Van Orden did not appear at Wisconsin Farmers Union event

Seven western Wisconsin Republican lawmakers did not appear at an event hosted by the Wisconsin Farmers Union in Chippewa Falls on Friday as farmers from the area said they were concerned about the effect that President Donald Trump’s first month in office is having on their livelihoods. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Black Earth), state Sen. Jeff Smith (D-Eau Claire) and state Reps. Jodi Emerson (D-Eau Claire) and Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire) were in attendance. U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden was one of the invited representatives that did not attend or send a staff member. Some of the problems discussed were the funding freezes for grants from the USDA and the threat of possible tariffs going into effect during planting season.