MADISON, Wis. – On Saturday local leaders and community members gathered across Wisconsin on Saturday for “Protect Our Checks” press conferences in Eau Claire and Mt. Pleasant to mark the 90th anniversary of Social Security and call on Congress to protect benefits for Wisconsin families.
The events were part of a national day of action with more than 50 similar gatherings across the country, coming at a time when staff cuts at the Social Security Administration have increased wait times and ongoing threats to privatize the program continue to mount.
Participants shared personal stories about how Social Security serves as a vital lifeline for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and working families across Wisconsin. They called on Congress to keep Social Security Administration offices open and fully funded, instead of prioritizing tax breaks for billionaires while making essential services inaccessible to those who need them most:
“Republicans in Congress have pushed forward with an agenda that guts programs working people rely on to afford basic life necessities like food and health care, all to pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Regional Organizer Cierra Chesir speaking in Mount Pleasant Saturday. “This, along with ongoing attacks on Social Security, makes it clear what congressional Republicans’ priority is: to take from working families to give to the rich.
“Last year, I was diagnosed with a disease that put me in a lot of risk and put us in more debt,” said Carol Rudd, a Social Security recipient who spoke at the Eau Claire event. “We’re spread so thin right now that if we didn’t have our Social Security, I don’t know what we would do. And that’s the biggest fear in our life right now, is that we will be losing some of that, or all of that, and where would we be?”
“Social Security has kept people in their homes. It’s kept people fed. It’s kept people healthy, and the thought that this could go away has flooded my inboxes and my phone lines in my office,” added State Representative Jodi Emerson. “People are so scared about what might be happening that they’re contacting my office and reaching out about this.”
The events highlighted the real impact that proposed cuts and office closures would have on thousands of people in Wisconsin communities who depend on these benefits to provide for themselves and their families.
Social Security Administration offices have faced significant staffing cuts in recent years, leading to longer wait times for services and reduced access to benefits for those who need them most. The program serves 1.2 million Wisconsin residents, including seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.
Saturday’s events underscored the importance of protecting and strengthening Social Security for current and future generations, rather than implementing cuts that would make it harder for Wisconsin families to access the benefits they’ve earned.
