Democratic state legislators hold healthcare townhall

Monday night Wisconsin Democrats took aim at the Republican plan to overhaul healthcare.

At a Kenosha townhall, state legislators heard from people who say the bill passed by the house could be devastating.

“I think people are really afraid about what’s going to happen to their healthcare,” said Rep. Chris Taylor (D-Madison).

Nearly a dozen democratic legislators from around the state listened to testimony from people opposed to the Republican plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

“What prompted this is we are hearing about healthcare all throughout the state,” said Rep. Tod Ohnstad (D-Kenosha).

Some of the biggest issues legislators and townhall participants have with the bill is the possibility that people with pre-existing conditions could be denied coverage and the significant funding cuts to Planned Parenthood if it continues to offer abortions.

“We have seen attack after attack on access to healthcare for people, especially for women,” said Rep. Taylor.

But the Senate has yet to release their version of the healthcare bill.

“The Senate is working on its own proposal, leadership, together with committee leadership, is starting to write the Senate version of the bill,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) at an event Monday.

Sen. Johnon says first, Congress needs to stabilize the healthcare market, then draft a new healthcare bill.

“Then take time hopefully in a bipartisan fashion, to repair the damage done by Obamacare and transition to a healthcare system that works,” Sen. Johnson said.

Still, Democrats seem skeptical there will be an bipartisanship.

“Certainly that was the intention in the house and I’m afraid it may not be the intention in the senate,” said Rep. Ohnstad.