http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/covid-19-restaurant-empty-s5.jpgGOP Shutdown Longest in American History

MADISON, Wis. — As of today, Republicans are now responsible for the longest government shutdown in American history, leading to soaring ACA premiums and 700,000 Wisconsinites wondering where they’ll get their next meal. Wisconsin Republicans Tom Tiffany, Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are continuing to play political games while working Wisconsinites struggle with rising costs and small businesses are being squeezed by higher operating costs under a chaotic and ineffective tariff policy. Now, the Republican ACA cuts are another hurdle small businesses will have to face.

“Wisconsin’s small businesses were already being decimated by Republicans' tariff policies, now they have to deal with the GOP going after their health care funding,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Communications Director Philip Shulman. “Small businesses are a crucial part of the Wisconsin economy and corporate sellouts like Tom Tiffany, Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil are making it impossible for Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs to survive, let alone thrive.”

Almost half of all people with ACA coverage are small business owners, employees or self-employed. Without these tax credits, business owners will be unable to provide coverage for employees and face staffing shortages because people simply will not be able to work for small businesses. Entrepreneurs already operating on slim margins are raising the alarm, with one Milwaukee chef saying “I think you’re going to see small businesses closing” and a Mount Horeb restaurant owner saying “we don’t offer insurance ourselves [...] a lot of small businesses in small towns aren’t in a financial place to do that.”