VIROQUA, Wis. – A grassroots group of citizens in Vernon County has organized a listening session for Congressman Van Orden in Viroqua on March 18, at the Historic Temple Theatre. The group, organized by former Viroqua City Councilperson Tanja Birke, came together because of the growing frustration over Congressman Van Orden’s refusal to meet with his constituents to express their concerns over the dramatic cuts recently proposed on the federal level.
“The cuts that have already happened and the cuts that could happen with the house budget proposal will have a huge impact in so many areas of our rural communities,” said Birke. “Medicaid, medicare, social security, foodshare, the VA. These are services that hard working people depend on every day. They are trying to eliminate the Department of Education. These are not small changes. We have repeatedly asked for an open listening session with Congressman Van Orden to talk about these decisions and he refuses to meet in a setting where average voters can come and ask basic questions. This is not Democratic or Republican issues, these are farmers, senior citizens, veterans, families. It is part of the job description of a member of congress to listen to the people affected by these decisions. He is not required to agree with everyone, but he is required to listen and listen without demeaning people.”
Birke said the group came together and decided to organize and host a citizen-led event after Van Orden repeatedly dodged other attempts to meet with voters. Birke said Van Orden uses the excuse that he is prevented from meeting with his constituents because of outside groups interfering.
“Mr. Van Orden likes to do only conservative media appearances and controlled events where he gets to pick and choose who attends,” said Birke. “He wants to be able to control the questions, and he has never done a publicly announced listening session where average citizens can directly ask unfiltered questions. All our previous congressional representatives held listening sessions, even when it was hard and there was a lot of kickback. I appreciate an elected official willing to look his constituents in the eyes and hear what they have to say. We have talked to Mr. Van Orden’s staff and we are constantly told to sign up for sessions, but they never happen. So, we
decided to take the work out of it for him and secure a location and invite average everyday voters to come ask their questions.”
Birke said Congressman Van Orden has an obligation to his voters who elected him, not the president and not an unelected billionaire. “It bothers me that our representative believes that he is obligated to green light the president’s agenda and the dismantling of the government by Elon Musk. Who does he think he works for?”
Birke dispelled Van Orden’s claim that constituents trying to attend his events are agitators and paid to disrupt events.
“Mr. Van Orden claimed in an interview recently that people trying to come to his events are paid agitators and called them communists,” said Birke. “He threatened to have people arrested. I can guarantee that this event is about citizens, and we will make sure it is peaceful and respectful, but people have a right to express their frustrations about drastic decisions that impact a large swath
of this district in very real ways. He can’t hide behind the excuse that average citizens who simply want a chance to voice their opinion are somehow disrespectful or a threat. Nothing could be further from the truth and if he can’t face his own voters, that is a problem.”
Where: The Historic Temple Theatre in Viroqua – 116 S Main St, Viroqua
When: March 18, 2025 @ 6 p.m.
We are asking media to RSVP to Tanja Birke: ccofvernoncounty@gmail.com
Add comment