WXOW: Rep. Van Orden hosts senior tax relief forum in West Salem

WEST SALEM, Wis. (WXOW) – Congressman Derrick Van Orden met with residents Wednesday, April 8 in West Salem to take questions and discuss the Working Family Tax Cuts.

Van Orden said the plan eliminates taxes on Social Security benefits for 88% of seniors. He said the goal is to ease financial stress for older Americans and that responses to the bill have been positive.

Currently, Wisconsinites aged 65 or older are eligible to claim the additional tax deduction of $6,000, or a total of $12,000 for couples that qualify.

Some attendees raised concerns about the tax credits expiring in 2028. Van Orden said the sunset provision was necessary to gain support from Democrats in the Senate.

During the event, the representative also weighed in on last night's Wisconsin Supreme Court race, pointing to voter turnout among Republicans.

"It was a trouncing. Let's just be honest. And here's what happened, Republicans didn't vote, again. They just didn't come out to vote, look at the numbers," Van Orden said. "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," Van Orden continued. "Don't Minnesota my Wisconsin. This lies squarely on the shoulders of every conservative in the state of Wisconsin that did not vote. And here's something else; unless you have an "I voted" sticker, I don't want to hear you griping.”

Van Orden added that party leaders plan to discuss strategy at the next Republican convention ahead of the November election.