Town Hall Meetings

Wisconsin (WFHR, WIRI) – Senator Tammy Baldwin and Senator Ron Johnson both held virtual town hall meetings on February 27th, 2025. They’re now towards the end of a ten week floor period in the Senate, requiring them to be present in Washington D.C.. Constituents submitted questions before the meetings. Many of the questions differed, but constituents in both town halls asked about healthcare.

Medicaid

Senator Johnson says the problem with the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, is that it covers able-bodied, working-age adults. Johnson stated, “Medicaid is completely out of control because Obamacare has put it in real danger.” Senator Johnson said the program has almost doubled in cost because of allowing single, working-age, childless adults to access healthcare through the program. “It’s the Obamacare that’s been put into Medicaid that threatens the solvency of Medicaid and threatens the solvency of our nation.”

Senator Baldwin helped write the Affordable Care Act and said it has allowed more people to access healthcare. Baldwin said, “People with pre-existing health conditions used to not be able to get health insurance because the insurance companies could just say no. That changed with the Affordable Care Act.” According to Senator Baldwin, Medicaid funding helps pay for nursing care for those on Medicaid. It also helps keep community health centers and critical access hospitals open in rural areas in Wisconsin. “This affects our local economies, especially our rural economies in significant ways.” Seventy-two million Americans rely on Medicaid for their healthcare. That number includes over a million people in Wisconsin.

Senator Baldwin explained how the House of Representatives took up a budget that contemplates 4.5 trillion dollars of tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the top 5% and even more disproportionately benefiting the top 1%. Committees have been instructed to find cuts to the programs they oversee. One of the committees that oversees Medicaid has been instructed to cut nearly a trillion dollars of spending. Baldwin said, “We know that Medicaid is the target.”

Senator Johnson said the only way to help the people who should be allowed to enroll in Medicaid is to bring down the deficit. He stated, “We won’t be able to help them if we further mortgage our kids future and we have this massive debt crisis, this debt bomb go off. We got to try and manage our way out of this thing and that’s by returning to a pre-pandemic level of spending. A reasonable one.” 

Medicare/Social Security

Senator Johnson spoke against those saying Social Security and Medicare are under threat. “Both Parties, President Trump has said Social Security and Medicare is completely off the table.” Johnson said no one is touching either one of these programs.

Ukraine

When asked where he stands on Ukraine, Senator Johnson said the war started by Russia has to end. “I’ve repeatedly said Vladimir Putin is a war criminal, he’s obviously the aggressor, he didn’t have to start the war.” Johnson also said the reality is Vladimir Putin will not lose this war. “The only way the war ends is in a negotiated settlement. You can quibble with how you negotiate that, but I’m not going to like the result.”  Johnson said the longer the war goes on, more people will die. “The result will get worse and worse because more Ukrainians die, the more of Ukraine gets destroyed, the more Russian conscripts die. I take no joy in that.” Senator Johnson said he supports President Trump’s efforts to end this war that Russia started.

Tariffs

Senator Baldwin was asked where she stands on tariffs. She said her position is not absolutist in either direction. “I think tariffs are an important tool in our trade toolbox. And I think they should be used in a very targeted fashion.” Baldwin said when a country or industry sector cheats by undermining our rules or our economy, tariffs are useful to level the playing field. She said this allows our workers to compete fairly. “Because I have every confidence that, you know, Wisconsin’s workforce is renowned around the world. If we have a level playing field, we’re going to compete, we’re going to win.”

Baldwin said the current administration’s across the board tariffs with Canada, Mexico, and China are going to create a lot of havoc. “Because there’s almost always retaliatory tariffs.”  She said these across the board tariffs are a cause for alarm. “I think those tariffs are going to result in prices going up at a time when most people are having trouble making ends meet.” She said when the first Trump Administration implemented sweeping tariffs, farmers and processors were crushed. 

January 6th Pardons

Senator Johnson answered a question about President Trump pardoning all January 6th offenders, even those with criminal backgrounds.“In the end I think that Trump just got frustrated with all the detailing and he finally said just pardon them all.” Johnson said he thought there was a miscarriage of justice in some cases. “Again, take a look at all of it. In the end, I didn’t have a real problem with what President Trump done…did even though I probably would have done it differently.” Those President Trump pardoned included people who took part in January 6th, but also had records for rape, sexual abuse of a minor, manslaughter, and other charges.

Chaos in D.C.

Senator Baldwin answered a question about how chaotic things seem in Washington D.C.. The constituent asked how to help calm the uncertainty people are living with everyday. Senator Baldwin responded, “It does feel a lot like chaos here.” She said announcements are coming so fast and so furious that it’s difficult for hardworking citizens to keep up. “I will tell you that some of the chaos we’re experiencing is very purposeful.” A top Trump advisor said their strategy in the first days and weeks was to flood the zone. Many of the things proposed have resulted in lawsuits making it even harder to understand what’s going on. “I think it’s important to remember in all of this that we do have power. Everyone here has power and your voice matters.”

Baldwin said she has been spending time on the Senate floor reading letters from concerned constituents and those voices and stories do make a difference. “Again, some of this chaos and confusion is very intentional ah, but it’s going to keep us on our toes, and keep us speaking out, and working together and fighting together.” Senator Baldwin said through this chaotic and confusing time that we have real power and encouraged Wisconsinites to keep talking to their representatives.

Links

Your Representatives want to hear from you about your concerns. You can sign up to be notified of upcoming events or future Town Hall Meetings. Contact Senator Tammy Baldwin here. Senator Johnson can be reached here. For your State Legislators, you can find that information by entering your mailing address here.