CENTERVILLE, Wis. — Southwestern Wisconsin’s member of Congress, Derrick Van Orden, supped and chatted with a handful of supporters at Beedle’s Bar and Grill. It was a re-election photo-opp. To his dinner companions, Van Orden touted tax relief for table-servers under Trump tax reforms. Van Orden 100% supported the reforms and nodded to Beedle’s table servers. But what Van Orden didn’t say was that the no-tax-on-tips provision expires in 2028 immediately after the next presidential election. Van Orden was silent too about Trump’s multi-billion-dollar tax breaks for rich people being permanent. Nobody at the table asked tough questions, but everybody enjoyed Beedle’s battered fried cod. Van Orden has avoided open townhall-style meetings for meaningful constituent feedback all year. He’s been following national Republican advice to avoid public unpleasantness over his Trump bonafides. Trump’s support has been sinking underwater in public polls.
Van Orden. In plaid shirt and baseball cap. Contrary to etiquette he was taught in the Navy, he failed to remove his headgear indoors.
Earlier: Democrats on Wisconsin’s Van Orden: “Pants on fire”
Earlier: Second WI-3 Democrat looks to oust Van Orden
Earlier: Van Orden sees “duty” to seek WI-3 re-election
Earlier: Van Orden follows GOP playbook, skips townhall
Earlier: Van Orden on townhalls: They’re all anti-GOP conspiracies