Letters to the Editor for March 12
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Dear Editor,
On February 25th, the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution providing a framework for developing the federal budget, including $4.5 trillion in Trump tax cuts and a $2 trillion cut in spending. The resolution directs numerous House committees to come up with plans to make these cuts, likely hurting tens of millions of Americans and severely damaging our economy in the long run with an increase in the deficit of $3 trillion.
Our member of Congress, Derrick Van Orden, voted for this.
Important questions need to be asked. Where will the republicans get the $880 billion that they are now mandated to cut under the Energy and Commerce Committee if not from Medicaid? Where will they get the $230 billion from the Agricultural Committee, if not from SNAP (which hurts our farmers). Where will they get the $330 billion from the Education and Workforce Committee, if not to hurt our local schools and those young people who are trying to better their lives with higher education?
Our member of Congress, Derrick Van Orden, voted for this.
The 3rd Congressional District in which we live has over 170,000 constituents covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Cuts in these programs would cause considerable harm to the most vulnerable in our district. In addition, premium support for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act will likely be reduced, impacting over 30,000 constituents of the 3rd Congressional District to pay full price for their health insurance, or drop their health insurance coverage. Many of those are farmers or rural citizens, our friends and neighbors who already struggle to get by.
Our member of Congress, Derrick Van Orden, voted for this.
And in this process, Derrick Van Orden voted AGAINST YOU. You, who may have voted for him, and then he turned around and voted against you to benefit the wealthy and corporations, i.e. his political donors - individuals living in fancy mansions, flying in their private jets, vacationing anywhere they want to in the world, buying more yachts, vilifying workers and not paying them enough to live a good life, and using their wealth to influence lawmakers.
And let’s not forget: our member of Congress, Derrick Van Orden, voted for this. Maybe next year it will be time for us to return the favor with a vote for someone other than him.
Sincerely,
Jon Sutton
Prairie du Chien
***
Dear Editor,
Wisconsin voters have a serious decision to make on April 1 in the state’s Supreme Court race. Of the two candidates running, far-right Brad Schimel is a serious threat to Wisconsinites’ reproductive freedoms.
Last year, he told a group of supporters that “there is not a constitutional right to abortion” in Wisconsin—signaling that he would rule to restrict reproductive health care on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. And in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court, Brad Schimel has the support of leadership at Pro-Life Wisconsin, our state’s most extreme anti-abortion group that wants to pass an abortion ban with no exceptions, restrict access to contraception, and even ban IVF fertility treatments.
Brad Schimel has a clear and lengthy record of opposing reproductive freedom. He supports enforcing Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban which would make abortion illegal in nearly every case, and as attorney general, he wasted over $1 million of our taxpayer dollars defending extreme anti-abortion policies and tried to sue to make it tougher for Wisconsinites to access contraception. He even said it was an “honor to have a case named Planned Parenthood v. Schimel.“
But while Brad Schimel is broadcasting his anti-abortion extremism and how it would influence his votes on the bench, Judge Susan Crawford is focused on fairness and the rule of law. Judge Crawford believes that women should have the right to make their own decisions about their own health care — and it’s not up to any politician or judge to come between a woman and her doctor.
As an attorney in private practice, Judge Crawford represented Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to defend access to reproductive freedom. On the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Judge Crawford will prioritize following the law and defending Wisconsinites’ constitutional rights and freedoms. Brad Schimel can’t say the same.
You all know what to do — vote Judge Susan Crawford on April 1.
Sincerely,
Sally Steele
Prairie du Chien
***
Dear Editor,
Anyone that watched The President’s speech must be in total astonishment as to the lack of decorum, respect for the office of the President, the purpose of the evening, as well as to all the constituents the Democrat Congressmen and Senators represent! Watching this horrible display of ignorance, hatred, being out of touch, and unamerican actions they displayed in full view was just disgusting.
We are no longer a country of two political parties. We are a country where there is one party of Pro-Americans that believe in the USA, making the USA. stronger, safer, and economically better for everyone! The other party, the Democrat party, is party of “ Anti-Americans that are so disingenuous, destructive, and will continue to undermine Trump in every way regardless of any positive outcomes the citizens of our country would benefit from. The Democrats are in no way part of any solutions, they are the problem party! For the Democrats not to find any common ground at any time during the night to remain in “lockstep” with whomever dictated them to remain sitting throughout the evening is purely Anti American and should clearly be voted out of office as quickly as they can be.
The DOGE discoveries these past few weeks of the unbelievable amount of dishonestly spent money, the Democrats want to fight the discovery process while ignoring the millions of taxpayers’ dollars that has been spent.
As for Trump, make America great, strong and safe again!
As for DOGE, keep it up!
As for the Democrats, cry me a river!
Paul Kruschke
Wauzeka
