Paul Ryan defends lack of open town hall meetings

Republican health plan — House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.
Photo: Gage Skidmore

House Speaker Paul Ryan says he finds invite-only town halls to be more productive than "a screaming fest" where people from outside his district try to "get on TV because they're yelling at somebody."

Ryan said that he's finding "new and creative ways to interact with my constituents in a civil way."

He says those include telephone town halls and face-to-face meetings at his congressional office in Janesville.

He took questions from reporters after two events in his Wisconsin congressional district where only employees of the businesses could pose questions.

Ryan is facing re-election in 2018.

Last week, democratic political activist David Yankovich ended his campaign for the seat. He was one of three Democrats vying to defeat Ryan next year.