WATCH: Van Orden voted for the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history after signing promise to constituents’ family pledging their benefits would never be cut
LA CROSSE, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin today released a new ad as part of its ongoing seven-figure paid media campaign holding Congressman Derrick Van Orden accountable for his votes that are raising health care costs and cutting critical services for Wisconsin families.
The ad features Kate, who met with Van Orden to discuss her concerns about potential Medicaid cuts. During the meeting, Van Orden promised that Medicaid would never be cut and even wrote a letter to Kate’s mom, who relies on Medicaid to afford long-term care, doubling down on his pledge to not cut benefits. Months later, he voted for the Republican Tax Law that included the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history.
“Congressman Van Orden looked Kate in the eye and promised her that Medicaid would never be cut,” said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Then, he turned around and voted for a bill that slashes Medicaid and rips health care away from 54,000 Wisconsinites and threatens the future of rural hospitals. Too many families who rely on Medicaid to access care will face the devastating consequences of Van Orden’s broken promise. It’s time for Van Orden to reverse the damage and restore funding for Medicaid.”
The Republican Tax Law’s cuts to Medicaid spending will result in nearly 8.7 million fewer people covered by the program. The cuts are larger than all previous Medicaid cuts in history combined and will force states to make painful cuts to their Medicaid programs, particularly affecting children, veterans, parents, seniors, and people with disabilities. These cuts are also placing rural hospitals across Wisconsin at risk of closure, which would make care even more difficult to access.
The ongoing seven-figure campaign in the Third Congressional District includes TV, digital, and mail to constituents, encouraging them to contact Congressman Van Orden and demand he stop raising health care costs. Opportunity Wisconsin’s first ad in the Third District highlighted Van Orden’s failure to support an extension of health care tax credits. Following the release of the ad Van Orden voted in favor of a three-year extension of the tax credits last week.
“Promised” Transcript:
KATE: “We are very fortunate to have our mom in our lives. We rely on Medicaid to pay for her long-term care. When I learned that it might be cut, I met with Representative Van Orden. He promised that he would never cut Medicaid. He even signed this letter. Then he turned around, and he voted for the largest Medicaid cut in history. It’s absolutely devastating. We need to tell Congressman Van Orden to stop raising our health care costs.”
