Mark Pocan
@markpocan.bsky.social
11K followers 43 following 110 posts
Congressman for WI’s 2nd district, former Progressive Caucus Co-Chair. Small business owner. Labor union member. Tired of X.
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markpocan.bsky.social
Three town halls in Western Wisconsin in representative Derek Van Orden’s district today so far. One more to go.

People are upset about increasing healthcare costs and 15 million people losing healthcare access, as well as the Trump tariff taxes we are all paying.

And guess who was a no-show…
markpocan.bsky.social
Today is the day, Western Wisconsin.

See what a real Congressman does. Listens to their constituents. Something your elected rep has never done - a public town hall.

Join us in one of four spots today!

The GOP may be on their 3rd week of paid vacation. Dems aren’t.
markpocan.bsky.social
Not approved by 100% of Congress.
markpocan.bsky.social
I see Derrick Van Orden has tweeted 20 times already by 10:43am on his third week of paid vacation.

I invite him to join me in his district, doing his job, tomorrow in four cities. X can wait.

This is what a real congressman does, FYI.

Shutdown. Healthcare. Tariffs. More.
markpocan.bsky.social
Hey Western Wisconsin/3rd Congressional district

The GOP run Congress just took ANOTHER week of vacation when they should be protecting your healthcare and reducing rates.

Want to know more about what your member of Congress ISN’T doing? Attend a meetup with me on Tuesday!
markpocan.bsky.social
You didn’t listen. You might as well Unfollow me. You don’t appear to be intellectually engaged in what people say.
markpocan.bsky.social
I’ve explained before so I won’t go into detail, but the GOP wanted a no vote so they could rile up their base. The proper vote was present/not voting to say we’re not playing your game. It had nothing to do about honoring a resolution. That’s called strategy. Hair on fire is not a great response.
markpocan.bsky.social
I don’t mean to upset you. I merely want to stop them from more damage, and you do that by being strategic. Many of us have discussed how to best do this. Fighting among ourselves gives them exactly what they want. Let’s work together.
markpocan.bsky.social
Or give the GOP what they want. Which would be bad. Your idea I guess.
markpocan.bsky.social
Which some would consider you are gullible enough to give the Republicans what they wanted, which was a no vote so they could talk about it ad nauseam as they take away our free speech rights. I’m not.
markpocan.bsky.social
By the way, here’s the receipt on what I just said about bait. From GOP leadership:
markpocan.bsky.social
Read my reply to others. They wanted to bait us to vote no. That was the wrong vote. Saying I won’t play your game to continue to take away our rights was the correct one. This was bait.
markpocan.bsky.social
It’s not tepid. It’s smart. We need more smart. From everybody. Emotion can’t lead every action if we are going to fight back effectively. Please keep that in mind. Strategy is more important right now.
markpocan.bsky.social
The no’s, present’s and non-votes were not having the GOP’s rhetoric. I just didn’t want to give them that extra narrative they wanted so bad.
markpocan.bsky.social
Voting “no” was EXACTLY why they put it on the floor. They want to stir the base and use this as more of a reason to take away speech & freedoms. “Those awful Dems are so hateful!”

“Present” was the “fuck off I’m not playing your game” vote. And not voting was another form of that.

Avoid the bait.
Reposted by Mark Pocan
aflcio.org
Something is wrong with a system where 75% of workers say they’re worried about making ends meet, while greedy corporate CEOs make 285x what their median worker makes.

Working people don’t have to accept this. A union contract is how we fight back and WIN!
Form a Union | AFL-CIO
aflcio.org
Reposted by Mark Pocan
aflcio.org
AFL-CIO @aflcio.org · Sep 5
Today’s jobs report shows the Trump admin’s policies are slowing job creation, increasing unemployment and disproportionately harming Black workers. America’s unions will keep fighting for all workers to have the freedom, fairness and security they need. aflcio.org/press/releas...
markpocan.bsky.social
I don’t not believe there was a question on that.
markpocan.bsky.social
Great Town Hall in Prairie du Chien tonight in @derrickvanorden’s district. Too bad he was a no-show.

Lots of concern about the big ugly law that he voted for. People don’t want healthcare, food assistance, and more cut to give Elon Musk a tax break.

People not happy.
markpocan.bsky.social
This Thursday, July 31, join us at 5pm for a town hall in Derrick Van Orden’s district, even the town he lives in - Prairie du Chien.

Let’s discuss the Big Ugly Law. It’s really ugly.

And let’s see if Derrick can go 5 minutes down the street to do his job.
markpocan.bsky.social
People aren’t shooting at others while getting food. Soldiers from Israel ARE shooting at those people. Wrong.
markpocan.bsky.social
Important read. Don’t fall for the propaganda. Netanyahu’s Israel is starving the children of Gaza.

José Andrés: People of Good Conscience Must Stop the Starvation in Gaza www.nytimes.com/2025/07/27/o...
Opinion | José Andrés: People of Good Conscience Must Stop the Starvation in Gaza
www.nytimes.com
markpocan.bsky.social
Add Minneapolis media market for part of the district too. Five markets. Not cheap.