To: Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-1)
Paul Ryan: Meet With The People You're Hurting
I ask Paul Ryan to meet with Racine resident Maria Morales and the other people in the community hurt by his votes to cut to unemployment insurance, health care, and other programs.
Why is this important?
My name is Maria Morales. I'm a grandmother from Racine, Wisconsin, and I'm a constituent of Rep. Paul Ryan, the new Republican candidate for vice president.
I don't like to complain, but this year has been very difficult for me. After being laid off, I had an appendectomy, and then my doctors told me I have three clogged arteries in my brain. My son has a spinal cord condition. The health care bills are piling up, and I rely on my unemployment insurance to survive.
That's why I was so concerned when I found out that my representative, Paul Ryan, was leading efforts to cut off unemployment insurance for people like me. He's also cut Medicaid and wants to end Medicare, which would really be devastating.
I first requested a meeting with Paul Ryan more than a year ago to discuss how his policies are hurting people like me. My hope was that he would hear my story and reconsider. At the very least I deserve to have my voice heard. I am still waiting for that meeting.
I have called Paul Ryan's office again and again, willing to meet anywhere for even just a few minutes. I've even gone to DC to try to meet him there. Later, when I and some other people from my community dropped by his office, his staff called the police.
Eventually I got so fed up that I went to his office and simply refused to leave. I waited for 7 days, and still I'm waiting.
I can't find work, and this December, my jobless benefits will run out. Then I really don't know what I will do, and there are many others in my community with similar situations.
During last year's summer recess, which was an entire month long, Rep. Ryan didn't hold a single town hall meeting in his district. But he did meet with high donors numerous times. I think it's wrong that my congressman has time to meet with large funders, but not the people he's hurting in his district.
I'm asking Rep. Paul Ryan to find time, even a few minutes, to meet with me. I'll even just meet on the phone, since his schedule is busy.
I ask Paul Ryan to stop dodging his constituents and meet with me, Racine resident Maria Morales, and the other people in my community hurt by his cuts to unemployment insurance, health care, and other programs.
I don't like to complain, but this year has been very difficult for me. After being laid off, I had an appendectomy, and then my doctors told me I have three clogged arteries in my brain. My son has a spinal cord condition. The health care bills are piling up, and I rely on my unemployment insurance to survive.
That's why I was so concerned when I found out that my representative, Paul Ryan, was leading efforts to cut off unemployment insurance for people like me. He's also cut Medicaid and wants to end Medicare, which would really be devastating.
I first requested a meeting with Paul Ryan more than a year ago to discuss how his policies are hurting people like me. My hope was that he would hear my story and reconsider. At the very least I deserve to have my voice heard. I am still waiting for that meeting.
I have called Paul Ryan's office again and again, willing to meet anywhere for even just a few minutes. I've even gone to DC to try to meet him there. Later, when I and some other people from my community dropped by his office, his staff called the police.
Eventually I got so fed up that I went to his office and simply refused to leave. I waited for 7 days, and still I'm waiting.
I can't find work, and this December, my jobless benefits will run out. Then I really don't know what I will do, and there are many others in my community with similar situations.
During last year's summer recess, which was an entire month long, Rep. Ryan didn't hold a single town hall meeting in his district. But he did meet with high donors numerous times. I think it's wrong that my congressman has time to meet with large funders, but not the people he's hurting in his district.
I'm asking Rep. Paul Ryan to find time, even a few minutes, to meet with me. I'll even just meet on the phone, since his schedule is busy.
I ask Paul Ryan to stop dodging his constituents and meet with me, Racine resident Maria Morales, and the other people in my community hurt by his cuts to unemployment insurance, health care, and other programs.