Welcome to our weekly DC Wrap, where we write about Wisconsin’s congressional delegation. Sign up here to receive the newsletter directly.

Quotes of the week

Wisconsin farmers have fed America and the world for generations. President Trump is making sure they get the support they deserve, funded by tariff revenue, not taxpayers.
– U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, in response to President Donald Trump announcing $12 billion in aid for farmers using revenue from tariffs. 

Trump knows that his trade war is crushing our farmers, and this chaos and hardship is a totally self-inflicted wound. Sadly, this package won’t even be enough to make our farmers and producers whole.
– U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, in a statement on Trump’s announcement.

This week’s news

— Wisconsin lawmakers are divided over health care costs ahead of a vote today on a Dem bill to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits for three years before they expire at the end of the month.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, has repeatedly pushed for the renewal of the subsidies to prevent Americans from facing unaffordable health care costs. U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, has criticized the ACA as a failure and argued against renewing the subsidies.

Senate GOP leadership agreed to hold a vote on a bill to extend the subsidies as part of a bipartisan deal to reopen the government after a record 43-day shutdown. 

Several Republicans have circulated potential alternatives to Democrats’ proposal, including a Senate bill to replace the enhanced tax credits with government-funded health savings accounts. 

Johnson’s office did not directly address a question about whether there are any alternatives to extending the tax credits that he would support, instead referring WisPolitics to other comments Johnson has made on the topic. 

“Socialism might sound appealing, but it destroys economies,” Johnson said this week. “We’re $38 trillion in debt — we can’t keep pouring money into a failed system that perpetuates fraud. Democrats want to spend more money to mask Obamacare’s failures. Consumerism and free market competition is the only path to lower costs and better care.” 

Johnson also held a hearing of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations yesterday to highlight what he sees as flaws in the Affordable Care Act ahead of the Senate vote. 

According to Gov. Tony Evers’ office, 277,175 Wisconsinites — 88% of those who enrolled on HealthCare.gov during the previous open enrollment period last year — qualified for the subsidies, with an average subsidy of $664 per month across counties. 

Baldwin, who opposed the deal to reopen the government as she fought to extend the subsidies, said she plans to vote in support of the extension. 

“Right now, 20 million Americans are on the brink of crisis and will have to pay double, triple, or quadruple their health care costs next year,” Baldwin said in a statement. “We have the opportunity to avoid this catastrophe and make sure millions can get health care they can afford. I stand with the thousands of working families trying to keep costs down; the only question is where my Republican colleagues stand.”

— Several Wisconsin Republicans have indicated they don’t support extending the enhanced ACA subsidies.

U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, told WISN 12’s “UpFront,” produced in partnership with WisPolitics, that he would vote against an extension. 

“We need something a little bit more than that,” Grothman said. “We need something with it if there’s going to be any extension. It’s very expensive. You’ve got to remember the Democrat plan was another $34 billion a year, and already the government is borrowing 26% of our budget, so if they want to put more money in there, let’s have some cuts in some other places in the budget.”

U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden in a statement to WisPolitics said he understands the importance of affordable health coverage, but said Democrats authored the ACA tax credits to expire. The Prairie du Chien Republican dubbed them “a temporary patch to a law that still hasn’t delivered on its central promise.” 

“As Congress considers future funding requests, we need long-term reforms that actually lower costs instead of masking them with short-term subsidies. I remain committed to bipartisan solutions that expand access, improve affordability, and provide real, lasting certainty for hardworking Americans,” Van Orden said. 

Meanwhile, U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, this week held a hearing of the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform and Antitrust Subcommittee he chairs focused on alleged fraud within the ACA, “Fighting Obamacare Subsidy Fraud: Is the Administrative Procedure Act Working As Intended?” 

To address health care affordability, Fitzgerald has advocated for health savings accounts, which let families pay medical bills with untaxed dollars, and health reimbursement arrangements, where employers reimburse employees for their health care costs. 

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, in a statement said millions of Americans who depend on the subsidies are already seeing higher premiums. She said Republicans “are in no hurry to act to address this pocketbook issue.” 

“Instead of propping up HSAs, which disproportionately benefit the wealthy and don’t help lower premiums for most, Republicans should join Democrats to extend the enhanced ACA subsidies,” Moore said. “The reality is we need to enact legislation soon that will actually make health care more affordable and accessible. Further delay and inaction could mean Americans going without the care they need.” 

– U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden joined forces this week on a bipartisan bill to make permanent a federal program designed to support organic farmers.

“Wisconsin is America’s Dairyland, and to keep that legacy, we need to support our farmers and make sure they can meet the demands of families. With the demand for organic foods continuing to skyrocket, we need to make sure that any farmer who wants to grow their business, has the tools and resources to do it,” Baldwin, D-Madison, said. 

Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, said he’s heard from organic farmers in Wisconsin about the challenges of getting their products to market, “and this bill delivers real solutions.” 

“By making this program permanent, we’re helping family farmers modernize, expand, and stay competitive in a rapidly growing industry. I am proud to stand with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support the people who feed our nation,” Van Orden said. 

The Domestic Organic Investment Act would codify the Organic Market Development Grant program, which helps build and expand capacity for certified organic production, aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling, distribution and development of consumer markets, according to USDA.

Organic Valley and the Organic Trade Association are backing the legislation. 

Posts of the week

ICYMI

WBAY: Bill to help small business owners authored by Rep. Tony Wied passes the House

PBS Wisconsin: Tom Tiffany on the 2026 primary for governor of Wisconsin

WORT: Verona food pantry receives helping hand from Rep. Mark Pocan

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Kamala Harris to visit Madison on book tour about failed presidential bid

WEAU: Baldwin, Van Orden introduce bill to support organic farmers and producers

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