Eau Claire, WI — Following Rep. Van Orden’s attack against La Crosse officials, Congressional candidate Emily Berge released the following statement.
“Wisconsinites deserve a politics of collaboration and politicians who are working to better the lives of their constituents. We deserve representatives fighting to address economic anxiety, fighting to build communities of compassion, fighting to ensure that the needs of the people are put well above the wants of big-money. I am not in this race for a title or for influence, I am running to work for and serve the people of Wisconsin.”
On Tuesday, November 4th, Derrick Van Orden lied about a zoning request from Salvation Army in La Crosse, while shoving the blame for federal inaction onto municipal officials and staff. In addition to his lack of comprehension around legislating, Rep. Van Orden is showing that he would rather stay on paid vacation than work to help his constituents.
Congressman Van Orden claimed “This City Council of La Crosse will not allow them to zone for a satellite site. And I also just found out that the county owns a parking lot right over there, that they won’t allow them to build on.”
According to both city and county officials and the Salvation Army’s own representatives, the Salvation Army has not made any zoning requests. Pedalling disinformation and taking zero accountability: Congressman Van Orden in a nutshell.
This is yet another example of Derrick Van Orden being inept at his job. He must be feeling ashamed for selling out the people of Wisconsin for billionaire tax breaks. And rather than working to correct for his mistakes, he is lashing out at local leaders and passing the buck. Van Orden should be in D.C. working on a shutdown compromise that would include continuing the ACA tax credits. He should be calling on President Trump to release emergency funds for SNAP and FoodShare programs. He should be working WITH, not against, local officials to provide more funding for the successful Pathways Home program and others like it. But instead, we have a Congressman who is legislatively inept, helpless, and ineffective and takes his anger out on his constituents.
Emily Berge is the only candidate in this race with local elected experience, and it is that very experience that is needed in moments like this. Wisconsin deserves a member of Congress that understands the value of working across all levels of government as well as private partnerships, and has a history of building those very coalitions.
Berge has served on Eau Claire City Council for 8 years and as the highest elected official in the largest city in the 3rd Congressional District since 2023. Emily has also served on the board of the Wisconsin League of Municipalities, including as President, advocating on behalf of communities of all sizes in Madison and in Washington, D.C.
