(MADISON, WI) — Since Donald Trump became president, he has used rural Wisconsin as a bludgeon for his chaotic trade war that, in 2019, contributed to 818 dairy farms going out of business and more than 4,100 factory workers losing their jobs. Trump thought he could buy farmers off with taxpayer funded bailouts, but ultimately small and medium-sized farms received a drop in the bucket compared to what they had lost while large agriculture companies that could weather the storm received a disproportionate share of the funds.
“Throughout his presidency Donald Trump has taken a cleaver to rural Wisconsin as he’s destroyed their local economies — first with his chaotic trade war and now with his disastrous COVID-19 response,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Spokesperson Philip Shulman said. “Trump clearly couldn’t care less about the damage he’s caused these Wisconsinites and will continue to use them as political pawns.”
Yesterday, during Vice President Joe Biden’s trip to the Badger state, he highlighted that “Rural communities power our nation. They feed our bodies, they fuel our engines, they’re stewards that protect our lands, and we cannot sustain an economy that exacts value from them without ever sharing in the rewards.” Instead of paying them lip service as Trump has done over the past three and half years, Biden outlined the steps he’d take as president to make rural Wisconsin whole. This included the federal government working with farmers and non-profits to buy and distribute agriculture produce, increased broadband, and access to affordable health care.
“Joe Biden will actually fight for rural Wisconsin, not sell them out to the highest bidder or use them as a political bargaining chip as Trump has done during his entire presidency. Biden recognizes the immeasurable contribution rural Wisconsin makes to our state and country as his agenda tackles the issues farmers and other rural Wisconsinites are facing. Under a Biden presidency, our state and our country will grow stronger because of his commitment to bettering the lives of rural communities.”
