Contact:
Rep. Ohnstad, 608-266-0455

MADISON – Representative Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha) released the following statement in response to Speaker Paul Ryan holding a secret telephone ‘town hall’ meeting.

“It is truly unfortunate Speaker Ryan, by his actions, shows he is not listening to his constituents. People of his district have again been short changed when Speaker Ryan decided to hold a secret telephone town hall meeting. I think Speaker Ryan forgets, or more aptly, ignores that he serves at the pleasure of his constituents. He should be accountable to them. He gives lip service to a town hall meeting by hand picking who can and did participate. This is a slap in the face of the constituents of the First Congressional District.”

“Furthermore, when Speaker Ryan was asked for a recording or transcript of the town hall meeting, his spokesperson offered only excerpts. Speaker Ryan’s actions fly in the face of our representative democracy. What is not surprising – and is, frankly, embarrassing – is how Speaker Ryan chose to snub his constituents. As the elected Representative of the 65th District, it is amazing that I knew about this event only after the fact when I read about it in the newspaper. The First Congressional District deserves a representative who is wholly responsive to the people’s needs.”

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