‘Kill the bill, not people,’ protesters chant during sit-in at Adam Kinzinger’s office in Rockford

June 29--ROCKFORD -- Protesters formed a human chain during a sit-in outside of U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger's Rockford office today to urge him to vote against a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Chanting "kill the bill, not people," the eight protesters said residents will lose their health insurance if the current Republican health care reform bill is voted into law, doing away with many of the provisions that the protestors say have benefited Americans.

Mary Jo Powers, 78, of Rockford, said she used to teach children on Rockford's west side and knows how much families depend on the current health insurance law.

If it is repealed, "this will just kill them," she said.

Kinzinger, R-Channahon, is in Washington, D.C. today. His Rockford field representative, Luke Phalen, told the group he will share their concerns with Kinzinger.

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Dressed as a skeleton, Julie Grimme, 59, of Rockford, said she pays $26 a month for health insurance, which she said is affordable given her $28,000 annual earnings. The retired Wisconsin teacher receives a pension and about $14,000 a year substitute teaching in Illinois.

"I think everybody should have it," she said of low-cost health insurance.

Powers, a member of The Truth Squad, voiced frustration with "the apathy" in Rockford and the low turnout for the sit-in at Kinzinger's office.

"I can't sit here with this crap going on in the world," Powers said.

Kristen Zambo: 815-987-1339; [email protected]; @KristenZambo

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