Constituents of U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher hold Green Bay Town Hall without him

Green Bay Press Gazette

GREEN BAY - A group of northeastern Wisconsin residents wanted so badly to raise concerns with Rep. Mike Gallagher, they held a town meeting even though they knew the congressman wouldn't be there.

About 100 people visited the Brown County Central Library Tuesday night to record questions and statements to be forwarded to Gallagher. They asked about partisan politics, climate change, the Donald Trump administration and a number of other subjects.

Health-care coverage, and the American Health Care Act, a Republican bill to replace the Affordable Care Act, was the most common topic. Gallagher, R-Green Bay, supported the bill during a House vote earlier this month.

"You keep on saying that AHCA is not a perfect bill," Green Bay resident Terry Lee said of the legislation that Trump and many congressional Republicans say should replace the Affordable Care Act. "Well, work to make it a perfect bill! Don’t slough it off."

Gallagher was invited but was out of the district on business. Organizers left him a chair on the stage, with a hand-lettered "Rep. Gallagher" sign.

The organizers, who said they represent no particular organization but are "Northeast Wisconsinites concerned about the direction and speed with which legislation is progressing in Washington," said they will share a recording of the event with Gallagher's district staff.

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"It can be challenging to discuss, to listen, to compromise," said Sumner Truax, a Lawrence University professor who emceed the event. "But listening and discussing and compromising is essential."

While most speakers maintained their composure, a few wrestled with emotions when they spoke of potentially losing health coverage for themselves and loved ones if ACHA is approved by the Senate and signed by Trump.

"My daughter was born with severe congenital birth defects, and endured 19 reconstructive surgeries," said De Pere resident Cindy Schumer, struggling to get the words out. "Do you feel my daughter should be punished for the rest of her life because she was born unlucky?"

Marion resident Dan Dillon said the Affordable Care Act, commonly called "Obamacare," provided health coverage that enabled him to leave a corporate job several years ago to pursue a dream. In 2012, he said, he opened an agency that assists people with disabilities.

"If the ACA goes away and 'Trumpcare' becomes the law of the land, there's a very real possibility that I’ll have to close my agency and … those people aren't going to have anybody," he said. "I want you, Rep. Gallagher, to think about it. I want you to think about what happens to people like me."

Gallagher, who was elected in November to the seat formerly held by Republican Reid Ribble of Sherwood, has held a "telephone town hall" tat he said attracted thousands of callers. Gallagher also has met with constituents individually and in small groups, including a recent get-together at a Green Bay coffee shop.

Some people Tuesday, however, said that isn't sufficient.

"We are mild-mannered, gentle people," said a man who identified himself as "Tom from up by the (Michigan) border." "We really would like to hear from you. Let’s get together and talk."

Constituents who believe their voices aren't being heard in Congress have begun holding town halls where they know their guests of honor will not attend. They say it's a way to get officials' attention.

Critics dismiss the approach as "political theater."

A similar event in Green Bay in February attracted about 300 people. They recorded questions to forward to second-term U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Oshkosh.

Other members said they have been reluctant to hold town halls after seeing some become opportunities for constituents to hold shouting matches.