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U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus, R-Sewickley took a verbal beating at a public meeting Thursday on Main Street in Johnstown.

The congressman was in Johnstown for Showcase for Commerce but was a no-show at the town hall meeting sponsored by the progressive group Indivisible Johnstown.

Where is he? Why isnt he here? said Linda Bishop, of Pittsburgh, a member of PA District 12 Progressives.

Indivisible Johnstown was formed in February after Donald Trump was swept into the White House.

We cried from November through January and decided now we have to do something, said Mary Lou Davis, one of the groups organizers.

We knew we wanted this town hall at the time they had Showcase for Commerce because all of our representatives were in town, she said.

Rothfus and staff members declined the invitation, Davis said.

A spokeswoman for Rothfus did not immediately respond to an email.

Attendees discussed their concerns while standing before an empty gray suit that represented the absent congressman.

Some wore Planned Parenthood and Bernie Sanders T-shirts.

Taxes, abortion, health care and the environment were some of their concerns.

Daniel Kane, retired secretary-treasurer of the United Mine Workers of America, drew applause when he called for a single- payer health care system.

Workers in Canada have no need to negotiate for health care because they have a publicly funded plan, he said.

Im getting tired of telling people in this country that we need single-payer health care, Kane said. They say, Well how are you going to pay for it?

Guess what, were already paying for it, he said. Were already paying more per patient than anywhere else.

Patrick Buchnowski is a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be reached at 532-5061. Follow him on Twitter@PatBuchnowskiTD.

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'Where is he?': Progressives chide absent congressman - TribDem.com