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Quotes of the week

The Trump Administration continues to weaponize the justice system to score political points and intimidate others. As members of Congress, it is part of our duty to conduct oversight of the executive branch. My colleague was performing this work when she visited an immigration detention center in her district. 
– U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, voicing support for U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., who was charged with assault after an incident outside an ICE detention facility. 

It’s not political intimidation to hold someone accountable for assaulting law enforcement officers. You’re not above the law, Congresswoman.
– U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-De Pere, in response to the charges. 

This week’s news

— Wisconsin Dems are arguing the reconciliation bill that passed the GOP-run House early this morning will hurt Americans, while Republicans are largely standing behind it.

The House Rules Committee held a hearing on the bill beginning at 1 a.m. yesterday, and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, slammed the tax cut plan during a speech over six hours into the meeting. 

“We’re sitting here bragging about so-called savings, and what are we going to do with these savings? What are we going to do with the savings? Are we going to take these savings and reduce our debt? Nope, we’re not going to do that,” Moore said. “These tax cuts are so massive that we don’t have enough kids to starve, we don’t have enough people to deny healthcare, so we’re just going to ask Americans to finance tax cuts for billionaires on the national debt.”  

The bill then passed the House 215-214 largely along party lines with two Republicans, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Thomas Massie of Kentucky, voting against; one Republican, Andy Harris of Maryland, voting present; and two Republicans not voting. It now goes to the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, in a press conference on the bill said it would take away health care for 230,000 Wisconsinites to fund tax breaks for the super wealthy. 

“Folks, you don’t host a hearing at one in the morning when you are proud of what you’re doing,” Baldwin said. “You host a congressional hearing at one in the morning if you’re trying to hide what you’re doing from the American people. Look — if they were just cutting waste, fraud and abuse, they wouldn’t be rushing this bill through under the cloak of darkness.”

And the office of U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Town of Vermont, told WisPolitics in a message ahead of the vote the representative “will not be voting for this garbage bill.”

The reconciliation process is a way of negotiating the budget that requires only a simple majority in the Senate. A reconciliation bill attempts to “reconcile” taxes and spending to meet the goals of a budget resolution. 

The reconciliation bill currently before lawmakers would advance President Donald Trump’s tax cut agenda and make cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has faced opposition to the measure from GOP holdouts who want to see deeper spending cuts and also from those who want to lift the cap for state and local taxes, also known as “SALT,” deductions.

U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-De Pere, in response to opposition over SALT said it’s time to get the bill passed. 

“Enough grandstanding. You were offered a deal. Take it. Let’s get this bill passed and move forward for the American people,” Wied said on X before the full House vote. “No one in #WI08 is asking about SALT. Blue state reps should be more concerned with getting rid of their high-tax governors.” 

The House Budget Committee narrowly voted in favor of the bill late Sunday night. 

U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, before voting to advance the bill said it is full of “wins” for the American people. His office also told WisPolitics in an email Grothman “looks forward to helping move the ball forward on the President’s American agenda, which he shares.”

— U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh, and U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, took opposing stances on the reconciliation bill at the state GOP convention in Rothschild over the weekend. 

Johnson, a prominent critic of the bill, said the legislation dubbed by Trump as “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” is anything but. Johnson again called for a return to pre-pandemic spending levels and said the bill would worsen the national debt by $4 trillion over the next decade. 

Johnson in a speech to party activists railed against the current process of cutting federal spending, calling it “phony,” “fake,” “not real” and “not even close to adequate.” 

“I love what President Trump is doing, I want to be supportive of this, I want to make sure this succeeds. But the only way this succeeds is if we actually bend the spending curve down,” Johnson said. 

However, Van Orden called for unity amid internal divisions over the reconciliation bill, quoting a Truth Social post by Trump criticizing GOP grandstanders who say the measure doesn’t go far enough. 

Van Orden after speaking at the convention told reporters he respects Johnson “tremendously.” 

“He understands that the Senate is really addicted to spending, so he’d like to see the House cut more so that when it goes to the Senate, they’re going to wind up adding stuff back. That’s why. And he’s really frustrated, I’m really frustrated, but we’re gonna get this thing done,” Van Orden said. 

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, at a press conference this week said Johnson’s goal to cut more funding is “not acceptable.” Still, she said she welcomes more “no” votes on the bill. 

“I want as many ‘no’ votes on this bill as possible, and if Sen. Johnson is a no because the cuts aren’t deep enough, and I’m a ‘no’ because there shouldn’t be any cuts to these programs, and we shouldn’t be passing tax cuts for those who really need to do their fair share and aren’t, then at least it’s a ‘no’ vote,” Baldwin said. 

Also at the GOP convention: 

  • U.S. Rep. Tony Wied, R-De Pere, said Republicans “cannot wait until next year” to start the fight to take over the governor’s office in Wisconsin; 
  • U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, knocked Gov. Tony Evers as he considers a gubernatorial bid in 2026; 
  • U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Glenbeulah, praised Trump’s efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion; and
  • Special guest U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said the nation is in a battle between good and evil, rather than between political parties. 

See more coverage at WisPolitics’ GOP Convention Blog. 

— Dem U.S. Reps. Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan joined a letter to White House officials expressing concerns over the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan and general federal interference in local courthouse proceedings. 

“The recent arrest of Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan by FBI agents—reportedly for “obstructing immigration enforcement”—marks a dangerous escalation in federal interference with state judiciary functions,” the members of Congress wrote in the letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Head Kash Patel and Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons. 

Dugan was arrested in Milwaukee last month for allegedly helping an undocumented individual evade arrest. Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury last week and then pleaded not guilty at a brief hearing.

“This action sends a chilling message to state judges nationwide – that their primary responsibilities and sworn oaths are secondary to federal immigration enforcement – comply or face retaliation,” the letter read. “Such tactics erode public trust in the judiciary’s independence and threaten the separation of powers enshrined in our Constitution.” 

The letter asked for ICE to take action including: 

  • Strictly enforce ICE guidelines to not interfere with local courthouse actions except for unique or exceptional circumstances. 
  • Cease efforts to retaliate against state judges for their actions. 
  • Establish guidelines to tell ICE officials to identify themselves in public spaces and avoid disrupting courtrooms. 
  • Provide information about what happened in Milwaukee with Judge Dugan and outline steps to commit to not taking similar actions again. 

— Dem Randy Bryce announced he will seek to challenge GOP U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil next fall – a rematch of the 2018 race that he lost by more than 12 points.

“Right now, people all over Wisconsin are raising their voices against this administration’s attacks on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans benefits and food security – along with the totally brainless trade war that is crushing our farm and manufacturing economy,” Bryce said. “They’re also crying out against those doing nothing to stop Trump, like his puppet Bryan Steil.”

Bryce, an Army veteran and ironworker, originally launched his bid for the southeastern Wisconsin seat against then-House Speaker Paul Ryan. Bryce’s campaign became a national cause for Dems, and he raised more than $8.6 million. 

Ryan announced on April 11, 2018, that he was dropping his reelection bid, and Steil got into the race. 

Bryce’s fundraising tailed off significantly following Ryan’s decision. Bryce reported nearly $2.2 million in receipts during the first three months of the year. In the second quarter — which included the two weeks before Ryan dropped out — Bryce raised $1.2 million.

Steil’s campaign knocked Bryce as a radical who’s been rejected multiple times by Wisconsin voters. In addition to his congressional bid, Bryce has also run unsuccessfully for the Assembly and Senate.

“While radicals like Bryce continue to try and take our nation backwards, Congressman Bryan Steil has a record of delivering real results,” Steil’s campaign said. “Steil remains focused on securing our border, lowering costs for Wisconsin families, and supporting Wisconsin seniors.”

— Wisconsin lawmakers are wishing Joe Biden the best after the former president was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. 

Biden’s office announced the news over the weekend, saying while the cancer had metastasized in the bone, it also appears to be hormone-sensitive, meaning it can be treated more effectively. Biden, who is 82 years old, dropped out of the presidential race last year as concerns over his age came to a head following a much-criticized presidential debate performance. 

Biden lost his son, Beau Biden, to brain cancer in 2015. 

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, in a post on X said: “My heart hurts for the whole Biden family.” 

“Sending President Biden and his loved ones my thoughts as they take on this challenge. Joe Biden is a fighter through and through, and I know he will bring that same grit as he takes on this battle with cancer,” Baldwin said. 

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, said her love and prayers are with Biden and his family.

“May they find strength, healing, and peace,” Moore said. 

The office of U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, said: “We are saddened to hear of former President Biden’s cancer diagnosis and are thinking of him and his family.”

Posts of the week

ICYMI

The Hill: Senate Republicans want to break up House’s Trump bill into bite-size pieces

WPR: Wisconsin Republicans in Congress back Trump spending bill as advocates warn of food assistance cuts

PBS: ‘Here & Now’ Highlights: U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, State Sen. Kelda Roys

Janesville Gazette: ‘A huge opportunity to turn this ship around.’ Steil, other GOP leaders rally state convention

WPR: US Rep. Derrick Van Orden wants to end spring elections in Wisconsin

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