MADISON, Wis. — On Monday, Democrats and ACA recipients across Wisconsin gathered in the freezing cold after an arctic blast covered the state over the weekend to fight for affordable health care.
In Madison, Senate and Assembly Democratic Leaders Dianne Hesselbein, Greta Neubauer, WisDems Chair Devin Remiker and small business owners from Main Street Action gather in 10 degree weather to discuss the ripple effects of skyrocketing premiums and to hold GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Tiffany accountable for his long record of trying to strip coverage from Wisconsinites.
In La Crosse, voters rallied at Derrick Van Orden’s office to demand Van Orden vote to extend the subsidies, while Democrats in Racine made sure Bryan Steil’s effort to end ACA funding was on full display As a result of the GOP cuts, roughly 300,000 Wisconsinites who receive an ACA tax credit will go without medical coverage or face unnecessary and unbearable financial hardship, with a couple over the age of 60 seeing a possible rate hike of $33,000 a year.
Read more coverage from the fight to save health care below:
MADISON
WXOW: “Democrats said Republicans are obstructing Medicaid expansion and tax credits, leading to increased health care costs for residents. Evan Dannels, chef and owner of Cadre Restaurant, shared his perspective as a small business owner. ‘The ACA was the first time a small business owner like me had something where I could reasonably expect my employees to get benefits at a rate that was reasonable,’ Dannels said. Democrats emphasized the impact on small business owners who may be feeling the strain from healthcare costs and federal trade policies.”
WKOW: “Wisconsin’s Democrats discussed the U.S. Senate’s recent decision not to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies on Monday. Democrats said Republicans are obstructing Medicaid expansion and tax credits, leading to increased health care costs for residents. Evan Dannels, chef and owner of Cadre Restaurant, shared his perspective as a small business owner. ‘The ACA was the first time a small business owner like me had something where I could reasonably expect my employees to get benefits at a rate that was reasonable,’ Dannels said. Democrats emphasized the impact on small business owners who may be feeling the strain from healthcare costs and federal trade policies.”
WPR: “Earlier this week, Wisconsin Democrats held a press conference with small business owners from Main Street Alliance. Macy Buhler owns a child care center with 30 employees. ACA subsidies helped her provide them with quality insurance. With the tax credits under threat, she’s worried about retaining and obtaining staff. ‘They’re exposed to everything under the sun and I need to keep them healthy as a business owner,’ Buhler said. […] ‘I don’t know how to make them see that children and small businesses, families, our farmers all need the ACA subsidies,’ Buhler said.”
LA CROSSE
WEAU: “On the last day of the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period for 2026, Democrats stand outside representative Derek Van Orden’s office to demand Van Orden votes to extend the ACA tax credits. Officials say many people who sign up for ACA benefits are backing out because of a lack of subsidies. ‘We’re here standing out in the cold because Derek Van Orden left us out in the cold and said, ‘You know what, you can afford this massive increase to your health care subsidies.’’ […] ‘A 20-year-old person who is making, you know, $40,000 a year your health care sell, your health care cost is going to go up $130 a month. How can we afford this? The affordability crisis is real here in Wisconsin, and it’s largely driven by Washington’s inability to pass laws that actually help people on the ground.’”
NEWS8000: “Demonstrators in La Crosse holding a rally in support of extending those ACA subsidies. They are calling on Congressman Derek Van Orden to vote in support of an extension. ‘The affordability crisis is real here in Wisconsin, and it’s largely driven by Washington’s inability to pass laws that actually help people on the ground here.’”
WEAU: “Democrats in the Coulee region are also urging lawmakers to take action on the last day of the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment period for 2026. Democrats stood outside of Representative Derek Van Orden’s office to demand he votes to extend the ACA tax credits. Rally leaders say an ACA-holding family of four will see a $2,000-a-month increase on their health care costs because of a GOP health care plan, adding that it will affect people of all ages. Officials say many people who sign up for ACA benefits are backing out because of the lack of subsidies. ‘We’re here standing out in the cold because Derek Van Orden left us out in the cold and said, ‘You know what? You can afford this massive increase to your health care subsidies.’”
RACINE
Facebook: The Racine County Democrats shared images of their rally outside of Brian Steil’s office as they demanded Steil vote for ACA subsidy extensions.
