MADISON, Wis. -- The conservative group involved in the "Tax Day Tea Party" at the state Capitol in April held a health care town hall meeting in Madison Wednesday night.

Wednesday's town hall meeting was one of three scheduled in Wisconsin by the group Americans for Prosperity Foundation.

The group invited U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., to take part, but she did not attend Wednesday night.

But other residents who turned out for the town hall said this is too big of an issue not to have their voices heard. More than 1,600 residents packed into the Marriott West Wednesday night looking for answers that many said they aren't getting anywhere else.

"Most of the town meetings, from what I understand in the United States today, are just Washington talking to you and they're not telling you the details of the program. 'One size fits all,' and that's what they're telling us," said Bill Thiede, who attended the meeting.

"I care how much it costs. I don't want to just go to the doctor because insurance pays for it. I want to know what I'm being charged," said Elizabeth Herzog, a Columbus resident.

Americans for Prosperity said the purpose of these meetings is to hear both sides of the health care debate.

"Tough questions need to be asked. It's a very serious issue. Like is a public option the best way to go or do we do what (U.S. Rep.) Paul Ryan is suggesting. Let's stop everything right now. Let's get back to the drawing board and start over," said Mark Block, director of the Wisconsin chapter of Americans for Prosperity.

That's what many people at the meeting said they would like to see happen. Some said they believe the government's current plan goes too far.

"I'm concerned mostly that this bill will ultimately used to eliminate the cost over runs in Medicare and Social Security by eliminating the people who need them," said Judy Womack, a Cottage Grove resident.

The Democratic Party of Wisconsin released a statement about Wednesday night's meeting, saying, "This is nothing more than a manufactured event put on by a corporate-sponsored special interest group."

A few members from the progressive group One Wisconsin Now also attended Wednesday night's meeting.

"This event and these events like it are part of a Republican strategy to defeat President Obama no matter what the cost to the American people. The truth is health insurance companies have a strangle hold on health care in this country," said Robert Doeckel, of One Wisconsin Now.

Americans for Prosperity will hold two more town hall meetings Thursday in La Crosse and Wausau. The meetings are free but people have to register online for tickets.