Memo to Paul Ryan: Invite-Only Photo Op ≠ Town Hall

MADISON, Wis. — A restricted, invite-only photo opportunity between Mike Pence and Paul Ryan at a Janesville business today is not a town hall meeting with constituents, One Wisconsin Now noted. Ryan and his fellow House and Senate Republicans, including Sen. Ron Johnson who will also be on hand, have been roundly criticized for refusing to hold in-person town halls, while negotiating in secret to raise health care costs and cut Americans’ coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

“Memo to Speaker Ryan: an invite only photo op is not a town hall,” said Scot Ross, One Wisconsin Now Executive Director. “I understand having to defend the indefensible corruption, incompetence and extremism of team Trump is a full-time gig, but the citizens of Wisconsin have a right to talk to their home state House Speaker.”

One Wisconsin Now also revealed today it placed the Paul Ryan “Lost and Found” Craigslist ad after reviewing Ryan’s government website and seeing little evidence of any recent in-person Wisconsin town halls he has either conducted in the last year or planned for the near future. Two of One Wisconsin Now’s five staff members are graduates of Janesville public schools.

“What is Paul Ryan afraid of?” Ross asked.