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U.S. congressman answers to Belvidere doctor
By Chris Johnson
REPORTER
Belvidere Family Practitioner Dr. Chantal Girod had a chance to talk with her congressman, 16th District Rep. Adam Kinzinger about health care, and he stood and listened, amidst tables-full of citizens who scheduled their day around him and his luncheon visit to Pecatonica.
Kinzinger left Washington D. C. to keep an appointment with members of Rotary International-Pecatonica on Wednesday, Jan. 18, just two days before he had to return for the inauguration of Donald J. Trump as 45th President of the United States on Friday, Jan. 20. Kinzinger said there were quite a few things to work through to assure he could make the visit to his northwestern constituents.
“This is inauguration week, and we have to go back to D.C. It was exciting for me to be able to make it. Logistically, of course, it was a bit of a nightmare. Half of D.C. is under barricade and there are all these protests,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “I appreciate you having me here. I am excited about Friday. I am not the kind that likes to preach, or hear it sometimes, but whether you are a Democrat or Republican, things like this are important for democracy.”
Kinzinger addressed issues from domestic security, war, finances, and health care. He fielded questions for about a half hour, before it was time to head back to the airport and back to the Capitol. The quick stopover to the Stonewall Cafe gave citizens a chance to get a personal, face-to-face meeting with the U.S. congressman.
Girod said she was worried. She had heard of the plans about a complete shutdown of the current Affordable Care Act. Once they did that, they would work on a new plan. That meant a gap would develop according to Girod. To her, it was a bad idea and one that required re-consideration.
Kinzinger replied that they had no intention of doing that. He wouldn’t let that happen. He said he knows that could mean a lot of people could be in a worse position when it came to their health.
“I am not going to vote to repeal this without having something else in place,” Kinzinger said. “We know that 75-percent of the costs are preventable. I think it’s important to encourage a healthy lifestyle and education, but I won’t vote for anything that just cuts it off.”
Girod went on to express her feelings of how important of a role the patient’s primary care provider plays, in assuring a person has access to the best health care service. Kinzinger said he understood and had thought about the issue.
“I wonder what we have to do to fix it. Some say just throw it out. One-sixth of the economy is health care, but five-sixths isn’t,” Kinzinger said. “We want to figure out the right way to do it. It’s not going to be like a 4,000-page bill like the other one was. It may be something we do piece by piece to benefit all Americans.”
To share your own questions and concerns with Rep. Kinzinger, attend his next traveling office hour at Poplar Grove Village Hall, located at 200 Hill St. in Poplar Grove. The traveling office hour will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31.
“Staffers will be available to assist and provide guidance for constituents on issues such as veterans and social security benefits, Medicare, immigration, and more,” Rep. Kinzinger’s office released.
Kinzinger’s 16th District covers an area that runs from Will County to Boone County through Winnebago County to Ogle County. He resides in Channahon, Ill., which is a western-suburb of Joliet.
