom They Promised

Friday's jobs report was another piece of bad economic news fueled, in part, by ongoing tariffs. The report showed the economy lost 92,000 in February — the third time in five months that employment went down — and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%. The report is a sign that the economic uncertainty created by tariffs continues to weigh on employers.

One number stands out in particular: manufacturing, an industry that Republicans claimed would be boosted by tariffs, lost another 12,000 in February. 

With a 150-day clock ticking on Trump’s new tariffs, it’s time for Van Orden and Steil to speak out and put Wisconsin families and businesses first.

Read more from CNBC

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ICYMI: La Crosse small business owners sound the alarm on tariff costs, call on Van Orden to act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

ICYMI: La Crosse small business owners sound the alarm on tariff costs, call on Van Orden to act

La Crosse Tribune and News 8000 highlight Opportunity Wisconsin and Main Street Action roundtable discussion


LA CROSSE, Wis. — Yesterday, Opportunity Wisconsin and Main Street Action hosted a roundtable in La Crosse with small business owners from across the region to discuss the real costs tariffs are having on their businesses and their customers. The event followed the Trump administration’s announcement earlier this week that new global tariffs would increase to 15%, further driving up costs for families and small businesses.

Participants highlighted Congressman Derrick Van Orden’s previous votes in favor of illegal tariffs that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court. Van Orden has remained silent on new tariffs and refuses to stand up to the Trump administration as they continue to threaten the success of entrepreneurs across Wisconsin.

While costs continue to rise, new economic data released today showed an unexpected 92,000 jobs lost across the country in February while unemployment increased.

La Crosse Tribune: Uncertainty, cost of tariffs hit River Valley Region businesses hard, local owners say

  • "We're still a small company, but we import almost half a million pounds of coffee a year from around the world," said TJ Semanchin, owner of Wonderstate Coffee in Viroqua. "This is a product that we can't replace domestically."
     

  • Omega Bakery owner Sarah Burns said ingredient costs for her gluten-free bakery in Holmen have risen significantly due to tariffs.
     

  • "My sweet rice flour has gone up 53% in the last year, and tapioca starch has gone up 68%, unsweetened cocoa powder has gone up 43%, white premier chocolate has gone up 74% in the last year, chocolate chips have gone up 50%. That's significant," Burns said. "We're not growing these specialty flours that I need to make gluten-free baked goods. … Everything I get from outside of the country has increased significantly in the past year."
     

  • "My business had been growing pretty significantly year after year, until 2025, when I had an 8% decrease in sales – but it wasn't a decrease in customers. People were just not buying as much," she said.
     

  • "I've had growth for seven years straight. This past year, I would say my purchasing was down 30% from what it would have been. … Likewise, my business is down that much," said Michael Grady, owner of Elite Tonewoods, a wood supplier in West Salem. "I directly blame that on tariffs and uncertainty."
     

  • "I think it's really important that folks in D.C. understand how this is impacting small businesses," Semanchin said. "It feels that the largest weight of this is on small family businesses. If he cares about the economy in western Wisconsin, we really need them to repeal all the tariffs."
     

News 8000: La Crosse business owners discuss tariff impacts with county supervisor

  • Small business owners in La Crosse County are voicing concerns about how tariffs are affecting their operations, meeting with local officials to discuss the economic impact on their companies.
     

  • Business owners gathered with La Crosse County Supervisor Kelly Leibold to address how trade policies are affecting local enterprises.
     

  • The meeting brought together representatives from various industries to discuss the challenges they face due to increased import costs.
     

  • "Everything was slowed down; everything was more expensive. Aside from the tariffs, the fees from customs and border patrol have gone up," said Mike Grady, owner of Elite Tonewoods.

 

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