Kelly: 70,000 in district at risk of losing health insurance coverage

Jan. 26--About 70,000 people in the 2nd District are among 20 million Americans at risk of losing access to health insurance coverage if the Republican-controlled Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act without an adequate replacement, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly said Thursday.

"Even if you have (insurance) through your employer, you're still going to be affected," Kelly told me. "Your taxes could increase. They really have shown us nothing, as far as the replace part."

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has urged Washington to preserve stability in the way Illinois and other states operate insurance exchanges, Kelly said. Contrary to goals expressed by Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump has said repeal and replace should occur simultaneously and that more Americans should receive coverage.

Trump also signed an executive order to "minimize the economic burden" of Obamacare.

"We never said it was a perfect bill, but they never gave us an opportunity to improve the bill," Kelly said of Republican legislators.

During a 20-minute interview Thursday at her Matteson office, Kelly talked about the first week of Trump's administration and what it's like being a Democrat in the Republican-controlled Congress.

"It's been a little gloomy," she said. "It was sad to see President (Barack) Obama go. I was at (Trump's) inauguration. I wanted to be there because I've been with (Obama) so long. I wanted to be there when he took his final steps (as president)."

Kelly has served as representative since 2013 for parts of Chicago's South Side, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Lansing, Markham, Matteson, Park Forest and other areas. Her two predecessors -- Mel Reynolds and Jesse Jackson Jr. -- both resigned amid scandals.

I reached out to Kelly to ask how Congressional Democrats plan to respond to actions like new rules increasing penalties for sharing pictures or video from the House floor. Last summer Kelly, civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis and others shared images from a takeover of the House floor to protest a lack of action on legislation to prevent gun violence.

"I think we took them by surprise and by storm," she told me. "Speaker (Paul) Ryan was very angry when he came to the floor and we shouted him off the floor. Our young folks that are very technically astute found ways to get information out to the public. When we walked outside the Capitol there (were) a lot of (people) there to cheer us on. I think (the new penalties are) a way of shutting us down, or if we were thinking of doing anything like this again."

Addressing gun violence in her district has been one of Kelly's signature issues. Trump this week Tweeted he would "send in the Feds" if Chicago didn't fix the "horrible carnage."

Kelly echoed the response of Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others who welcome federal assistance in the form of additional resources to address inequality in education, a lack of economic opportunities and other underlying causes for gun violence. Trump's message also could be interpreted as meaning federal troops.

"He says one thing, then they clean it up a little bit so it sounds a little different," Kelly said. "It's so hard to tell exactly what he means."

Kelly said more must be done to address gun violence, and the issue needs to be addressed on several levels -- not just additional force.

"We cannot continue like this," she said. "It's not just one thing. It's legislation, it's police/community relations, but it's investing in underserved communities.

"We need more police. We have to change the culture in the police department. We have to work with the community, so they feel better about law enforcement than they do now."

Kelly said she invited Trump to visit her district so he could gain a better understanding of issues facing people in Chicago's South Side neighborhoods and south suburbs.

"We'll see if he takes me up on that," she said.

She responded to Trump's executive order this week targeting Chicago and other sanctuary cities that harbor illegal immigrants. Leaders of major cities nationwide vowed to resist the crackdown despite the threat of losing some federal funding.

"I hope the cities that are sanctuary cities stand strong and they don't cave in to what he did," Kelly said. "Those in the immigration fight know I'm in the fight with them.

"I think it would be ridiculous to start deporting. I could see if someone's a criminal, but the kids who came here with their parents that had no say-so about it. We need to find a pathway for citizenship instead of spending money to deport and the wall we are going to pay for."

People opposed to Trump need to make their voices heard, she said, like when citizens pressured Republicans this month to drop plans to gut the independent Office of Congressional Ethics.

"We have to continue to make noise," Kelly said. "Yes, they have the numbers. We have to continue to empower the public.

"We have to reach out to allies and public. We have to reach out to all those people who marched all over the country. Keep the citizenry informed so they know what's going on and stay active every day and pay attention to what's going on."

Kelly serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as ranking member of the Subcommittee on Information Technology, and on the Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on National Security.

She'll have a role as Congress investigates the extent of Russian hacking and interference in the 2016 election.

Trump is beginning his presidency with record-low approval ratings. Some who voted for him on the belief he could improve economic conditions are troubled by his words and actions on health care, climate change and other issues.

"Some people who voted for him in West Virginia, now they're wondering in coal country, did they do the right thing? He's going to take away their health care." Kelly said.

"People have to speak up. People do have the power. More power than they think."

Kelly said some of Trump's cabinet picks were "horrible" and "unbelievable," including Tom Price for health secretary, Ben Carson for housing secretary and Betsy DeVos for education secretary.

I asked Kelly about the Trump administration issuing gag orders on social media posts and other public communications by the National Park Service, the agriculture and interior departments. Scientists with the Environmental Protection Agency will likely have their work reviewed by the administration prior to publication, a transition team member told NPR this week.

"(Trump) wants to be the controller," Kelly said. "He wants everything to come through him. They're trying to silence any opposition. They're trying to control the message. It's hard to control him."

Finally, I asked Kelly about a poll this week that listed her among potential Democratic candidates for Illinois governor in 2018. She didn't rule out the possibility of a run, but indicated she's not actively pursuing it, either.

"I like the job I have," she said.

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