Opportunity Wisconsin: ICYMI: Republicans eye health care cuts to pay for Iran war

After voting for the largest Medicaid cuts in history, Steil and Van Orden’s colleagues are eyeing more reductions to help fund a $200 billion war bill

MADISON, Wis. — In case you missed it, Axios is reporting that House Republicans are looking at cutting federal health care spending to help pay for a budget bill containing as much as $200 billion to fund the Iran war and expanded ICE funding for immigration operations. 

“Wisconsin families are already getting squeezed from every direction. They’re facing higher costs from tariffs, cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, and skyrocketing gas prices and rising costs from the Republican war in Iran,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Now Republicans in Congress want to cut health care even further to pay for a war Wisconsin families never asked for. Congressmen Steil and Van Orden need to get their priorities straight.”

This comes after Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted last year for the Republican Tax Law, which included the largest Medicaid cuts in history. Republicans in Congress have also refused to restore health care tax credits, which expired at the end of last year, forcing premiums to skyrocket for many Wisconsin families. Both Van Orden and Steil previously voted to block congressional oversight of the war with Iran.

Axios: GOP weighs health care moves to pay for Iran war

• “Republicans are considering reductions in federal health spending to help pay for a budget bill containing as much as $200 billion to fund the Iran war and immigration enforcement.
   

•  It would have the effect of cutting the subsidy amount that some enrollees receive, thereby increasing out-of-pocket premium costs, while saving the government over $30 billion.
   

• The driving force is the need to pay for the war in Iran and fund ICE, the latter of which triggered the partial government shutdown. Democrats oppose both, leaving Republicans ready to use the party-line process known as reconciliation to get around a Senate filibuster.
   

• Many Republicans want any bill to be fully paid for, which is where potential health care changes come in.

One year of Trump's tariffs: Wisconsin families are still paying the price as Van Orden and Steil vote for them

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

One year of Trump's tariffs: Wisconsin families are still paying the price as Van Orden and Steil vote for them

Wisconsin families have paid $1,744 in tariff costs over the past year — and will pay even more in 2026 — as congressional Republicans refuse to act

MADISON, Wis. — One year ago today, President Trump stood in the White House Rose Garden and announced sweeping tariffs on goods from countries around the world, setting off a year of rising costs for Wisconsin families and small businesses. Today, Opportunity Wisconsin is marking that anniversary by calling on Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to stop the tariffs raising costs on their constituents and to fight to return the money already taken from Wisconsin families.

The past year has been a costly one. The average Wisconsin family paid $1,744 in tariff costs in 2025 — and with the new global tariffs now in effect, that figure is projected to climb to $2,510 in 2026 alone. While the Supreme Court struck down many of the original tariffs as illegal, Trump’s new tariffs immediately replaced them and prices for groceries and everyday items remain high.

Since last year Congressmen Steil and Van Orden voted multiple times for Trump’s tariffs, driving up costs for their own constituents. Both congressmen have remained silent on the new global tariffs hurting families and small businesses in Wisconsin.

Wisconsinites are speaking out on the impact of tariffs on the one-year anniversary.

“Congressman Steil voted for illegal tariffs that have made it harder for businesses like mine to succeed,” said Mike, the owner of a Kenosha barbershop. “One year later we’re paying more for products, my customers are coming in less frequently to save money, and there’s no end in sight. We need Bryan Steil and members of Congress to provide relief from high costs – that starts by voting to end these tariffs." 

“For the past year we've watched the price of groceries, appliances, and even clothing skyrocket because of costly and illegal tariffs. Wisconsin families are tired of watching prices continue to soar as our members of Congress continue to vote for tariffs and fail to stand up to President Trump,” said Sharon, from Eau Claire. “We've paid enough – it's time to end these tariffs and refund working people for what we've paid."

"Because of tariffs, we've decreased the amount of chocolate chips our chocolate chip cookies get. It sounds silly but when prices go up by 50% - if I were to keep the same amount of chocolate, I'd have to raise the cost a lot,” said Sarah, the owner of a La Crosse bakery. “And even when we don't charge more, customers have less to spend each visit. Over the past year, I've had almost the same number of orders but total sales has gone down by nearly 10%. I want our representatives to take small businesses into consideration and vote no on tariffs"

“Tariffs have slowed our growth, hurt wages and created overall uncertainty in our business,” added TJ, owner of Wonderstate Coffee in Viroqua.

New polling from the Marquette Law School underscores that Wisconsinites have had enough: 60 percent of Wisconsin voters oppose the administration's push to reimpose tariffs after the Supreme Court struck them down as illegal. The rising cost of living remains Wisconsin voters' top concern across party lines.

"One year in, Wisconsin families are tired of paying the price for illegal tariffs, and now they're being asked to pay even more," said Meghan Roh, Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director. "Congressmen Steil and Van Orden voted for illegal tariffs while their constituents were struggling. Instead of fighting these tariffs, they gave tax breaks to billionaires and stuck Wisconsin families and small businesses with the bill. It's past time for them to stop the tariffs, give their constituents their money back, and start putting Wisconsin families first."

Steil and Van Orden can take action now by voting to refund the money Wisconsin families have paid through illegal tariffs and working to stop new tariffs that are continuing to raise costs. 

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TARIFF TUESDAYS - MARCH 31, 2026

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: Women Business Owners Sound the Alarm on Tariff Costs

Yesterday, Opportunity Wisconsin hosted a town hall in Kenosha with women-owned small business owners from across the First District to discuss how tariffs are driving up costs, threatening their livelihoods, and squeezing the customers they depend on. The message was clear: these aren't abstract trade debates — they're about whether businesses built by Wisconsin women can survive.

Congressman Bryan Steil voted multiple times to keep illegal tariffs in place and has stayed silent about the new 10% global tariff raising costs for his constituents. The small business owners in his district deserve a congressman who will speak out — and fight back.

ONE YEAR LATER: Wisconsinites are still paying the price for Trump’s tariffs

This Thursday, April 2nd, marks one year since President Trump stood in the White House Rose Garden and announced sweeping tariffs. One year later, the Supreme Court has struck those tariffs down as illegal, Wisconsin families are paying more for groceries and everyday essentials, and Congressmen Van Orden and Steil have refused to put a stop to it.

Here’s a look back at what Wisconsinites have said about these harmful tariffs nearly one year later:

"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. All I see are higher prices." — TJ, Wonderstate Coffee, Viroqua

"My famous lasagna … costs a fortune these days. 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." — Deb, Mt. Pleasant

"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%, chocolate chips have gone up 50%. That's significant." — Sarah, Omega Bakery, 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."— Mike, Elite Tonewoods, West Salem

"With five kids, dinner time at our house can be a bit hectic. You wouldn't believe how much food we go through with five kids. It's not cheap. Nothing but love around that table, but the cost is almost too much to bear. These tariffs are driving grocery prices through the roof. Congressman Bryan Steil voted to support the tariffs that are raising our prices. I'm a firefighter and my wife is a nurse. We should be able to afford a family meal." — Joe, Kenosha firefighter

Wisconsin businesses and consumers paid approximately $3.5 billion in tariffs between March and December 2025 alone. The tariffs Trump announced on Liberation Day were eventually struck down by the Supreme Court, but new ones immediately replaced them, and costs haven't come down. One year in, Van Orden and Steil's answer to all of it is silence.

BY THE NUMBERS: Wisconsinites Have Had Enough

A new Marquette Law School Poll of Wisconsin voters, released last week, makes clear that Wisconsinites aren't buying what Van Orden and Steil are selling.

Sixty percent of those surveyed oppose the administration's push to reimpose tariffs after the Supreme Court struck them down as illegal, and more Wisconsinites say tariffs are hurting the economy and Wisconsin farmers than say they are helping. Meanwhile, the rising cost of living remains Wisconsin voters' top concern across party lines.

Read the poll results here

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ICYMI: On the ACA’s 16th anniversary Wisconsin mom describes “a very dark cloud” as costs spike thanks to Republicans in Congress

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

ICYMI: On the ACA’s 16th anniversary Wisconsin mom describes “a very dark cloud” as costs spike thanks to Republicans in Congress

“To see now the deterioration of this program, as well as many others, it is a very dark—a very dark—cloud”

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, Spectrum News highlighted how drastic increases in healthcare costs are threatening the success of the Affordable Care Act on its 16th anniversary this week. After Republicans in Congress allowed healthcare tax credits to expire at the end of last year, many families, like the one featured in this report, are paying more than double for coverage. 

New polling released last week found that nearly one in ten Americans were forced to forgo coverage amid rising costs while 55 percent of returning enrollees said they would need to cut back on spending in other areas to afford coverage. 

“Nearly 300,000 Wisconsinites depend on the Affordable Care Act to access the care they need. The ACA has been an incredible success and for over 16 years Wisconsin families have been able to use it to access healthcare without breaking the bank,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Now, Republicans in Congress like Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are threatening the program’s success. At the same time Wisconsinites are being squeezed by higher costs from tariffs, skyrocketing gas prices from the Republican war in Iran, and cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, Republicans are also forcing premiums through the roof. It’s time for Republicans in Congress to restore healthcare tax credits and work to protect the Affordable Care Act, not rip it apart.”

Spectrum News: ‘A very dark cloud’: Wisconsin mom sees ACA premium more than double

• Phyllis Jaworski lives in Western Wisconsin, near the Minnesota border, with her husband and two teenage boys. They obtain their health insurance through an online marketplace under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
   

• Last year, she paid $800 a month for coverage. That ballooned to $1800 this year, after Republicans in Congress allowed enhanced subsidies to expire for people buying ACA coverage.
   

• “It is kind of an emotional piece, being like, ‘Wow, we just really can't afford what we've always thought we could,’” she said.
   

• Jaworski said she and her husband have cut back on subscriptions and look for sales at the grocery store. They’ve also weighed if they can afford extracurricular activities for their sons. They might seek scholarships, or ask their oldest son who’s working to contribute. He’s also getting his driver’s license soon, so their car insurance will go up.
   

• “This should be a time of excitement and stuff, and for us, it's actually kind of dread, right?” she said. “An additional $1,000 a month for the health insurance, and now I think it's like an additional $500 a year, or whatever it is, for the driver's insurance… It's hard.” 
   

• Monday marked 16 years since then-President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law.
   

• “To see now the deterioration of this program, as well as many others, it is a very dark—a very dark—cloud,” Jaworski said. “We felt very fortunate that it was an option when I left my job and lost our insurance… And it was just nice to think—to feel like—there was something that we could fall back on and rely on if we needed it.”
   

• In a social media post, Congressman Mark Pocan, D-Madison, wrote that tens of millions of Americans “received the coverage they needed, and insurers could no longer deny care for pre-existing conditions” when the ACA was signed into law. He added that he’s “committed to protecting the Affordable Care Act against GOP attacks and to fighting to bring the tax credits back!” 

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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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