CONGRESSIONAL

Londrigan says she’s needed in Congress to protect health care

Bernard Schoenburg
bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com
Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, Democratic candidate for Illinois' 13th Congressional District, listens to Susan Rickman tell her story of paying high prescription drug prices every month during a press conference outside the U.S. Courthouse on East Monroe Street, Wednesday, Oct. 28, in Springfield.

Joined by two supporters with pre-existing medical conditions, Democratic congressional candidate Betsy Dirksen Londrigan said Wednesday she should be elected to protect the existing federal health insurance law.

Outside the federal courthouse in downtown Springfield, Londrigan noted that that the U.S. Supreme Court – including new Justice Amy Coney Barrett -- will hear a case Nov. 10 that could overturn the Affordable Care Act. Carolyn Cochran Kopel of Springfield, a board member of Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, also said that group has endorsed Londrigan.

“I got into this race to protect health care,” said Londrigan, who advocates keeping the law but updating it as needed.

Londrigan, of Springfield, is running, as she did in 2018, for the U.S. House seat from the 13th Congressional District against U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville.

Londrigan also was critical Wednesday of a flier promoting Davis that features a silhouette of a person walking in an apparent riot scene, with fire raging in the background. It’s headline is “Riots. Carnage. Chaos,” and it also states: “If the mob wins, we lose. Don’t get mad. Vote.”

Londrigan called it “a move right out of Donald Trump’s playbook.”

“Trump campaign co-chair Rodney Davis and his campaign are using desperate scare tactics because Davis doesn’t want to run on his disastrous health care record,” Londrigan said in an emailed statement.

On health care, Londrigan says that Davis voted repeatedly to end the health care law with no replacement, putting coverage for people with pre-existing conditions in peril. Davis says he works to protect coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, and says the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, has left millions of people uninsured or unable to afford premiums and co-pays for care.

“I’ve only been for repeal if there’s a replacement,” he said recently.

Davis has also made an issue of Londrigan’s husband being a lobbyist representing corporate clients. Her campaign takes no money directly from corporate political action committees.

Davis said in a debate on WICS-TV Friday that Londrigan’s “own personal household income” includes money from the “lobbying for corporate clients just a few blocks from here in the state capitol.” His campaign also has a radio ad running this week that calls Londrigan a lobbyist, though she was only registered as one for one year – in 2013 – when she was a consultant to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

Londrigan said Wednesday that if elected to Congress, she would be “accountable for my votes.

“It is my name on the ballot,” she said, “and as far as my husband, who I adore, it’s 2020, and I don’t think women need to be judged by their husband’s jobs. I look forward to taking votes in the best interest of my neighbors here in central Illinois.”

At Londrigan’s news conference, Missy Norman, 39, of Springfield, who uses a wheelchair, was born with spina bifida, and had a kidney removed four years ago, said the Trump administration “has done everything they can to try to diminish or kill the ACA, whether that be through legislative means or Supreme Court means.” She said that’s especially concerning during “this pandemic that has killed over 200,000 people.” She said Londrigan, whose son Jack had a life-threatening health issue years ago, is “someone who understands … what’s important to this district.”

Susan Rickman, 53, of Springfield, a receptionist, said her health problems include being diabetic and having congestive heart failure.

“(Londrigan’s) a person that cares, somebody that’s going to put people first, not big insurance companies,” Rickman said.

Kopel, the Planned Parenthood board member, said she thinks Barrett’s appointment to the nation’s high court could lead to an overturn of the Roe vs. Wade decision allowing abortion rights.

“The Trump administration and Republican … leadership attacks against our rights and our health care have been relentless, and I think people are tired of it,” Kopel said. She added that Planned Parenthood Illinois Action, an advocacy arm of Planned Parenthood, “is proud to stand with Betsy as we fight to protect sexual and reproductive rights across the state of Illinois.”

On abortion, Londrigan has said she trusts “women to make their own medical decisions for what’s best for themselves and their families.” Davis says he will “always stand up for the unborn” and opposes abortion except in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother.

The Davis campaign flier featuring what looks like a riot scene – in addition to an image of someone ominously looking out from a mask-covered face and what looks like a Molotov cocktail fashioned from a bottle – drew the ire over the weekend of Springfield Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner, who also chairs Sangamon County Democrats. Via Twitter, Turner said the flier uses “disgusting and divisive tactics to create fear and hate in our communities.”

The flip side of the flier features a picture of Davis and calls him “A conservative with the resolve to stand up for our values and keep our communities safe. A statement in quotes next to him says: “We have to protect our communities from looting and violence … the safety and security of our communities shouldn’t be a political issue.”

That flip side also has statements of Davis positions on “safe communities,” “better healthcare,” and “our economy.”

A notation indicates the flier was paid for by the Illinois Republican Party. On the flip side, it provides addresses of Davis’ campaign website as well as how to find the campaign on Twitter and Facebook.

A spokesman for the Davis campaign and the state GOP did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Contact Bernard Schoenburg: Bernard.schoenburg@sj-r.com, 788-1540, twitter.com/bschoenburg

U.S. Rep. Rodney David, R-Taylorville, left, listens as U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator Kurt Thiede, talks about the funding for replacement of lead service lines to homes during a press conference at South 15th Street and East Stuart Street, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Springfield. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced more than $113 million to modernize water infrastructure in Illinois which is part of the Drinking Water State Revolving Loan Fund. [Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register]