Racine Residents Tell Lawmakers to “Stop the Billionaire Giveaway" at National Bus Tour Event

14-State National Campaign Rolls into Wisconsin to Highlight the Harmful Impacts of the GOP’s Federal Budget + Tax Bill

Racine, Wis. (June 30, 2025) – Today, Fair Share America and Unrig our Economy brought the “Stop the Billionaire Giveaway” national bus tour to Racine, WI. After local leaders and residents shared their stories of how the federal budget reconciliation bill will harm Wisconsin families, the group delivered more than 2000 pledge cards from constituents to Rep. Byan Steil’s office detailing why they oppose cutting essential programs for working people just to fund tax breaks for billionaires.

The 45-foot tour bus, wrapped in a giant trillion-dollar bill, will make three stops in Wisconsin to send a clear message to elected officials: working families should not have to pay the price so billionaires and big corporations can get more tax breaks.

Kristen Crowell, Executive Director of Fair Share America and a resident of Cedarburg, Wisconsin, reflected on how the bill has only gotten worse for families as it progresses through Congress:

“As I was looking at the impacts of the Senate revisions to this budget bill, the number of people who stand to get kicked off Medicaid has grown—from 13 million to 16 million to now 17 million. In the state of Wisconsin, there are over 1.4 million people—our neighbors, our families, our community members—who stand to lose health care. And when you don’t have health care, it starts a downward spiral. It will push families further into debt at a time when the cost of living has already gone up just to exist—to pay the rent, to pay the mortgage, to buy food. Everything costs more.”

Racine Mayor Cory Mason, illustrated how these federal cuts will play out on the ground in Wisconsin cities:

“These cuts to Medicaid and to SNAP—to health care and food for children—are going to hurt the working class and the poor, make it harder for people to get into and stay in the middle class, and really make life more difficult when they’re already dealing with health care for a parent, a child, or just trying to stay in their home. We are stealing from the futures of our children and our seniors to pay for tax breaks for rich people who don’t need it. When your elderly parent is in a nursing home—that’s Medicaid. When your student needs mental health services in school—that’s Medicaid. When your kid needs a meal in the summer because they’re food insecure—that’s SNAP. This bill will make your health care more expensive and local governments will be asked to fill the gap. You’re going to pay for it twice. It’s bad fiscal policy, and morally, it’s the wrong direction.”

State Rep Greta Neubauer, underscored how the GOP budget plan threatens the wellbeing of Wisconsin families:

“Nearly one in two children in my Assembly district rely on Medicaid for the health care they need. Trump’s cuts put that health care at risk. Racine Unified receives more than $33 million every year from the federal Department of Education. Trump’s cuts jeopardize that support for our students. Families rely on Head Start programs for their kids, and this bill puts that in jeopardy too. These are real people who will be hurt. This is a tumultuous period in our country. We need leaders who will stand up to the chaos and protect working families—not leaders who take money away from working people and hand it to billionaires. This fight is critical for our future, and we need to make sure that Brian Steil hears our voices. We expect better.”

Dr. Stephen Blonsky, a retired Wisconsin nephrologist who treated kidney patients for more than 30 years, gave a stark warning about what the bill would mean for patients like his:

“Now Congress wants to take millions of people off Medicaid. It’s indefensible. They talk about work requirements—but my dialysis patients are literally hooked up to machines 12 hours a week, and still live with fatigue, nausea, and pain. No amount of paperwork is going to make them less sick. One congressional aide even admitted, ‘I had no idea how debilitating chronic dialysis could be.’ The people writing these laws don’t understand what it’s like to sit in a dialysis chair—or to care for someone who does. What we need is compassion. It’s time to stop pretending billionaires need help while patients lose access to lifesaving care. Stop the billionaire giveaway. Protect your constituents. Vote no on Medicaid cuts.”

Emma Widmar, a Wisconsin health care advocate living with multiple chronic and rare conditions, shared her story describing what Medicaid has made possible in her life:

“From the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee to trips to the Mayo Clinic and emergency rooms in Racine, my family has spent every dime covering the costs—prescriptions, specialized equipment, and other disability-related expenses. Thanks to Medicaid, I could afford the caretakers, medical devices, treatments, and tests I needed. I worked part-time, earned a degree, and tried to be self-sufficient—but I was punished for it. I wasn’t allowed to have more than $2,000 in my bank account, while billionaires get endless tax breaks. That’s not just unfair—it’s dangerous.”

Eldrid Lavender, a Wisconsin resident and advocate, described the real-world impact of the cuts on disabled people and the trans community:

“These cuts aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet—they’re people. My best friend lost food assistance because of new SNAP work requirements they physically can’t meet. My grandparents rely on Medicare for the medications that keep them alive. And this bill targets lifesaving health care for trans people like me and my friends. It’s not about fiscal responsibility—it’s about stripping working families, disabled people, and vulnerable communities of their dignity so billionaires can get another tax break. We shouldn’t have to fight for basic care and respect—but we will.”

Cierra Chesir, Opportunity Wisconsin Regional, closed out the event by urging continued mobilization:

“These cuts aren’t just numbers on a page—they impact real people and families right here in our community. Millions will lose access to health care. Good-paying jobs will be lost. Seniors will struggle to retire with security. And families will be forced to pay more for groceries and electric bills—all so Republicans like Brian Steil can give more tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations. That’s wrong, and it’s not what his constituents deserve. We’re delivering thousands of pledge cards today to make sure he hears us loud and clear.”

The full swing through Wisconsin includes three stops:

Monday, June 30

Tuesday, July 1