"I can't stand the word 'empathy,' actually. I think empathy is a made-up, New Age term that—it does a lot of damage, but it is very effective when it comes to politics. Sympathy, I prefer more than empathy because sympathy—that's genuine compassion. That's feeling for other people. Empathy is saying, ‘I can feel what you feel.’ No, you can't! You can't feel what somebody else feels! You can feel for them.”  Charlie Kirk

October’s here, and it’s delivering its usual twist: this isn’t your typical conservative take. It’s a call for both sides to unite against the County Board’s Executive Committee’s shady moves.

Last night’s La Crosse County Board meeting was one to write home about. The annual budget discussion started routine; until it didn’t. The Chair’s slideshow was oddly brief, heavy on fluff about Human Services’ “inclusivity” but light breaking down the numbers. Then Supervisor Mike Baroni dropped a bomb: how much of the budget is covering rent and utilities for the “Thriving Families” program?

Quick rewind: in December 2022, the Board allocated ARPA (COVID relief) funds to Thriving Families, a CouleeCap and Catholic Charities collaboration to help families facing homelessness. The Board explicitly voted against ongoing funding, agreeing only to short-term pandemic support. Fast-forward to April 2025, and the Executive Committee (9 of 30 supervisors) ignored that vote. Without a new vote, they signed a contract funneling more money to Thriving Families for unpaid rent, utilities, and damages. Poof – a magical wave of the wand and it happened.

The issue isn’t Thriving Families. It’s this: Why bother having a County Board if their votes are ignored? Are they just figureheads while the Executive Committee plays dictator making decisions in the backroom of the County Building? Worse, why are so many Board members tied to CouleeCap, which profits from these decisions? Smells like a conflict of interest. If it’s not, why is money flowing to CouleeCap against the Board’s clear “NO”?

Baroni’s question opened a can of worms: how much is the County spending on unapproved initiatives like Thriving Families or DEI? The Executive Committee better bring an airtight legal explanation to the next meeting and a detailed ledger of every dime spent against the Board’s will. The people of this County DESERVE TO KNOW where our money is going! 

This isn’t what we voted for left, right or center. Something’s haunting La Crosse County, and it’s not a ghost. The Executive Committee’s backroom deals are casting a shady shadow. Time to shine a light!

Board member Mike Baroni will be releasing a statement on this issue soon.

La Crosse, WI- The La Crosse GOP stands for fiscal responsibility, limited government, and shielding Wisconsinites from DC dysfunction. On October 1, 2025, Senate Democrats triggered a federal shutdown, now in its eighth day, by blocking a Republican-led funding bill. Here’s the truth about why it’s happening, how it hits La Crosse, and our conservative path forward.

Why It’s Happening

On September 19, 2025, local hero Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-3) and House Republicans passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution to fund the government through November 21, prioritizing “essentials” like Fort McCoy troops and veterans’ services. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, filibustered it five times.  On October 6 (52-42), demanding $1 trillion in permanent ObamaCare tax credit extensions that drive up premiums for Wisconsin families, the Democrats shut down the government.

We've seen more than a few of the left-wing cult, even responding on our Facebook page, screaming that the GOP is cutting Obamacare subsidies. The current GOP budget does NOT cut ACA subsidies at all. What it does is it allows extra subsidies enacted due to Covid, which were time limited by Democrats, to expire. Good news!! The Covid pandemic is over!!

Impact on La Crosse

The shutdown’s effects are limited but sting. Here’s the local breakdown:

• Social Security/Medicare: Checks keep flowing: GOP protects seniors.
• Military Pay: Fort McCoy troops face delayed pay; Trump vows “every last penny” back.
• National Parks: Effigy Mounds closed.
• FEMA: Recent WI flood aid stalls, hurting our farmers due to the delays.
• USPS: Mail runs smoothly, due to past reforms.
• WIC/Nutrition: New applicants paused; existing aid holds, but bloat needs cuts.

Nationwide, 750,000 federal workers are furloughed, but Wisconsin’s VA staff in Tomah will get backpay. This mess exposes D.C.’s waste.

What’s Next

The GOP is fighting back. Early polls show confusion: 47% blame Trump/GOP, 30% blame Dems, but 31% see both sides, giving us room to set the record straight. Trump demands reopening first, then health care talks. The House, with Van Orden, returns this week to push another clean bill. We’ve cut $9B in foreign aid; next, we trim bloated agencies.

This fight matters: With a $34 trillion national debt, sky-high taxes, and a government too big to function, America can’t afford Democrat handouts. The GOP stands with La Crosse to slash waste, lower taxes, and restore freedom.

Join or Donate!!