Editor’s Note: The Ideas Lab asked the Democrat and Republican candidates running for the U.S. House of Representatives to write 2,000-word essays on how they would address inflation, gun violence and health care if elected. Wisconsinites surveyed as part of the Main Street Agenda project said those are the top three issues they face heading into the Nov. 5 election.
Our country is headed in the wrong direction. It’s time to get to work and turn things around. As I travel across southeast Wisconsin, I’m hearing about the impact inflation is having on families’ budgets, the drug and humanitarian crisis at our southern border, the need for safer communities, and the importance of protecting Social Security and Medicare. I’m focused on working to address these concerns and get our country back on track.
Costs are too high. When I’m out talking to workers, families, and seniors across Wisconsin they are struggling with higher costs due to inflation. Whether its prices at the grocery store, the gas station, or the cost of housing. Since President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris took office, prices have risen roughly 20%. On average, a family is spending $1,400 more a month than they did four years ago. I recently talked to a young couple who is struggling to cover their grocery bill for their family. This isn’t sustainable.
Opinion: Peter Barca:Send me to Congress again to fight for Wisconsin families
Reckless spending in Washington is driving up prices. Over the last three years of the Biden-Harris Administration, we’ve seen reckless spending and a regulatory agenda that dramatically increased costs. That’s why I proudly supported legislation that cut billions of dollars of wasteful spending and will reduce our debt by more than a trillion dollars over the next decade. We did this while protecting veterans benefits, Social Security, and Medicare. This is just the first step, though. By cutting red tape, restoring energy independence, and ending wasteful government programs, we can make prices affordable for everyone. We cannot afford four more years of the Biden-Harris economic agenda.
I cosponsored bills to lower prescription drug prices
Drug prices are too high, in particular for our seniors. I’ve cosponsored legislation to lower prescription drug costs and cap the price of insulin. Insulin is a vital healthcare product that many people depend on to live their daily lives, and I strongly believe we need to work to help make it affordable and accessible for the people who depend on it.
I am working on other measures to control the costs of prescription drugs and insulin. The Racine Journal Times has noted my support for the SPIKE Act. That bill requires any drug manufacturers who ‘spike’ the price of a pharmaceutical drug to be forced by law to publicly disclose why they jacked up prices. This proposal would put a spotlight on bad actors driving up prices on insulin or other vital healthcare needs and help control costs. I’ve also cosponsored legislation to require manufacturers to disclose the list price of prescription drugs in television advertisements. We need more price transparency. I’ll continue working to make healthcare more accessible, affordable, and transparent.
Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, everyone. I believe the best way to reduce crime is to enforce the law and hold criminals accountable. Dangerous criminals, in particular those who commit a crime with a gun, should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Law enforcement across Southeast Wisconsin knows I have their back. I’m proud to have the endorsement of many law enforcement, including the Kenosha County Sheriff and the Kenosha Professional Police Association.
The crisis at the southern border is also having real impacts as it relates to safety in our communities. Wisconsin is seeing first-hand the impact of an unsecure border. Since the start of the Biden Administration, there have been over 8.6 million illegal encounters at our southern border. Illicit fentanyl is being trafficked across the border and into our communities. There were over 1,300 deaths in Wisconsin from illicit fentanyl last year alone.
The border crisis has also allowed dangerous individuals to enter our country illegally. I’m opposed to sanctuary cities, as they put our communities at risk for potentially dangerous actors. In contrast, my opponent Peter Barca voted to allow sanctuary cities in Wisconsin while serving in the State Assembly. These policies put our communities at risk. I’ll always vote to protect our communities.
Reckless spending has endangered Social Security and Medicare
In Congress, I’m also working to protect Social Security and Medicare for our seniors and future generations. Reckless spending has put these programs at risk and made it especially hard for seniors on fixed incomes to afford the things they need. That’s why I support reducing federal spending while fully protecting funding for Social Security and Medicare. These are promises the U.S. government has made to our seniors – promises I am committed to keeping. I strongly oppose any efforts to cut Social Security and Medicare.
Kristin Brey:Wisconsin will vote on a referendum question Nov. 5. Like others, it’s confusing.
My first TV ad this election cycle was with my grandma. We celebrated her 100th birthday last spring. She grew up during the great depression in Lafayette County on a farm. Her family didn’t have electricity until the 5th grade. She taught me the importance of hard-work, and has helped me reflect on the challenges our country has faced and overcome. Right now, our country is headed in the wrong direction. I’m committed to getting us back on track. We live in the greatest country in the world. I intend to continue working to put Wisconsin workers, families, and seniors priorities first in Washington.
Bryan Steil, a Republican, is seeking reelection in Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District. He was first elected to Congress in 2020.
Full text of essay questions for Wisconsin U.S. House candidates
Although the topline inflation rate has fallen (standing at 2.9% in July from its 9.1% peak in 2022), the bottom line is that Wisconsin families continue to feel the pinch of higher prices. One of the starkest findings from the WisconSays survey is that 53% of people in the state are not certain they can find $400 in an emergency. What specific legislation do you support to lower inflation and keep it from spiking again?
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens In America. What would you propose to reverse this disturbing reality? As of September 6, there have been 30 mass killings in the U.S. this year. What legislation would you support to curb mass shootings? Death by suicide is a significant factor in gun violence. Firearms are the most common means of suicide. On average, for every 100 gun deaths in Wisconsin, 71 are suicides. Do you support red flag laws or similar measures that establish a process for judges to remove firearms from individuals with mental health conditions?
Last spring, two hospitals (in Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls) and 19 clinics closed in western Wisconsin. The Marshfield Clinic Healthcare System instituted staff furloughs earlier this year. In the Milwaukee area, some providers are reducing services. Health care systems cite staffing difficulties, inadequate Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, higher costs and declining rates of patients with private insurance. How would you propose to tackle this problem? Health insurance premiums continue to rise at double-digit percentages. What can be done to make health care more affordable for Wisconsin families?
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