Wisconsin Families Share Impact of Trump Cuts in New Campaign

A new campaign features Wisconsin families and the very real consequences of recent Republican-backed federal budget cuts. Right now, the overall response seems to be clear – residents are bracing for an impact. Sondra Goldschein, Executive Director of the Campaign for a Family Friendly Economy, joined Pat Kreitlow, host of Mornings with Pat Kreitlow, to discuss this new project which shares firsthand accounts in a storybook form. It’s an illustration of the cost of policies that strip away funding from vital programs like Medicaid, Head Start, and SNAP.

“This isn’t about politics. It’s about people,” Goldschein says. “We talked to families who don’t usually speak out. Folks who aren’t politically active, but who feel like this bill is immoral and will profoundly affect their lives.”

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Watch the entire discussion starting at 1:10:55 here:

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“Storybook: On the Line” features seven Wisconsin families. These are people who say their lives have been shaped, and in many cases saved, by programs now on the chopping block under legislation backed by President Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.

One of those stories is from Julia Bennker. The Eau Claire woman credits Medicaid for saving her life after mental health challenges led to multiple hospitalizations. Bennker tells how having access to care, she found her footing, started a business, and now runs an in-home childcare center. 

“She sees what’s at stake,” Goldschein explains. “And she sees that her representative, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, voted for a bill that prioritizes tax breaks for billionaires over the health and livelihood of people like her.”

Another story comes from Jessica Seawright in Milwaukee. Her young son was born with a brain malformation and a complex genetic disorder. Medicaid covers essential, ongoing treatment that would otherwise bankrupt her family. Seawright and her husband still face staggering out-of-pocket costs even with Medicaid, including hundreds in monthly premiums and thousands toward annual deductibles. The idea that this lifeline could be weakened or taken away leaves her terrified.

“These programs don’t just support individuals. They support our economy,” Goldschein says. “If you eliminate Head Start, you eliminate childcare for working parents. That leads to more single-income households and makes the worker shortage even worse.”

Goldschein also emphasizes the fight is just getting started. A recent bus tour across Wisconsin, aimed to raise awareness and pressure lawmakers to answer for their votes. Notably absent from public events in their own districts? Reps. Brian Steil and Derrick Van Orden — both of whom supported the Republican budget and have avoided constituent town halls since.

“They know what they did was deeply unpopular,” Goldschein says. “But people are watching. They’re calling. They’re organizing.”

She also highlights the importance of supporting lawmakers who are standing up for working families, like Rep. Gwen Moore and Rep. Mark Pocan. Pocan has even held town halls in neighboring districts to fill the vacuum left by Van Orden’s silence.

“People should thank the champions like Rep. Moore and Sen. Tammy Baldwin,” Goldschein says. “They’ve consistently voted to protect these programs.”

Goldschein encourages you to read the storybook, contact your representatives, and keep sharing your own experiences. You can also learn more about Family Friendly Wisconsin Campaign here.

“We’re not brushing off our hands and saying, ‘What can you do?’” she shares. “The carrying on means continuing to speak out — for ourselves, our families, and our neighbors.”

You can read the entire “Storybook: On the Line” here.