Trump talks health care and jobs during Wisconsin visit
By Courtney Ryan, FOX 11 News
MILWAUKEE (WLUK) -- President Donald Trump arrived on Air Force One in Milwaukee Tuesday with a packed schedule.
President Trump talked health care, job creation and will end the day in Wisconsin at a fundraiser for Governor Scott Walker.
The president held a round table discussion at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee on increasing the nation's workforce. He says he believes apprenticeships are an excellent way to match workers with millions of open jobs.
A number of officials, including his daughter, Ivanka Trump, joined the president in the effort Tuesday.
President Trump says America needs to change its mindset when it comes to apprenticeships to help fill jobs requiring specially-trained workers.
Apprenticeship participants get on-the-job training while going to school, sometimes with companies footing the bill.
Democrats say Trump is a hypocrite for promoting apprentice programs.
"Trump, just like Walker, is pulling a bait and switch on the American people. He is saying he cares about workers, but in fact his budget takes away money and resources from the very programs that train manufacturers, workers, nurses, the programs that support our small business owners, and that create and spur economic growth, especially in rural communities. It's time for these cuts to stop," said Democratic Representative, Katrina Shankland.
Health care has also been an important issue to the president.
He says the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as "Obamacare" is failing.
The president met with some Wisconsin residents who say their health care troubles began after the health care law went into effect.
Here is President Trump's full remarks on health care:
"Thank you. Thank you, everybody. Thank you very much.
Millions of American families -- and I mean millions -- continue to suffer from Obamacare while congressional Democrats obstruct our efforts to rescue them. And I'll tell you, that's exactly what’s happening. The Democrats have let you down, big league. Standing beside me are two such families, representing so many others -- millions of people -- who have been victimized by Obamacare -- terrible law.
My thanks to Michael and Tammy Kushman from Marinette County, and Robert and Sarah Stoll from Kenosha, as well as their wonderful families, for joining us today. We appreciate it. We appreciate all the people being here. Thank you, folks. (Applause.) They love their country, play by the rules, and work hard to give their loved ones the best life possible.
Michael Kushman is a proud veteran of the United States Army Medical Service Core. He and his wife Tammy were forced onto the Obamacare exchange in 2015 -- and like countless others, they were shocked to learn that they couldn’t keep their doctor as promised. They couldn't keep their plan as promised. They started out paying $600 per month. Then their insurer quit the exchange, so they had to switch to a new plan, and it went up to $1,000 a month. And it keeps going up and up and up. And that's where we are today. Now it's over $1,400 per month. They’ve been forced off their plans and onto a new one three times in three years. Their premiums have soared 127 percent. The Kushmans now spend nearly one-fourth of their net monthly income on health insurance. So -- both of you, both families. Both great families.
Robert and his wife Sarah Stoll have also endured enormous pain under the crushing burden of Obamacare. Robert serves as a volunteer captain for the Randall Fire Department. He was a small business owner for 30 years. But their Obamacare premiums doubled, and Sarah was forced to leave retirement and find a part-time job just to pay the bills. When she did so, making matters worse, their new income meant they were no longer eligible for the tax credit they had once received -- and the federal government actually forced them to repay thousands of dollars.
These are sad -- I agree, that's true. Has it happened to you also? Yes. Yeah, it has. These are sad but familiar stories in Wisconsin, where Obamacare premiums have doubled. Obamacare is one of the greatest catastrophes that our country has signed into law -- and the victims are innocent, hardworking Americans like Michael and Tammy, Robert and Sarah. These citizens deserve so much better.
The House of Representatives has passed on to the Senate, and the Senate is getting ready to do something -- hopefully it will get done -- where we will come up with a solution, and a really good one, to healthcare. No matter how good it is, we will get no obstructionist Democrat votes. No matter how good it is -- if it's the greatest healthcare plan ever devised, we will get zero votes by the obstructionists, the Democrats. It's time to give American families quality, reliable, affordable healthcare -- and that’s what we are working very hard to do. And we'll get it done.
So I want to thank you, I want to thank the families -- thank you very much -- for being here. And I love being in Wisconsin. I love being in Wisconsin. Thank you."
Wisconsin Democrats say the Republican health care plan is bad for America.
"President Trump's visit today called attention to both President Trump's budget and healthcare package that he's putting together that the Senate may take up in the next couple of weeks. Both of which are an absolute disaster for working class people here in Wisconsin. We're very concerned that President Trump, much like Governor Walker, wants to give tax giveaways to the very wealthy," said Democratic State Assembly leader, Peter Barca.
The president also attended a fundraiser for Gov. Walker.
Governor Walker had said the fundraiser will be one of the biggest events ever held for a statewide elected official. He says Trump's visit is one he promised back in February when Trump was recruiting him to join his administration in Washington D.C.
The event began about 6:15 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee.
Just to get in the door for the event is $1,000 a person and for those who want to get a picture with the president and the governor, that will cost $10,000.