16-04-2025
Community members speak on Tax Day to express concerns over federal tax bill
EAU CLAIRE — Community leaders expressed their concerns about a Congressional federal tax bill on Tuesday in front of the Federal Courthouse building in Eau Claire.
The event, organized by Opportunity Wisconsin, was intentionally arranged on Tax Day to focus on the impact the bill could have on taxpayers.
'Republicans in Congress are working to pass a tax bill that will give massive tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations,' said Eau Claire Regional Lead for Opportunity Wisconsin Ethan Reed. 'Their plan costs trillions of dollars and they're trying to make working and middle class people foot the bill.'
Standing next to a display of canned goods to represent how the Congressional budget will impact western Wisconsin residents, each speaker expressed their various concerns over how the proposed tax cuts would force cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare, and Social Security.
Eau Claire County Board Member and OBGYN Dr. David Hirsch spoke about his work as a physician and his concern over possible indiscriminate cuts to Medicaid.
'Sixty percent of my pregnant moms are on Medicaid, on Badgercare,' he said. 'That's how they have their babies. I'm really worried because it seems like DOGE is slashing indiscriminately and I'm worried that Congress is going to do the same thing to Medicaid.'
He said that millions of dollars to support the most needy in Eau Claire County comes from Medicaid dollars through the Human Services Department.
'It's really terrible, similarly in the public Health Department,' he said. 'All the things I represent are strongly supported and really can only survive because of Medicaid dollars.'
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) retiree Sue Conard was most concerned about attacks on Social Security.
'My entire life, I have benefited from Social Security in some way,' she said. 'My Dad died when I was three years old. Without Social Security survivor benefits that my mom and I got, we never would have made it just on her income. We could stay in our home, buy groceries, get health insurance with those benefits.'
She said in more recent years, she has benefited from Social Security since the unexpected death of her husband.
'Again, the survivor benefits are what got me through,' she said. 'I was able to stay in my home. I wasn't eligible for Medicare yet at the time, so his benefits actually allowed me to buy health insurance. My Social Security benefits also helped buy supplemental insurance. It allows me to work with my family. I don't have to worry about being reliant on my kids. I can be independent.'
Reed said that just last week he was in Representative Derrick Van Orden's office in Washington D.C.
'It was a lovely meeting, don't get me wrong,' Reed said. 'I really appreciated the time that he gave us. We talked for 90 minutes and everyone had their opportunity to tell him how important these social programs are. He went as far as to write us letters saying that the benefits will not legally be taken away which we will hold him to account for.'
The canned goods were later donated to a local food bank.
