Advocates press Blum for town hall on ACA

CEDAR FALLS - About a dozen people from the Cedar Valley paid a visit to U.S. Rep. Rod Blum's office Thursday in the hopes of getting to talk to the Republican in person. And soon. Like before any repeal of Affordable Care Act passes.

'I want him as a representative to stand up for all Iowans and for all communities, not a particular interest, (and) hear what the people have to say,” Redgie Blanco of Cedar Falls told Blum's Cedar Falls staff member Justin Jensen. 'He might have a gigantic to-do list in Washington and maybe my little note is not as important for him as the thousands of pages of the new ACA, or whatever they're calling it.”

That did not stop Blanco, however, from making calls to talk to Jensen about his concerns. And it did not stop him from filling out another form at Blum's office on Thursday to relay his concerns. But he, and the dozen other people there, think the congressman has an obligation to greet them face to face.

'We need to know that he sees us as people and Iowans that are his constituents and not just tally marks on a spreadsheet,” said Sarah Eastman of Cedar Falls.

That was a sentiment shared by a handful of people protesting outside Blum's Cedar Rapids' office on Thursday morning. The group, which held signs protesting the repeal of the ACA and delivered about a dozen letters, was frustrated that staff members would not meet with them.

'We're upset about the lack of access to our congressman and staffers,” said Kevin Barnes of Cedar Rapids. 'It was cut off. They locked the door.”

Barnes and other members of the group said they have been able to meet with both U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and appreciated that the legislators took the time to listen to their complaints.

That's something they'd like to accomplish with Blum.

'We're trying to communicate any way we can, but we don't feel like we're being heard,” he said.

The Cedar Falls crowd was heartened to learn from Jensen that the congressman is planning to hold an in-person town hall in the district but disappointed that a date has yet to be set - especially as Congress seems to be quickly pushing through a repeal of the federal health care reform also known as Obamacare.

Blum's staff said they are working to put together a date soon.

The ACA repeal legislation was unveiled officially earlier this week and already has made its way through the committee process, though Blum does not sit on the committees that are taking the first steps to pass the bill. On social media, Blum said he is reading the bill, but he hasn't stated his opinion of the proposed legislation.

'Congressman Blum is carefully analyzing the bill, and his biggest concern is bringing down the cost of health care,” Blum spokesman John Ferland said.

Blum is a member of the House Freedom Caucus that has opposed the current proposal and plans to introduce its own legislation. But Blum always has stressed his independence on votes.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa City, a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee - one of the two committees that passed the legislation - said, 'What we do know about Trumpcare is almost as scary for Iowans as what we don't. The bill that Republicans pushed through the committee gives tax breaks to the wealthiest at the expense of low-income and working families.

'This bill will lead to a rationing of care for the nations most disadvantaged, including seniors, children, people with disabilities and the working poor.”

Gazette reporter Chelsea Keenan contributed to this story.