Campaign calls on Senator Feingold to answer for Washington allies, Harry Reid blocking bill that would help Wisconsinites

Ron Johnson moved to pass his bipartisan Trickett Wendler Right to Try Act – which would allow terminally ill patients in Wisconsin and across the country to try potentially life-saving drugs – only to have Sen. Harry Reid and Washington Democrats block it to simply deny Ron yet another legislative achievement and boost Senator Feingold’s bid to return to Washington.

Check out what they’re saying:

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “In a statement Thursday, a Johnson spokesman criticized Reid and called on Johnson’s challenger, Democrat Russ Feingold to weigh in on the proposed legislation that would allow terminally-ill patients to receive experimental drugs not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. … ‘who does he side with: Wisconsinites looking for a glimmer of hope as they battle a life-threatening illness? Or Harry Reid, one of Senator Feingold’s favorite people, who just played cynical partisan games with the health of Wisconsinites desperate for help?'”

Wisconsin Watchdog: “Contrary to Reid’s statement suggesting there have been no hearings on the bill, Johnson noted there have been two, including one just last week. Reid also said the bill is partisan, supported by Republicans but not Democrats. That’s not correct. Two Democratic senators have supported the bill, and Johnson noted that right-to-try laws in several states have passed on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis.”

Ron’s Op-ed in Racine Journal Times: “As I always emphasize when talking about this bill, no one, especially Congress, can guarantee a cure. What we can do is remove barriers keeping terminal patients with no alternatives from promising, if experimental, treatments. This bill would restore freedom to patients, and give them and their families hope.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “Around a week later, Johnson said, he met with a group advocating for ALS patients, including Trickett Wendler. He told her he supported a federal law. ‘Literally, tears started streaming down her cheeks,’ he said. ‘There’s a moment you realize, this is really important for a person. This isn’t some theoretical good government policy thing. This is something important, I’m going to pursue it.'”