Sen. Ron Johnson's constituents addressed real concerns about the Republican plan for health care. Instead of listening, Johnson backs giving nearly $600 billion in tax giveaways to the rich.

MADISON - Yesterday, Wisconsinites in Franklin heard from Senator Ron Johnson at a local town hall. In a setting where participants could ask about anything, town hall goers made their grievances known about the Republican Trumpcare bill only to rebuffed by the Senator.

Republicans who supported Trumpcare - including Sen. Ron Johnson who praised its passage - own a bill that cuts coverage, increases costs, eliminates the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion, and guts basic heath care protections. Just last week, the Los Angeles Times reported that President Trump in intentionally undermining the Affordable Care Act, resulting in rate hikes. Rightfully, Wisconsinites are upset over the potential loss of coverage and confronted Republicans on the issue this weekend. 

Take a look at the coverage of yesterday's town hall: 

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "The hourlong meeting at the Root River Center was dominated by individuals such as Gail Campbell, a 69-year-old cancer patient from St. Francis.

"Campbell told Johnson that her doctor informed her that her cancer treatment would be restricted and that she could lose coverage for her asthma medicine and physical therapy under the American Health Care Act passed by the House.

'I don't know why your doctor would tell you that you're going to lose that,' Johnson responded. 'I don't know what basis he's got. It's way to soon to say that.'

Campbell said her doctor was relying on news coverage from the New York Times.

'Oh, OK, that explains it all then,' Johnson said sarcastically, prompting widespread booing.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cont'd: "Inside the forum, which was open only to those who pre-registered, Johnson provided few specifics on what he favors when repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010."

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel cont'd: "Marcia Hoebreckx, 70, of Glendale quizzed Johnson on why the Senate working group on health care was made up of 13 males and no women.

"Wisconsin's senior senator answered that he was not responsible for the composition of the committee, noting any senator could join. "I got myself on it," he said.

"Sen. Ron Johnson's constituents addressed real concerns about the Republican plan for health care because for some Trumpcare will mean bankruptcy and for others, it will be a death sentence," Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesman Brandon Weathersby said on Monday. "Instead of selling out American's health to give nearly $600 billion in tax giveaways over the next decade for those at the very top, Sen. Johnson should be listening to the people of Wisconsin and making sure that Republicans don't gut protections for Americans in the name of tax giveaways for the rich."