Surprising No One, Senator Johnson Votes Against Relief for Wisconsin Workers and Families
Despite Johnson’s Attempted Obstruction, Wisconsinites Will Soon Receive $1,400 Checks, More Vaccines, and Small Business Aid
MADISON, Wis.— Opportunity Wisconsin today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill that will provide billions for Wisconsin small businesses, extend eviction moratoriums, expand vaccine distribution, invest billions to help reopen schools, and distribute $1,400 checks to struggling Wisconsinites who need it most. The bill passed, despite Senator Ron Johnson’s inexplicable delaying tactics that forced Senate staff to read the bill aloud, wasting hours of the Senate’s valuable time for no apparent gain, while Badger State residents continued to struggle.
“True to his word, Senator Johnson led the resistance to providing urgently needed relief for Badger State residents. With thousands of Wisconsin lives lost and even more out of work, our friends and neighbors across the state deserve a senator who is going to put them first. We’re grateful for elected leaders, like Senator Tammy Baldwin, who listened to their constituents and voted to help communities recover from the pandemic’s devastation. Unfortunately, Senator Johnson instead prioritized political ploys over the Wisconsin people.”
The American Rescue Plan has overwhelming popular support in the Badger State, particularly provisions that provide relief for small businesses, extend eviction moratoriums, reduce health care costs, and provide $1,400 direct payments. Recent polling from Opportunity Wisconsin and Change Research showed that a 57% majority of Wisconsinites, including 14% of Trump supporters, believed that Senator Johnson should have supported the American Rescue Plan. Only 34% of Wisconsinites wanted Senator Johnson to oppose it.
Last month, Opportunity Wisconsin launched a $1M statewide TV ad campaign featuring Wisconsin residents urging Senator Johnson to stop blocking COVID relief checks for Badger State families and workers.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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Mentioned in This Press Release
Recent Press Releases by Opportunity Wisconsin
Senator Johnson Promises to Once Again Block Aid for Wisconsinites, Even If It’s Bipartisan
Jun 10th, 2021 by Opportunity WisconsinJohnson vows to obstruct critical investments in Wisconsin roads and bridges
No Thanks to Sen. Johnson, U.S. Reaches Major Vaccination Milestone
May 25th, 2021 by Opportunity Wisconsin50% of U.S. adults expected to be fully vaccinated as of Tuesday
Senator Johnson Opposes Former WI Health Official Despite Overwhelming Bipartisan Support
May 11th, 2021 by Opportunity WisconsinSenator Ron Johnson Again Shows He’s Far Outside What Wisconsinites Expect from Elected Leaders in Washington
Researchers at Columbia University estimate that the Biden/Democratic Relief legislation will reduce adult poverty by 25% and cut child poverty in half.
The legislation is expected to lift the incomes of the lowest 1/5 of persons by 20%.
The Trump/Republican tax cut lifted the incomes of this group by less than 1%.
If Johnson runs again he needs to explain why he opposes effective poverty reduction initiatives, when our economy is still lacking 10 million jobs compared to a year ago.
Senator Johnson is an embarrassment to Wisconsin Voters.
We cannot wait to be rid of him. I feel sorry for his family.