The Tiffany Telegram: October 24, 2025
Dear Friend,
Last week, I told you about the appalling scandal involving Wisconsin’s very own Department of Public Instruction (DPI) covering up more than 200 cases of teacher sexual misconduct. While this news is horrific, the story has only gotten worse over the course of this week.
As of writing this Telegram, Governor Tony Evers, who ran the DPI when some of these cases were hidden, still has not said a word about it.
To make matters even worse, current DPI Superintendent Jill Underly couldn’t even be bothered to show up and answer questions before the State Legislature this week. On Thursday, she was supposed to testify in front of the Wisconsin State Assembly Committee on Government Operations, Accountability, and Transparency regarding what The Cap Times uncovered. But Underly skipped the hearing and was in another state accepting an award at Indiana University.
This is a clear dereliction of duty by both our governor and the DPI superintendent. As I said last week, Wisconsin’s kids, parents, and victims deserve better.
That’s why this week I sent a letter, joined by many members of the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation, demanding full transparency from Governor Evers. You can read more about that here.
Rather than covering up these allegations, each incident should be thoroughly investigated, and if verified, the public and parents should be informed.
Instead, they allowed several educators to surrender their licenses to avoid a full investigation. At least eight educators accused of misconduct were able to voluntarily give up their licenses and later reapply to teach, often just 1-3 years later.
We owe it to the victims and students to reform this system and make it transparent to the public. In order to do that, we at least need Governor Evers and Jill Underly to show up and work with the State Legislature to ensure this never happens again.
Thanks again for starting off your weekend with us! We hope you enjoy this week’s edition of the Tiffany Telegram.
Sincerely,
Tom Tiffany
Member of Congress
A Democrat leader said that they’ll let Americans “suffer” during a shutdown all for “leverage.” Click here to watch.
Democrat shutdown update
As Telegram readers know, on September 19th, the U.S. House passed a clean, bipartisan budget bill to keep the government open. Since then, Democrat senators have voted against the proposal 12 times. This has caused our government to shut down and has stalled numerous federal programs. I had hoped this would end by now, but Democrats are not budging on their liberal demands, which include nearly $200 billion in free health care for illegal aliens. Even yesterday, Senator Baldwin voted not to pay essential federal workers, like our troops and law enforcement, under Senator Ron Johnson’s standalone, bipartisan proposal. You can view that vote here. We only need seven more Senate Democrats to join us to reopen the government. I don’t think Americans should “suffer” or be used as “leverage,” as a House Democrat leader claimed – you can watch that clip above and here. I believe they should reopen the government and keep programs running for millions of Americans.
Evers’ partisan politics hurts education
Last week, I joined Representative Bryan Steil (WI-01) and the rest of my Wisconsin Republican colleagues in calling for Governor Evers to end his open opposition to the newly created Federal Tax Credit Scholarship Program. Earlier this year, Congress passed, and President Trump signed into law, the Working Families Tax Cut which created a dollar-for-dollar tax credit of up to $1,700 per taxpayer. Those seeking to use this program can donate to approved Scholarship Granting Organization (SGOs) which grant scholarships for a variety of educational needs including tuition, tutoring, school supplies, transportation, and other important support services for students whether they are in public, private, or home schools. However, Governor Evers has stated that he will block Wisconsin families from participating in this program – denying Wisconsinites the ability to use this common sense and vital educational program. Our students deserve every opportunity to have high quality and accessible education, but by denying access to this federal initiative, Governor Evers makes it clear that he would rather play political games and put partisan politics above the needs of our children. I urge him to reverse course and allow Wisconsin parents to use this crucial federal tax credit program. You can read more about this here.
Supporting cranberries
This week, I signed on to a bipartisan letter to the FDA and USDA regarding the definition of ultra-processed foods and the impact this will have on cranberry products. As you may know, Wisconsin is the nation’s leader in cranberry production. We produce over 5 million barrels of cranberries a year, which is more than double the production of the second leading state, Massachusetts. Our cranberry farmers supply the nation with delicious cranberry products that are full of health benefits. Along with some of my colleagues from Wisconsin, we urged the FDA and USDA to consider all the benefits of nutrient dense cranberry products in the definition of ultra processed foods and make sure that it is in line with the FDA’s definition of “healthy” as well. Cranberries are naturally tart, so to help with their palatability, sugar is often added and these sugar levels are comparable to the levels found in raisins. Thanks in part to previous efforts, cranberry products are qualified as “healthy”, even with these added sugars, so we want to make sure they are not inconsistently categorized as “ultra-processed.” We supply the nation and the world with the best cranberries out there, and our farmers products shouldn’t be put in the same category as things like chips and candy.
Recent Legislation
Cutting red tape to save lives
Last week, I joined Rep. Tony Wied (WI-08) in introducing the BLOOD Centers Act. This bipartisan legislation will strengthen our nation’s blood supply. Every year across the country, blood centers have warned of critical shortages. Still, FDA regulations have made it more difficult to open new donation sites during high-demand periods. Right now, if a blood center wants to establish a new fixed donation site, it must often wait more than a year for the FDA to approve a license before shipping blood products across state lines, even when the same staff, equipment, and safety standards are already in place. Meanwhile, mobile blood units face no such delay. The BLOOD Centers Act fixes this double standard by requiring the FDA to create an expedited 30-day review process for qualified blood centers with proven safety records. By cutting through bureaucratic delays, this bill will save lives and strengthen America’s blood supply. Click here to read more about the bill.
District Update
Tips for a frightfully fun Halloween
Halloween might be spooky, but it shouldn’t be unsafe. I want to ensure you and your loved ones know the tricks for a fun night. Remember, safety first. One way to ensure your children’s safety is to prioritize visibility by using reflective tape or stickers and to always carry glow sticks or flashlights. We are already seeing temperatures below 40 degrees at night, so be sure to include layers and bundle up when planning your costumes. And while I know that it can be hard to make kids wait until you get home to start eating their candy, it is important that you are diligent when it comes to inspecting their candy. Click here for food safety tips. Finally, don’t let Halloween scare your budget. Click here to learn the helpful tricks you can use to save, like buying candy in bulk or making a DIY costume at home.
Photo of the week
After a long day, there’s nothing better than sitting back and taking in the natural beauty of a Wisconsin sunset. If you have a photo of Wisconsin you’d like to share, send it to comms.tiffany@gmail.com with your name and location. We appreciate all the submissions we have received!
“Golden Hour” – Submitted by Angela of Kronenwetter
Resources
Vacation is meant to be relaxing, so don’t let renewing or applying for your passport stress you out. The current processing time is 4 to 6 weeks, so we recommend getting this done as soon as possible. For more information, click here.
Additionally, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) are available in Wisconsin due to economic losses caused by excessive moisture. Click here to see if you are eligible to apply.
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As always, you are welcome to visit my website or to contact my offices in Washington, DC or Wisconsin, which remain open for service, if you have any questions or need assistance.
Good News from Wisconsin's 7th District and Congress
Young Patriots
The Riverview Elementary School students in Wausau mastered the national anthem after only one month. Great job!
Patriot K9s
Last week, Patriot K9s of Wisconsin opened their new facility in Wausau to educate and train Psychiatric Service Dog Teams for veterans at no cost to them.
First Responder of the Year
Fire Chief Thomas Bischel of the New Auburn Area Fire Department was recognized as the 67th District’s First Responder of the Year. Congratulations!
Promises Made, Promises Kept
The national average gas price fell below three dollars per gallon this week, the lowest it’s been since 2020.
Return of Law and Order
Since taking office, the Trump administration and FBI have fought to make America safe again, arresting 28,000 violent criminals.