'Big beautiful bill' concerns are the dramatic cuts to Medicaid, social safety net: Harvard's Furman
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Meet Mitchell Berman, a Democratic challenger taking on Bryan Steil for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District
MADISON – Racine County resident and Veterans Affairs emergency nurse Mitchell Berman is taking a shot at unseating Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil from Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District seat. Berman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he is joining the Democratic primary for the seat because the working class needs a better advocate to fight for them. Berman is set to face Randy Bryce in the Aug. 11, 2026, primary election. "Right now people are struggling. Bryan Steil has made a lot of promises and he had four terms to come through on them. And he hasn't," Berman said, adding that he knows what it's like to live paycheck to paycheck because he worked three jobs to put himself through college. Berman, a board certified emergency nurse, said one of his top issues is affordability, noting that Steil's vote for President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced Medicaid and food assistance programs many Wisconsinites depend on. Democrats across the country are making the legislation a focal point of 2026 midterm campaigns. About one in five Wisconsinites receive health coverage and services through Wisconsin's Medicaid programs, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. If elected to office, Berman said his main goal is to focus on "kitchen table issues" that "resonate" with people across the district, which includes access to affordable health care, child care and groceries. "I think that working in nursing really transitions well into being a representative in Congress. My sole job as a nurse is to identify problems and take care of people," Berman said. "As a nurse, I'm the last line of defense for the patient ... I'm the patient's advocate. In the same way a representative in Congress is fighting for their constituents." While Berman has never run for public office prior to this race, he has been an active community member at the local level. In 2024, Berman filed a suit in Racine County Circuit Court alleging the Raymond School District's board violated open meeting laws. As part of a resulting settlement, board members conceded that a board retreat in December 2022 violated state law. Berman told the Racine County Eye in December 2024 that the case is a "reminder of the indispensable role community members play in holding elected officials accountable." Earlier this year, two Wisconsin Elections Commission complaints filed against former Raymond School officials by Berman related to election integrity were dismissed. WEC determined both do "not raise reasonable suspicion" under state law, writing in its closure letter that Berman 'has not done anything more than make a general allegation, unsupported by details or evidence, that the affidavits submitted by signatories who wished to have their signatures removed from the recall petition contained false information." Republican Party of Wisconsin spokeswoman Anika Rickard told the Journal Sentinel Berman has entered the race after these complaints were dismissed to "determine which political activist is more radically left" in the Democratic primary. "Steil is running for reelection, and he will win. Just like last cycle when Peter Barca was propped up by millions of dollars in out-of-state dark money, and Steil still won by more than 10 points," Rickard said. Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District and 3rd Congressional District, represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, are considered the most competitive in Wisconsin. Aides to Steil and Bryce did not respond to a request for comment. This story will be updated. Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mitchell Beman launches bid for Steil's Wisconsin Congressional seat Solve the daily Crossword
USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Sherrod Brown to launch U.S. Senate bid against Ohio Sen. Jon Husted
The decision by Sherrod Brown, 72, came months after the Democrat lost his U.S. Senate seat to GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno in one of the country's most expensive 2024 races. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Sherrod Brown will run for U.S. Senate in 2026, seeking a political comeback in Ohio as Democrats hope for a sweeping rejection of President Donald Trump and his party, according to multiple news reports. The decision by Brown, 72, came months after he lost his U.S. Senate seat to Sen. Bernie Moreno in one of the country's most expensive races. This time, Ohio's most beloved Democrat will take on Sen. Jon Husted, who joined the Senate earlier this year after serving as lieutenant governor. first reported that Brown has shared his decision with Ohio labor leaders. Politico and Axios also reported his plans, citing unnamed sources. More: 11 pivotal Senate races for 2026 The Statehouse Bureau, a USA TODAY Network partner, is trying to confirm the news independently. A spokesperson for Brown did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Husted to replace Vice President JD Vance. Husted must run in November 2026 to keep his seat. Whoever wins in 2026 will be up for reelection two years later. Brown's decision ended speculation that he would run for governor against the presumptive GOP nominee, Vivek Ramaswamy. Former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton is the only Democrat in that race, although former Congressman Tim Ryan is mulling a bid. Running for governor would have placed Brown at the top of Ohio's ticket in 2026. He also could have sat out the election and focused on a nonprofit he launched earlier this year. Instead, Brown opted to pursue a familiar job and the chance to help his party flip the Senate. Despite Brown's loss in 2024, Democrats in Ohio and nationally view him as key to breaking the hold Republicans have on the Buckeye State. GOP leaders control control every statewide executive office, but they're all term limited in 2026 and playing musical chairs in an effort to maintain power. Brown received 117,250 more votes than former Vice President Kamala Harris. Democrats contend that math will be in their favor when the president isn't on the ballot and GOP candidates face questions about Medicaid cuts, immigration raids and the widespread firing of federal employees. Husted, for his part, has been a reliable supporter of Trump's agenda since he took office. He supported the budget bill that slashed $1 trillion from Medicaid, eliminated taxes on tips, increased the child tax credit and enacted tax cuts that primarily benefit high earners. State government reporter Haley BeMiller can be reached at hbemiller@ or @haleybemiller on X. What do you think about Sherrod Brown running for U.S. Senate?
Fast Company
4 hours ago
- Fast Company
The CBO has released estimates revealing Trump's impact on the poorest and richest Americans
President Donald Trump's tax and spending law will result in less income for the poorest Americans while sending money to the richest, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported Monday. The CBO estimates that the 10% of poorest Americans will lose roughly $1,200 a year as they experience restrictions on government programs like Medicaid and food assistance, while the richest 10% of Americans will see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts. Overall, American households will see more income from the tax cuts in the legislation, including middle income households, but the largest benefit will go to the top 10% of earners. The CBO's report comes as lawmakers are away from Washington, many taking their messages about the bill to voters. Republicans muscled the legislation — deemed 'the big, beautiful bill' by Trump — through Congress in July. Democrats all vehemently opposed the legislation, warning that its tax cuts and spending priorities would come at the expense of vital government aid programs and a ballooning national debt. 'This really is a big, beautiful bill for billionaires, but for the poor and the working class in this country, you are actually poorer,' said Rep. Brendan Boyle, the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, in an MSNBC interview on Monday. Changes to eligibility for government food assistance under the law will impact millions of Americans, the CBO found. Roughly 2.4 million people won't be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under new work requirements for many recipients. Low-income Americans could also see their income reduced through further restrictions on food aid and other types of assistance included in the law. Already, more than 10 million Americans are expected to lose health insurance by 2034 due to changes to Medicaid under the law. Following release of the report, Rep. Jason Smith, the Republican chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he took issue with CBO's methodology, repeating criticism he has made in the past. 'CBO has a troubled track record of getting its estimates incorrect and, like Democrats, is biased in favor of more federal spending and higher taxes,' Smith said on social media. 'Don't buy it.' Republicans have been eager to sell the upsides of the legislation — arguing that the tax cuts will spur economic growth — while they are on a monthlong summer break from Washington. But those who have held townhalls in their home districts have often been greeted by an earful from voters and activists. 'Tax the rich,' the crowd in Lincoln, Neb. chanted last week as Republican Rep. Michael Flood attempted to defend the bill. Still, Trump has been undeterred. 'President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is putting America First like never before, delivering huge savings for hardworking families, boosting our economy, and securing our borders,' said White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson in a statement last week.
