McCarthy’s Continued Protection of Santos Indicative of how Extreme the MAGA Agenda Is

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following extensive reporting and a federal investigation into Rep. George Santos’s alleged lies and resume fabrications, it was revealed today that Santos has been charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, theft of public funds, and making false statements to the House.

Despite pressure from constituents and local and national advocacy groups, including Courage for America, McCarthy has thus far refused to hold a vote to expel Santos, even as evidence of his lies and corruption continued to be brought to light. Santos has already filed paperwork to run for re-election to New York’s third congressional district.

Courage for America councilmember and Santos constituent, Danielle Hindieh, issued the following statement in response:

“The people of NY-03 are now represented by a man who has been placed in federal custody and charged with over a dozen crimes. Speaker McCarthy’s choice to willfully ignore extensive evidence is a clear indication of his ethical and moral bankruptcy as a leader and his single-minded determination to conserve political power at all costs. As a former teacher and proud member of this community, I am standing up for my fellow New Yorkers and demanding that McCarthy hold a vote to expel Santos from Congress immediately.”

In February, nearly 50 of Santos’s constituents traveled from NY-03 to Capitol Hill with Courage for America and Concerned Citizens of NY-03, where the group held a press conference with Reps. Dan Goldman (NY-10) and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and delivered a petition signed by nearly 1,500 constituents calling on Speaker McCarthy and Republican leadership to hold a vote to expel Santos from the chamber.

PHOTOS from Courage for America and NY-03 constituents’ DC press conference and petition delivery in February

All photos are free for use with credit to Courage for America

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As Default Deadline Looms, MAGA House Must Pass Clean Bill Preventing Catastrophe 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Biden will meet with House Speaker McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), House Minority Leader Jeffries (D-NY), and Senate Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) to discuss the urgent need to prevent the impending default crisis. The meeting comes less than one month before the date that Treasury Secretary Yellen has warned the U.S. could potentially default on the national debt, which would have devastating implications for the national and global economies.

Naveed Shah, Courage for America spokesperson and political director for Common Defense, issued the following statement in response:

“Speaker McCarthy and his fellow MAGA House members have catapulted the nation to the brink of a devastating default in order to ram through dangerous and deeply unpopular cuts to essential programs that seniors, veterans, and children rely on. From slashing millions of medical visits for returning service members to ending food assistance to the elderly, the MAGA default bill will hurt individuals and communities across the country. The way to address our deficit is to pass a clean bill preventing default now and then taking steps like ending taxpayer-funded giveaways to the wealthy and corporations that ship American jobs overseas — not threatening seniors, veterans and children.”

Courage for America has been a consistent leader in the fight to hold MAGA Republicans accountable for using the default crisis as an excuse to cut Americans’ benefits. In the last two weeks, the campaign held a press call with Rep. Gallego and Arizona veterans condemning the MAGA default bill’s cuts to veterans’ benefits, launched ads in eight Republican-held districts slamming the bill for cutting law enforcement funding, and held another press call with Officer Michael Fanone and Sheriff Mark Brave condemning cuts to law enforcement funding. Last month, the campaign ran a successful 20-day cross-country bus tour ahead of the release of McCarthy’s default bill, calling on House Republicans to promise their constituents they will not cut essential programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, the Affordable Care Act, and SNAP.

Facts About McCarthy’s MAGA Default On America Act: 

• Threatens 22% cuts to education, veterans’ health care, child care, and opioids treatment.
• Endangers public safety, cutting funding for over 2,000 Customs and Border Protection Agents, 11,000 FBI personnel, and hundreds of local law enforcement positions.
• Makes traveling harder and less safe, shutting down 125 air traffic control towers, increasing airport security wait times and slashing rail safety inspections.
• Hurts our children’s education, eliminating Pell Grants for 80,000 students and causing 300,000 kids to lose access to Head Start and child care.
• Sends good-paying American manufacturing jobs overseas by repealing clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Cuts Medicaid for 2 million people, catering to MAGA extremist Rep. Matt Gaetz’s demands to make even harsher Medicaid cuts.
• Evicts hundreds of thousands of families, older adults, veterans and people with disabilities from Section 8 housing and cuts rental assistance.
• Takes away food assistance from more than one million seniors and 1.2 million women, babies, and children.
• Takes away health care access for 2 million people via community health centers, disproportionately impacting rural areas.

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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Ads To Run in 8 Republican House Districts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Courage for America announced the launch of a new ad targeting the MAGA Default on America Act that will run in 8 Republican-held congressional districts across the country. The ad exposes the bill’s broad cuts to veterans’ benefits and law enforcement funding, which will impact everything from border patrol to the FBI to local police departments.

“Using the default crisis as leverage to slash law enforcement budgets — while continuing to claim to be pro-police — is pure hypocrisy,” said Officer Michael Fanone, former MPD officer and Courage for America council member. “This legislation would wreak havoc on the safety and financial security of our communities, seniors, veterans, and children. We should be tackling our nation’s debt by making billionaires and corporations that ship American jobs overseas pay their fair share, not gutting benefits.”

Watch the AZ-01 ad here.

The ad launch comes on the heels of Courage for America’s nationwide “Back Off Our Benefits” bus tour calling on Speaker McCarthy and other members of the House majority to stop using the default crisis as an excuse to threaten benefits. The ads will run in the following districts:

• AZ-01: Rep. Schweikert
• AZ-06: Rep. Ciscomani
• CA-13: Rep. Duarte
• NC-11: Rep. Edwards
• NY-19: Rep. Molinaro
• NY-22: Rep. Williams
• NY-04: Rep. D’Esposito
• VA-02: Rep. Kiggans

Full sample script of the AZ-01 ad, titled “Stop the Default on America Act” below: 

“Rather than keep our country strong,
The MAGA Republican Congress just voted
To defund the police, weaken border security, and slash veterans benefits.
They’d rather protect tax breaks for corporations
than our safety and wellbeing.”
Tell Representative Schweikert, (480) 946-2411, to stop supporting the Default on America Act. 

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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“A Huge Slap in the Face”: Veteran Constituents of Gosar, Crane, Schweikert, Ciscomani Condemn AZ Republicans in Congress for Supporting McCarthy’s Default Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego and Arizona veterans joined Courage for America to call out the majority of the AZ GOP delegation for voting in favor of the MAGA default plan, which will make deep cuts to veterans’ benefits. Nearly every Arizona Republican in the House — Rep. David Schweikert, Rep. Eli Crane, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, Rep. Debbie Lesko, and Rep. Paul Gosar — voted in support of the extreme plan. This vote passed by the slimmest of margins, making each one of these members the deciding vote on this bill.

The press call comes on the heels of Courage for America’s nationwide bus tour, which stopped in Phoenix and Flagstaff earlier this month calling on AZ Republicans to back off critical benefits Americans rely on.

WATCH THE FULL EVENT HERE

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03)

“The fact that you have Republicans, right now, that are trying to defund the V.A. to basically pay for their tax cuts…It ends up being, I think, a huge slap in the face.”

“These are the same people that wear the flag on their lapel pins. They’re the ones that always say that they’re ‘patriots.’ They’re always the ones that say ‘you got to back the troops.’ Well, guess what? They’re not backing us up right now. They’re putting us on the chopping block so that they can preserve their tax cuts and try to use us as leverage in order for them to really continue their really extremist point of views.”

Sylvia Andersh-Gonzales, veteran and Rep. Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) constituent

“Juan Ciscomani was supposed to be elected to represent all of us and instead he wants to just play Santa Claus to the rich and corporations. As woman and as a Hispanic veteran, I don’t like the fact that they’re playing political games with our lives – I find that unforgivable.”

Paulette Yazzie, veteran and Rep. Crane (R-AZ-02) constituent 

“So please, Representative Eli, prioritize your constituents over party interests. Don’t mess around with our benefits. Don’t take us for granted.”

Frank Thompson, veteran and Arizona resident

“Why is it you always find the funds to send us to die, but can never find the funds to take care of us when we return?”

Ricardo Reyes, Marine veteran and Rep. Schweikert (R-AZ-01) constituent

“I just wanted to say how disappointed I am in David Schweikert – but I am constantly disappointed by him and other Republicans, it’s nothing new. They won’t care that we’re doing this. They won’t care that we’re veterans, speaking our mind, and letting them know how the cuts that they’re proposing are going to hurt us.”

Derek Duba, Army veteran and Rep. Gosar (R-AZ-09) constituent 

“These cuts will result in nearly a million fewer appointments available for Arizona veterans this year, if passed. I waited three months this year for a behavioral health care appointment through the Phoenix, V.A. – I had to be hospitalized waiting for that care – because our resources are already spread so thin. So my question to House GOP is this: Who are you looking to fire? Is it my psychiatrist? Is it my physical therapist? Is it the security guards at the door?”

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Veteran Constituents of Gosar, Crane, Schweikert, Ciscomani Condemn AZ Republicans in Congress for Supporting McCarthy’s Default Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, April 27 at 11 AM MST, Rep. Ruben Gallego and Arizona veterans will join Courage for America for a press call to call out the AZ GOP delegation for voting in favor of the MAGA default plan, which will make deep cuts to veterans’ benefits.  Nearly every Arizona Republican in the House — Rep. David Schweikert, Rep. Eli Crane, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, Rep. Debbie Lesko, and Rep. Paul Gosar — voted in support of the extreme plan. This vote passed by the slimmest of margins, making each one of these members the deciding vote on this bill.
The press call comes on the heels of Courage for America’s nationwide bus tour, which stopped in Phoenix and Flagstaff earlier this month calling on AZ Republicans to back off critical benefits Americans rely on.

Register for the Press Call

WHAT: Courage for America and veterans from across the state host a press call condemning AZ GOP House members for supporting McCarthy’s default plan.

WHO: 

• Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03)
• Derek Duba, Army veteran and Rep. Gosar (R-AZ-09) constituent
• Ricardo Reyes, Marine veteran and Rep. Schweikert (R-AZ-01) constituent
• Sylvia Andersh-Gonzales, veteran and Rep. Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) constituent
• Paulette Yazzie, veteran and Rep. Crane (R-AZ-02) constituent
• Frank Thompson, veteran and Arizona resident

WHEN: Thursday, April 27 at 11 AM MST

WHERE: RSVP HERE for the Zoom link

For questions or to RSVP directly contact [email protected]. 
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Default plan guts popular programs, eliminates funding for thousands of law enforcement jobs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Republicans voted to pass McCarthy’s MAGA Default on America Act, which would slash funding for Medicaid, veterans’ benefits, law enforcement, border security, and SNAP among other harmful outcomes.

“The MAGA Default On America Act would be devastating to American seniors, veterans, and children — reducing access to Medicaid, nutrition assistance, and opioid treatment and gutting funding for law enforcement from border security to local police,” said Laura Packard, Courage for America spokesperson. “The way to address the debt is to raise taxes on billionaires and corporations that ship American jobs overseas — not take away health care from millions of Americans and make life harder for veterans.”

Facts About the MAGA Default On America Act: 

• Threatens 22% cuts to education, veterans’ health care, child care, and opioids treatment.
• Endangers public safety, cutting funding for over 2,000 Customs and Border Protection Agents, 11,000 FBI personnel, and hundreds of local law enforcement positions.
• Makes traveling harder and less safe, shutting down 125 air traffic control towers, increasing airport security wait times and slashing rail safety inspections.
• Hurts our children’s education, eliminating Pell Grants for 80,000 students and causing 300,000 kids to lose access to Headstart and child care.
• Sends good-paying American manufacturing jobs overseas by repealing clean energy investments from the Inflation Reduction Act.
• Cuts Medicaid for 2 million people, catering to MAGA extremist Rep. Matt Gaetz’s demands to make even harsher Medicaid cuts.
• Evicts hundreds of thousands of families, older adults, veterans and people with disabilities from Section 8 housing and cuts rental assistance.
• Takes away food assistance from more than one million seniors and 1.2 million women, babies, and children.
• Takes away health care access for 2 million people via community health centers, disproportionately impacting rural areas.

For questions or additional commentary, please contact [email protected].

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Officer Fanone and NH-Sheriff Mark Brave Condemn McCarthy’s  Default Plan for Cuts to FBI, Border Patrol, and Local Police Funding

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Monday, April 24, Courage for America hosted a press call with former MPD officer Michael Fanone and Strafford County, NH Sheriff Mark Brave to discuss the implications of Speaker McCarthy’s default plan and its deep cuts to law enforcement and border security.

Speakers blasted McCarthy and MAGA Republicans for their plan’s cuts to the FBI, Border Patrol, and police departments and the hypocrisy of these cuts coming from a party that claims to support law enforcement.

WATCH EVENT HERE

Michael Fanone, former MPD officer injured defending the Capitol on Jan 6:

• “Politicizing law enforcement, regardless of where it’s from, is wrong and I can’t think of anything more dangerous than doing just that.”

• “This will affect every community in the United States. Pulling funding from federal partners affects local law enforcement. I could not have done my job investigating violent criminals and narcotics traffickers without those partnerships and without the dollars that they bring from the federal government.”

Sheriff Mark Brave, Strafford County, NH 

• “This bill, which proposes 4.5 trillion dollars in cuts, is extreme and will hurt many people directly in my county, along with the law enforcement community, senior citizens, and our children. Anyone who votes for this legislation is voting to cut border security and law enforcement — it’s a bill to literally defund the police at its core and at all levels.”

• “These cuts severely put law enforcement and the community we serve at greater risk, including […] law enforcement’s fight against human trafficking, drugs, and illegal firearms. The days of putting money and power over the rights and freedoms of the American people need to stop. I know here in Strafford County, in the Granite State, and in New England, we’re all tired of it and we want to continue to keep our communities safe.”

For additional information or to speak with a spokesperson or event speaker, contact [email protected].

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Press Call Will Feature Remarks From Officer Fanone, Sheriff Mark Brave

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today at 1:30 PM ET, Courage for America will host a press call with former MPD officer Michael Fanone, Sheriff Mark Brave, and other experts to discuss the implications of Speaker McCarthy’s default plan and its deep cuts to law enforcement and border security.

Register for the Press Call

WHAT: Courage for America and prominent law enforcement officials discuss impact of proposed MAGA default plan on national and local security.

WHO: 

• Michael Fanone, former MPD officer injured defending the Capitol on Jan 6
• Mark Brave, Strafford County Sheriff

WHEN: Monday, April 24, at 1:30 PM ET

WHERE: RSVP HERE for the Zoom link

For questions or to RSVP directly contact [email protected]. 

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While McCarthy Speaks to Wall Street Executives, Constituents Blast Him for Prioritizing the Wealthy Over Working-Class Americans
Video, Audio, and Photos from All Bus Tour Stops Available In Our Press Kit

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, after Speaker Kevin McCarthy delivered remarks reassuring Wall Street billionaires and bankers that his default crisis plan prioritizes their interests, Courage for America held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol with advocates, allies, and one of McCarthy’s own constituents demanding that he stop using the debt limit as an excuse to threaten cuts to life-saving programs like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, and veterans’ benefits.

The Capitol Hill press conference was the final stop of the campaign’s 20-day, cross-country “Back Off Our Benefits” bus tour, which made stops in 13 congressional districts represented by Republicans. For today’s event, the group was joined by advocates from Common Defense, MoveOn, Patriotic Millionaires, Public Citizen, Social Security Works, the Alliance for Retired Americans, NAACP, Community Change Action, American Medical Student Association, Unrig Our Economy, and the American Federation of Teachers to call on MAGA politicians to stop playing politics with people’s lives.

Advocates then delivered a petition signed by over 150k Americans to Speaker McCarthy’s office demanding that he protect the hard-earned benefits of American seniors, working parents, children, veterans, and people with disabilities.

WATCH EVENT HERE

EVENT PHOTOS HERE

(All images free for use with credit to Courage for America)

Congressman John B. Larson (D, CT-01):

• “As Martin Luther King would say, what we have confronting us in America with regard to Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare is the fierce urgency of now. […] Rise up, America, get behind Courage for America, and have the courage to speak out about Social Security and all the benefits that it provides.”

Imelda Ceja-Butkiewicz, a McCarthy constituent and public health advocate:

• “Kevin McCarthy is my Congressman, but he is also America’s Speaker of the House, which is why my fight didn’t end at home. I traveled hundreds of miles to be here today, because it’s time Speaker McCarthy makes this promise to America.”
• “My retirement is under threat. I am scared. I am hurt. I am angry, but I am not silent. They don’t care about our futures or benefits or how we’re going to put food on the table. They’re more interested in protecting the wealthy and refusing to make them pay their fair share — PAC money and power over rights and freedom.”

Jamal R. Watkins, senior vice president of strategy and advancement at the NAACP:

• “The individuals who are prowling the halls of Congress behind us have to do their job not only to vote, but to vote in the right way to ensure that Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and all of the benefits that flow to the American people, to working people, [and] to Black and Brown communities happens — because if we don’t, then we’re gonna lose a lot more than we’ve seen historically.”

Laura Packard, executive director of Health Care Voter:

• “We’re on this tour going coast to coast sharing personal stories to make them listen. We’re the people you don’t always hear about, but these benefits affect every single one of us. […] Every single one of us is at risk when Kevin McCarthy and the MAGA  Republicans put our benefits on the chopping block.”
• “We’re here to tell Speaker Kevin McCarthy to back off our benefits. He’s in New York, playing with his Wall Street buddies, but we’re here because we need to be heard.”

Michael Fanone, former MPD Officer and Courage for America council member:

• “[McCarthy has] now been Speaker for 100 days and what does he have to show for it? Political blustering and nonsense that have done nothing to make life better for average Americans. Meanwhile, he has forced our economy to the brink of a national — and potentially global disaster — using the debt limit as an excuse to push a part of his agenda that he knows is not going to go over well with regular people.”
• “While you’re on Wall Street today reassuring some of the wealthiest people in the country that you’re looking out for them, we are here at your place of work to remind you that you are supposed to be working for us. Your political games aren’t worth our livelihoods. They’re not worth the health and stability of our national and global economies.”

Naveed Shah, a U.S. army veteran and political director of Common Defense:

• “Republican leadership is grossly out of touch with the reality of everyday Americans.”
• “In this the greatest and wealthiest country in the world, which I proudly served in the Army, we should be able to provide for our people, for our hardworking citizens, so they can live with dignity and respect. [We’re] here today to ask our elected leaders to make a simple promise to protect our hard-earned benefits.”

Syanne Centeno-Bloom, a disability rights activist:

• “Eliminating these programs which we have paid into and are in many cases, the only way people with disabilities can access life saving care, is akin to eugenics. For many more. It is a death sentence. […] Cutting Social Security and Medicare conveys that our lives don’t actually matter.”
• “It is outrageous that Republican leaders would even consider sunsetting programs like Social Security. Given that many of their own constituents — including people who voted for them and place their trust in them — rely on these programs. It is time for them to stop betraying their voters and start serving the interests of the American people.”
• “It should be no issue for them to sign a simple promise that they will not cut these essential programs. But to this day, after stops in 13 districts and 20 days spent traveling across the country to make that ask, Republicans have chosen to ignore us.”

Rahna Epting, executive director of MoveOn:

• “Kevin McCarthy is presiding over a mess of his own making. While the overwhelming majority of Americans and millions of MoveOn members want Social Security and Medicaid protected and a quick passage of a clean debt ceiling bill, the House Republicans that McCarthy leads want to risk our country going into default through their manufactured MAGA debt ceiling crisis. As the Speaker returns from recess, it is time for him to show his budget, tell his MAGA right-wing base to stop pushing for cuts to Social Security and Medicaid and commit to a clean passage of a debt ceiling bill — and MoveOn members across the country are ready to make that case in district after district.”

For photos, videos, and more, visit our Press Kit and Facebook. Event photos and videos will continue to be updated as they are available.
For additional information or to speak with a spokesperson or event speaker, contact [email protected].

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Courage for America and Advocates from Across the Country Demand McCarthy Stop Default Crisis to Threaten Cuts to Programs like Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, and Veterans’ Benefits

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, April 17, at 1:30 PM ET, as Speaker Kevin McCarthy delivers remarks on Wall Street about forcing our nation to default and protecting wealthy billionaires and bankers, Courage for America will host a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to conclude its cross-country “Back Off Our Benefits” bus tour.

After 20 days on the road and events in 13 congressional districts, advocates and constituents will call on Speaker McCarthy and MAGA lawmakers to stop using the default crisis as an excuse to threaten cuts to life-saving programs like Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, and veterans’ benefits.

Following the press conference, the group will hand-deliver a petition to Speaker McCarthy’s office signed by Americans from across the country calling on him to make a promise to Americans that he will not cut their hard-earned benefits

RSVP for the Press Conference Here

For photos, videos, local news clips, and more information on the tour, visit our press kit or contact [email protected].

“Back Off Our Benefits” Press Conference at U.S. Capitol 

• WHO: 
  • Congressman John B. Larson (D, CT-01)
  • Laura Packard, executive director of Health Care Voter
  • Michael Fanone, former MPD Officer and Courage for America council member
  • Naveed Shah, political director of Common Defense
  • Syanne Centeno-Bloom, disability rights activist
  • Imelda Ceja-Butkiewicz, a McCarthy constituent and public health advocate
  • WHEN: Today, April 17 at 1:30 PM ET (check-in begins at 1 PM ET)
  • WHERE: U.S. Capitol (Parcel 11, across the street from Cannon House office building) 

​​​​​​​***B-ROLL AND PHOTO VISUAL: Community leaders and constituents holding “Back Off Our Benefits” signs, speakers calling out MAGA Republicans in front of the Capitol Building***

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Advocates Ramp Up Pressure on MAGA Republicans Ahead of McCarthy’s 100th Day
Photos, Audio, and Tour Information Available in Our Press Kit

LA CROSSE, WI — Today, as part of its nationwide “Back Off Our Benefits” bus tour, Courage for America and Opportunity Wisconsin joined local advocates in La Crosse to call on Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) to promise his constituents that he will not cut essential programs that Americans rely on — including Social Security, Medicare, SNAP, and veterans’ benefits. At Red Cloud Park, several of Rep. Van Orden’s constituents demanded that MAGA lawmakers stop playing political games with the default crisis at their expense.

With Speaker Kevin McCarthy set to deliver remarks on Wall Street about forcing our nation to default, advocates from Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Protect Our Care, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans joined Courage for America in calling out House Republicans for prioritizing the wealthy over children, working people, veterans, and retirees who rely on these critical benefits.

For photos, videos, and more, visit our Press Kit and Facebook. Event photos and videos will continue to be updated as they are available.

For additional information or to speak with a spokesperson or event speaker, contact [email protected].

(All images free for use with credit to Courage for America)

WATCH EVENT HERE

FULL EVENT AUDIO HERE

EVENT PHOTOS HERE

Here’s what speakers had to say about MAGA lawmakers’ extreme agenda:

Brad Pfaff, a Wisconsin state senator (SD-32):

• “We do not need to play games when it comes to this debt ceiling — we need to do the responsible thing and [lift] the debt ceiling. When it comes to a budget conversation, I encourage Republican members of Congress to come forward with their budget proposal. Let’s see what you have, and let’s make sure that whatever you put out in that budget proposal that it recognizes the hard working men and women out here that have paid their share, they’ve paid their dues.”
• “I am confident that the American public will not stand for any type of games that are being played with the future of our Social Security and Medicare.”

Reba Krueger, Opportunity Wisconsin regional lead:

• “With the economic default looming over our heads, Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, veterans benefits, food stamps, and even the Affordable Care Act are under attack. […] Millions of American lives depend on these benefits and the security they provide.”
• “House Republicans, including Rep. Van Orden, are risking a major global economic crisis, and major personal crises for millions of Americans, including those of us right here in Wisconsin, just to score political points. We are here to tell Rep. Van Orden a final time to promise his constituents, back off our hard earned benefits and stop playing politics with their livelihoods.”

Wes Davis, a Courage for America council member:

• “This MAGA-controlled House is willing to plunge the entire country — and I’ll go as far to say the globe — into a catastrophic default crisis to strip away programs like Social Security and Medicare programs that so many hardworking Americans pay into for prescriptions. […] Speaker McCarthy, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and Derrick Van Orden are willing to play political games with our livelihoods in their quest for power. They’re willing to let the whole country suffer and hardworking Americans suffer.”

Tina Pohlman, a WI-03 constituent:

• “It is terrifying to consider what these cuts that Representative Van Orden and the Republican leaders like Kevin McCarthy will make to programs that I rely on to keep their political promises to the far right, ultra-MAGA extremists.”

Dr. Robert J. Freedland, a WI-03 constituent and health care advocate:

• “We call on Congressman Van Orden to have courage — courage to represent our district. I’m calling for him to protect our Social Security, protect our Medicare and Medicaid, protect your youth, protect the environment, protect our future.”
• “I am asking Representative Derrick Van Orden: Will you protect Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security for me and millions of others?”

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State Senator Brad Pfaff, Advocates Ramp Up Pressure on MAGA Republicans Ahead of Potential Default Crisis and McCarthy’s 100th Day

LA CROSSE, WI — Today, (4/15) at 12 PM CT, as part of its nationwide “Back Off Our Benefits” bus tour, Courage for America and Opportunity Wisconsin will host a press conference with local advocates in La Crosse at Red Cloud Park to call on Representative Van Orden to promise his constituents that he will not cut essential programs that Americans rely on — including Social Security, Medicare, and veterans’ benefits.

Joined by State Senator Brad Pfaff, Protect Our Care, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Alliance for Retired Americans, and other allies, Rep. Van Orden’s constituents will shine a light on how MAGA lawmakers’ political games are pushing the country toward a default crisis at the expense of American seniors, veterans, and children.

RSVP For the Press Conference Here

This stop will be the tour’s final district stop before heading to Washington, DC for a press conference on Capitol Hill on Monday, April 17th.

PRESS CONFERENCE AT RED CLOUD PARK 

• WHO: 
  • Senator Brad Pfaff, Wisconsin state senator (SD-32)
  • Reba Krueger, Opportunity Wisconsin regional lead
  • Wes Davis, Courage for America council member
  • Dr. Robert J. Freedland, constituent
  • Tina Pohlman, constituent
  • Paul Adams, constituent
• WHEN: Today, (4/15) at 12 PM CT (check-in begins at 11:30 AM CT) 
• WHERE: Red Cloud Park at 416 Powell St., La Crosse, WI 54601

** B-ROLL AND PHOTO VISUAL: “Back Off Our Benefits” branded bus, signs being held by individuals; large “empty promise” placard; local community members speaking; campaign members wearing Courage for America t-shirts and sweatshirts**

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