U.S Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, called the recent “beautiful” legislation as “The Big, Ugly Bill” at her town hall August 9.
Approximately 70 people attended the two-hour event at the East Aurora School District 131 board room. Attendees asking questions and voicing concerns included residents of Aurora, Batavia, Montgomery, Naperville, Romeoville, St. Charles, and Sugar Grove.
Moderator was Michael Childress, president of NAACP DuPage County branch. After he introduced Underwood, she gave a 30-minute review of her accomplishments and perceived challenges facing the Nation.
In remarks and in a handout titled “THE BIG UGLY BILL,” Underwood said the legislation will adversely affect communities, health care and add higher costs of living. “The Big Ugly Bill adds over $4 trillion to the deficit and steals from the poor to give handouts to the rich. Republicans used unprecedented budgetary gimmicks and deceptive math to hide the true price of this legislation. Then they rammed it through before the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office could reveal the true price tag.”
In the community, Underwood said, her constituents under Get Covered Illinois will pay $930 more for health insurance. “Over 535,000 Ilinoisans will lose their insurance and 200,000 will lose some or all food assistance.”
According to Underwood, the ugly bill makes the largest cut to health care in American history, slashing funding for Medicaid, Medicare and Affordable Care Act. Cuts will leave over 15 million Americans uninsured, she said.
Underwood added that the legislation could close more than 300 rural hospitals and more than 500 nursing homes nationwide. She noted that century-old taxes on gun silencers, short-barreled rifles and shotguns have been eliminated.
After her presentation, Underwood spoke with and posed for photos with attendees. She announced the Aurora event was among a series of summer town hall meetings across her 14th District. For more information, her newsletter is available at underwood.house.gov.
—Al Benson