Jon "Bowzer" Bauman Joins Eau Claire Healthcare, Social Security Rally

Chippewa Valley residents were joined by former member of the band Sha Na Na Jon "Bowzer" Bauman at a rally in support of Medicaid and Social Security over the weekend.

Bauman, now President of the Social Security Works PAC, broke out his keyboard to sing with protestors outside the Fall Festival in downtown Eau Claire on Saturday. He also drew attention to votes by Congressmen Tom Tiffany and Derrick Van Orden that will see further cuts to Medicaid go into effect next year.

"It was the ACA and now, now we're fighting to keep rural hospitals open and urban hospitals open," he said. "And by the way, the worst is yet to come. Because 2027 is really the year that Derrick Van Orden and Tom Tiffany have targeted for the worst cuts to Medicaid. The Medicaid cuts that are going to shut down hospitals and shut down nursing homes all over the country, including Wisconsin."

Bauman also highlighted the projected budget issues with Social Security, calling on lawmakers to lift the $184,500 annual income cap on social security contributions to ensure the program remains viable.

"We always mark the day when if you're making $1 million that year, when do you stop paying into social security," he said. "And the answer for this year was March 9th, and then you don't pay a cent for the rest of the year. And I ask everybody listening to this, is that fair? And I can hear the resounding, no of course it's not fair. And this has got to change, so that's why the scrap the cap movement really has a lot of legs, because everybody realizes how unfair this is."

The event, dubbed the Rockin' Healthcare Accountability Rally, was organized by Chippewa Valley Indivisible.