Elections
Around 300 at La Crosse town hall with US House Rep. Mark Pocan and surprise visit from Sen. Bernie Sanders
A packed Cappella Performing Arts Center on Tuesday for a town hall with a Congressman from just outside the region.
US House Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) was a special guest to lead the discussion, but another in Congress made a surprise appearance.
US Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont), who has visited La Crosse in the past, joined by phone and urged the audience to fight back against those in politics with big money. Sanders also told audience of around 300 that when people stand together, there is “nothing we cannot accomplish.”
The event lasted two hours. Pocan both answered audience questions during the second half of the town hall and read submitted questions before that. The big topics asked included health care, taxes and government programs.
Pocan said he’s been planning to do similar town meetings throughout the area that’s represented by Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien), “just because people are so concerned.”
“We’re getting record numbers of phone calls and emails into all the Congressional offices,” Pocan told WIZM. “People just want to be heard.”
Van Orden was invited to take part in the La Crosse meeting, but declined. He’s been doing virtual meetings instead and has another scheduled at 6 p.m. Wednesday (register here).
Carolyn Mahlum Jenkins asked a question about the use of public lands. She liked how the town hall went.
“I think the meeting’s gone pretty well,” she told WIZM. “It’s been very civil, (Pocan) answered a lot of questions, and he’s been willing to share as much as he possibly knows. He seems very transparent.”
It’s the second town hall in Wisconsin’s 3rd District put on by Opportunity Wisconsin. Another took place in Eau Claire that featured Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski. Van Orden was also invited to that event.
Along with Opportunity Wisconsin, these groups also helped organize the town hall:
- Main Street Alliance
- Climate Power
- Protect Our Care
- Working Families Power
- Family Friendly Wisconsin
- Committee to Protect Health Care
Roy
April 23, 2025 at 6:26 am
18 months out from the election, national Democrats have publicly identified as one where Congressman Derrick Van Orden is a “target” of theirs.
George Soros is budgeting and lining up stooges like Pocan and Sanders to carry the leftist message. This has nothing to do with issues. This has everything to do with a crafted plan to take over the House of Representatives in 2026 and Van Orden’s defeat is central to the plan. Sanders and Pocan are socialists like Soros. It was an indoctrination session.
Paul
April 23, 2025 at 7:33 am
So you are so scared of Soros like every other GOP stooge watching propaganda tv never thinking for themselves. Yet Elon Musk who has far more Soros dark money you fear is actually in an administration.
He tried to buy an election with 21 million, forces out oversight over things he makes money on for space x and teslas yet that’s ok? Cause he’s on your side? Just think if Soros was in any Dem cabinet and the gop would crap their diapers. Get out of your echo chamber and think. I am independent for a reason
John Q Public
April 23, 2025 at 9:52 am
I havevto admire your commitment to stupidity and ignorance.
Bill
April 23, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Soros lurks, Musk couldn’t be more open. If you like your analogy, hold on tight.
walden
April 24, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Paul, like Pocan, are you unable to define a woman?
Bob N.
April 23, 2025 at 5:02 pm
Van Orden did a lengthly interview on camera with The La Crosse Tribune, Channels 8 & 19 today. He commented on the set-up meetings Democrats are staging nationwide.
I didn’t see WIZM’s mike on the video.
Libertarian guy
April 23, 2025 at 7:27 am
And this is why Derek Van Orden was smart enough not to show for this event. that is, it was clearly planned for socialist, oligarch Bernie Sanders to show up ostensibly to fight oligarchy. This was a democratic event DVO clearly would have been outnumbered, and they did not even pretend to be objective in regard to capitalist ways, free markets, freedom, etc. This is a pathetic event, pretending to be newsworthy. And of course, the Democrat media was right there before and after the event criticizing DVO for declining the so-called invitation for a public, symbolic lynching
Chris
April 23, 2025 at 9:29 am
So sorry you have depleated your brain cell count. Hopes and prayers you don’t lose more. You can’t afford it.
nick
April 23, 2025 at 2:37 pm
I want to know if the taxpayers paying for Sanders to fly all over the country or the Democratic Party.
I wrote that Trump was unfit for office before the election. I also wrote in that article that Harris was totally unfit for office.
What really bothers me is that the Democratic Party, the Biden administration and the media covered up Biden’s declining mental acumen. This was also published in the paper. No one goes after any Democrat for this.
walden
April 24, 2025 at 2:10 pm
They were keeping track at the door of the people entering. The venue advertises a capacity of 400, so if only 300 showed up that had to be disappointing given the free media advertising. And less than a “packed” audience as described by WIZM above.
Enjoyed the large number of Pre-submitted questions chosen by Pocan. Editing the questions is an effective way to mute a complaining audience.
Someone else
April 25, 2025 at 4:50 am
Pocans town hall may have been scripted so what. Trump came to town with Tulsi asking questions it was scripted.Funny how it is okay for one side but not the other. I also saw Soros name has been brought up. How about Musk,Harold Hamms, Meriam Addelson,Robert Mercer and the list goes on. WHAT A BUNCH HYPOCRITES.
Libertarian guy
April 26, 2025 at 4:05 pm
You have completely missed the point Someone Else. A party affiliated rally is billed as such. When Trump came to lacrosse with Tulsi, it was a campaign rally. This event was billed as a town hall, a forum so to speak. It was supposed to be a community conversation between Pocan and Derek Van Orden but it was a Democrat rally instead. nothing wrong with that at all except Dems were disingenuous calling a campaign rally a town hall. That’s an important difference. And again, I say this as a libertarian with an actual objective viewpoint.