AFSCME Condemns Wisconsin Rep. Wied's Backing of Controversial Bill

Green Bay Community Voices Concerns Over New Legislation

In the heart of Green Bay, Wisconsin, a pressing issue has united many residents and local leaders. Ben Delie, who serves both as a utility worker for the Green Bay Area Public Schools and as the president of AFSCME Local 3055, is at the forefront of this charge. Recently, a law dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Bill” was enacted, and its potential repercussions have stirred significant concern in the community.

Despite the law's support from local congressman Rep. Tony Wied, Delie and his fellow AFSCME members are determined to hold him accountable. This past Tuesday, a coalition of AFSCME members and elected officials gathered at a press conference to voice their opposition, illustrating the perceived negative impacts on working families across Green Bay and Wisconsin.

The controversial legislation, which has been criticized for offering substantial tax breaks to billionaires, is seen as a direct threat to essential public services. According to AFSCME research, over 275,000 residents of Wisconsin stand to lose critical healthcare coverage due to reductions in Medicaid funding. Additionally, approximately 375,000 families may face challenges securing food as a result of cuts to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). Furthermore, the legislation endangers more than 9,000 jobs statewide.

Delie emphasized, “The Big Beautiful Bill is an attack on the working and middle class in this country. It takes our tax code, which is already unfair to working people, and turns it into a handout for billionaires and giant corporations. And Tony Wied and other anti-union representatives worked hard to pass it.”

He painted a grim picture of potential consequences, stating, “Hungry kids at schools, rural hospitals closing, nursing homes forced to kick out seniors. That’s the world we are facing right now, because of Tony Wied’s vote for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

Given that federal Medicaid contributes over 20% to Wisconsin’s budget, Delie warned of a significant budgetary deficit due to the law's provisions favoring billionaires. This shortfall threatens to disrupt public services that are vital to communities statewide.

The law’s financial impacts are strategically delayed, with most cuts not taking effect until after the 2026 elections, a year when Wied and other House members will be campaigning for reelection. Nonetheless, Delie vowed, “We’re not going to forget. We’re going to make sure everyone knows about Tony Wied’s betrayal now, and remembers it in 2026, and in 2028.”

For those interested in supporting the cause, AFSCME encourages community members to stand up for working families by getting organized. Get Organized.