MADISON, Wis. — In case you missed it, the Capital Times published an op-ed today outlining how Congressman Van Orden broke his promise not to cut benefits for his constituents, and how a year later, it remains critical that these cuts are reversed.

In the op-ed, Kate Schanhofer, whose mom is a constituent of Van Orden’s, recounts her meeting with the congressman last April where he told participants that he wouldn’t cut any benefits. Weeks later, he voted for the Republican Tax Law, which included the largest cut to Medicaid in history. For families like Kate’s, Medicaid is critical affording care, and it’s more important than ever for Congress to reverse these cuts.

“Van Orden looked Wisconsin families in the eye and promised their benefits wouldn’t be cut — he even put it in writing,”said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. “Then he turned around and voted for the biggest Medicaid cuts in history to fund tax breaks for billionaires. Wisconsin families need our members of Congress to keep their word and restore these devastating cuts.”

Capital Times: Opinion: Van Orden promised to protect Medicaid, then voted for cuts

  • One year ago I went to Washington, D.C., to visit with U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden. He promised to protect benefits for constituents like my mom, who depends on Medicaid. And one year later, that promise is still broken, and things are getting worse.
     
  • My mom has supported me in every way my entire life. So when I heard that Congress might cut Medicaid, which pays for my mom’s long-term care, it was my turn to go to bat for her. I had the opportunity to meet the congressman with a group of his constituents who shared similar concerns about looming federal cuts.
     
  • After hearing us all out, Van Orden looked us in the eye and promised us that he wouldn’t vote to cut benefits. This wasn’t an off-handed remark. He took the time to make it look like the promise was genuine. He even put it in writing, signing a letter addressed to my mom promising to not cut her benefits — and even sealed the letter with his own monogrammed wax stamp.
     
  • This wasn’t the only time he made this promise. Van Orden told constituents repeatedly that there would be no cuts to Medicaid. Last year, he said, “If you are an American citizen that is lawfully receiving benefits from the federal government, your benefits will not be cut by a nickel.” He even accused Democrats of “fear-mongering” and insisted “there are no cuts to Medicaid.”
     
  • Then, just weeks later, he voted for the Republican tax law — legislation that included the largest Medicaid cut in American history — more than all previous Medicaid cuts in history combined.
     
  • Derrick Van Orden needs to remember the real people, his constituents, behind Medicaid. Protecting Medicaid means standing up for our parents, our neighbors and our most vulnerable family members. For Van Orden, it means standing up for those he was elected to represent. Van Orden needs to fight to restore the Medicaid funding he voted to cut. He needs to prioritize health care for working families over tax breaks for billionaires.