MADISON, Wis. — Today, US Senator Tammy Baldwin, manufacturing business owners Sachin Shivaram and Kyle Lafond, and WisDems Vice-Chair Sarah Godlewski, held a virtual press call in response to JD Vance’s visit and event with Derrick Van Orden. Wisconsin business leaders Shivaram and LaFond shared their firsthand experiences of the ways in which their manufacturing businesses and employees have suffered from Trump’s and Van Orden’s tariff tax. Secretary Godlewski and Senator Baldwin also discussed how Trump’s tariff tax has devastated residents and business owners of the third congressional district—all while Derrick Van Orden ignores the pain of his constituents and continues to act as a rubber stamp for Trump’s reckless tariff taxes and economic agenda.
Watch the press conference here and see what speakers had to say, in part, below:
Senator Tammy Baldwin: “We heard Tuesday night that the president is going to double down on his disastrous tariff policies. These have devastated families and farmers alike. The tariffs are squeezing farmers who are already operating on thin margins and have led to a squeeze at the grocery store. And at the State of the Union the president called for overturning the ACA and his agenda will terminate Wisconsinites health care to benefit corporations. Western Wisconsin who has a representative who has been in lock-step with this administration. Congressman Derrick Van Orden has backed these policies at every single turn. Even as farmers’ and seniors raise concerns about rising costs and shrinking services. They deserve independent leadership and not a rubber stamp. So we welcome the Vice-President to the state so they can see the damage this administration is causing.”
Sachin Shivaram, Wisconsin Aluminum Foundry Owner: “We have about 1,000 employees around the midwest and we’re based in Manitowoc. When people think about bringing manufacturing back to America they think of us. I think I have the kind of company the president thinks he is helping. Our employees are the types of people who have voted for Trump. But they are overwhelmingly against tariffs because they see the harm it’s caused to our economy and our customers. 99% of people in manufacturing do not support the tariffs. There is room for tariffs if it’s strategic, planned, and done with our legislators. We need leaders who can stand against the president and I don’t see that amongst the candidates the GOP is putting forward.”
Kyle LaFond, Founder of American Provenance and Natural Contract Manufacturing: “The last time I was in DC in Derrick Van Orden’s office he slammed the door in my face. That’s not representation, that’s not standing up for Wisconsinites, that’s not standing up for small businesses. Chaos and uncertainty—that’s all that these tariffs have caused for small businesses. With a small business you want to plan and build projections, but you can’t with such inconsistencies. And even with the threat of more tariffs that causes more chaos and uncertainty for businesses like mine. We have to absorb all these costs because there are things we can’t make in the state and have to import. JD Vance being here today is not about helping businesses like mine. The tariffs do more harm than most folks realize. know. Tariffs are just a tax on the American consumer. I did my best to absorb the costs but at some point it gets passed onto the customers. Again let’s get this straight—tariffs are just a tax. We want policies that benefit us long term.”
Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski: “We saw how Derrick Van Orden supported the Big Ugly Bill. Rural hospitals are being shut down and we saw a veterans home close that Derrick Van Orden could have fought for. Why are veterans being treated like an afterthought? Western Wisconsinites are asking where is he? With these tariffs, with farmers on the chopping block, health care being taken away and hospitals being shut down—where is he? He’s nowhere to be found other than helping corporations and billionaires at the expense of his constituents. Western Wisconsin knows he’s not a leader and wants an independent voice who will represent them, not act as a rubber stamp for an agenda that is fueling the affordability crisis.”