MADISON, Wis. – Today, Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden voted to pass the Republican-backed tax bill, which includes massive cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and other successful programs while securing new tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
By reducing services and gutting critical programs that help children, veterans, and seniors access food, medical care, and other basic necessities, the bill creates new challenges as Wisconsinites continue to deal with rising costs and economic uncertainty because of tariffs. Recent reporting also highlights how harmful this bill would be for lower-income families who will be forced to pay more out-of-pocket as programs are reduced or eliminated.
With these cuts, in Wisconsin alone:
- 82,000 people could become uninsured
- 83,000 Medicaid recipients could lose coverage
- 235,000 people could see healthcare premiums soar
“Congressmen Steil and Van Orden had every chance to reject cuts that will make the lives of their constituents more difficult, and they refused to do the right thing,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Forcing seniors, working families, and our most vulnerable neighbors to pay the price for massive tax breaks for those who are already well-off is wrong, and it’s not what Wisconsinites expect from their members of Congress.”
Constituents of Steil and Van Orden are also speaking out on today’s votes and the looming cuts to successful programs:
Oliver Winn, Eau Claire: “Last month I had the opportunity to meet with Congressman Van Orden at his office in Washington D.C., and he gave me his commitment that he would not make cuts to these critical programs. With his vote today, he has once again broken that promise. As a Medicaid beneficiary who also relies on SNAP, I’m deeply concerned about how these cuts are going to affect my ability to access the care and services I need. Giving tax breaks to billionaires with money taken from programs that make healthcare and food accessible is wrong and it’s not what we deserve from our Congressman.”
Amanda Bee, Ferryville: “This tax bill tells you everything you need to know about Congressman Van Orden’s priorities. Instead of rejecting unnecessary cuts that will raise costs on working families, seniors, and veterans, he doubled down on failed policies that give even more to those at the top, while families like mine pay the price.”
Chelsey Myhre Foster, Coon Valley: “The cuts backed by Congressman Van Orden aren’t just wrong—they’re dangerous. They threaten to strip millions of Americans of health coverage and critical services at a time when we’re already facing a severe shortage of direct care workers and scarce support in rural communities. These cuts would make it even harder for families to access the lifesaving care they need and to meet basic needs like putting food on the table. That’s not just policy—it’s personal. It hurts our communities, our families, and our neighbors.”
Scott Hubanks, River Falls: “Billionaires don’t have to worry about affording their next meal or how they’ll cover medical bills, but that’s a reality that’s all too common for families across Wisconsin. But this tax bill puts the ultra-wealthy first, giving them more tax breaks and letting them avoid paying what they owe. Even worse, it pays for those tax breaks by targeting Medicaid, SNAP, and other successful programs that actually help people get ahead.”
