Factory worker backdrop. Vance at microphone with a backdrop of 70 Mid-City Steel employees in the company’s North Side warehouse on Buchner Place. The audience: About 250.
Address larded with overstated claims, half-truths
LACOSSE, Wis. — Vice President JD Vance, in a staged address at a LaCrosse factory, promoted Trump economic reforms as triumphs for American industry and working people Vance spoke about 40 minutes but took no questions and flew back immediately to Washington. His talking points were Trump familiar refrains:
> Tariffs. Vance said Trump tariffs would create U.S. jobs by discouraging U.S. companies from importing foreign products: “If you build crap overseas and try to undercut the wages of American workers, you’re going to pay a big fat tariff.” Although the Vance’s point was made with a straight face and uttered with unbounded confidence, it was a half-truth at best. The tariffs have disrupted U.S. economic growth with the specter of skyrocketing consumer prices and hyper-initiation. Investors see no upside to Trump’s tariffs have backed off putting capital into domestic production.
> Taxes. Vance overstated the claim that Trump tax cuts on overtime pay and tips will be an advantage for working people. He failed to mention that the cuts expire in 2028. Trump’s $117 billion in tax cuts for wealthy Americans are permanent.
> Troops in the streets. Vance made a dubius claim that Trump’s deployment of 10,300 armed soldiers to the streets of Los Angeles and Washington have reduced crime. He failed to mention that Trump also has targeted Milwaukee for military occupation, among other cities with large minority populations and black mayors.
Verbatim
Vance: “For years American leaders would ask you to work overtime, would ask you to spend even more time away from your family. And every hour that you spend on the job, they would reach further and further in your pocket. We believe that if you spend an extra hour of work, the government ought to keep its hands the hell out of your pocket.”
At 115 Buchner Place in LaCrosse. Manufactures hulls for luxury houseboats, yachts, small river tour boats.
Mid-City Steel profile
The company began in 1972 as a fabricator of steel hulls for Skipper Liner luxury houseboats and yachts in the 50-foot to 100-foot range. Mid-City was acquired in 2019 by a local group of private investors. Since 2012 the chief executive has has been Paul Bagniefski, a Western Tech and UW-LaCrosse accounting graduate. Bagniefski earlier was at Agropur of LaCrosse, which manufactures ingredients for the dairy, bakery, beverage and cheese industries.