Derrick Van Orden

WEST SALEM, Wis. (WEAU) - Congressman Derrick Van Orden spoke with senior community members at Hunter’s Last Chance Bar & Grill in West Salem.

Van Orden discussed the working family tax cuts, which make it so 88% of seniors will pay no federal income tax on social security.

“These folks built our nation, and I don’t want our seniors wringing their hands at night worried about paying the bills because they have to pay taxes on them. Something that I don’t think they should be paying taxes on to begin with,” says Van Orden.

The tax cuts expire in 2028. Van Orden claimed this is because Democrats in the senate wouldn’t vote on the bill if there wasn’t and ending to the tax breaks.

“If the Republicans had our way, and if the senate could get their act together, this would go on in perpetuity. It would have been a permanent tax break. But because of the Democrats in the senate, there is a sunset on this tax provision. And I think it’s inexcusable,” says Van Orden.

Van Orden also asked by reporters on his thoughts of the ceasefire with Iran. Van Orden responded by saying the Iranians blinked.

“I think that’s a good thing. We want to have peace in the region. That’s the whole purpose of the military missions that have been taking place. However, I don’t trust the Iranians at all. If they’re trying to change provisions of this ceasefire, you got to start back up again and hit these guys hard,” says Van Orden.

Van Orden also shared his thoughts on the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, calling it a trouncing and saying Republicans didn’t come out to vote.

“Republicans in the state of Wisconsin are either going to have to wake up and realize that their vote counts, or we’re going to become Minnesota. That’s all there is to it, and don’t Minnesota my Wisconsin. This lies squarely on the shoulder of every conservative in the state of Wisconsin that did not vote. Here’s something else, unless you have your I voted sticker, I don’t want to hear you griping. You get up and you vote,” says Van Orden.

Senator Tammy Baldwin sent us a statement about Van Orden’s comments on tax relief saying quote: “Wisconsin Republicans, who all voted for the Big, Ugly Bill, have to answer why they cut food assistance for hungry Wisconsinites, took families’ health care away, and gutted funding for rural hospitals.”