VP Vance Rebrands Tax Bill as 'Working Families Tax Cut' in Wisconsin, Facing 49% Public Opposition

La Crosse, Wisconsin – U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited La Crosse, Wisconsin, on August 28, 2025, to promote the Trump administration's tax and spending legislation, now rebranded as the "Working Families Tax Cut." Speaking at Mid-City Steel, Vance aimed to garner public support for the bill, which was passed in July but faces significant public disapproval ahead of the November 2026 congressional midterms. The visit is part of a broader administration effort to sell the signature legislation to voters in key swing states.

The legislation, previously known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill," has been met with considerable public skepticism. An August poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center indicated that 49% of Americans oppose the law, while only 29% support it. President Donald Trump acknowledged the challenge in promoting the measure, stating, "I'm not going to use the term 'great, big, beautiful' - that was good for getting it approved, but it's not good for explaining to people what it's really about."

During his remarks, Vice President Vance emphasized provisions designed to benefit the working class, including tax cuts on tips and overtime. He asserted, > "We believe that if you spend an extra hour at work, the government ought to keep its hands the hell out of your pocket." Vance also connected the bill to reviving American manufacturing and enhancing public safety, offering National Guard assistance to Milwaukee if local officials requested it to "lock up those violent criminals."

Democrats have sharply criticized the legislation, arguing it disproportionately favors the wealthy and poses risks to social safety nets. The Congressional Budget Office estimated the bill could lead to 12 million more uninsured Americans over the next decade and nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts. In Wisconsin, the state's Department of Health Services projects the bill could strip health coverage from approximately 276,000 residents and result in $314 million in annual cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Vance's stop in Wisconsin, following similar visits to Georgia and Pennsylvania, underscores the administration's focus on swing states where the 2024 election was decided by narrow margins. Trump and Vance secured Wisconsin by less than one percent in the previous election. The Vice President has taken a central role in promoting the tax and spending law, leveraging his perceived ability to connect with working-class voters in an effort to shape the narrative before the crucial 2026 midterms.