Four Democrats who hope to win the 15th District Congressional seat currently held by Republican Congressman John Shimkus, traded comments during a forum in Danville Tuesday night (February 18, 2020).
Kevin Gaither of Sullivan was one of those involved in the forum at Danville Area Community College. He said veterans should receive quality health care services directly – including mental health….
{‘’…It’s just really hard to ask for help. You know, there’s a lot of pride there and they just don’t want to say that they need the services. Well we actually go to them and provide the services directly to them – wherever they live,’’ said Gaither.}
John Hursey Jr. is a high school English teacher from Collinsville. When asked what he thought about the potentially high cost of health care, Hursey said he is more concerned about providing it….
{‘’We didn’t never ask how much money it would cost to drop all those bombs on Afghanistan. We didn’t ask about those bombs that we dropped over Baghdad. But somehow we’re worried that it costs too much money to help poor people? So, yow, even if it costs more money – I don’t care,’’ said Hursey.}
The quality and health of small towns in the district is a priority for Craig Morton, a pharmacist and city council member from Salem…
{‘’Just in my city I have daughters and sons that drive into town and stay at their parent’s house – just so they can have high-speed internet to do their job and work from home. We need the roads, bypasses, sewers, and also increase to education for our workforce in that area,’’ said Morton.}
And Erika Weaver, who is a public defender from Coles County, said Affordable Health Care would be cost-effective, but funding needs to be available…
{‘’The research shows that it can be done without bankrupting the government. In fact, it would save money overall. The problem is, again, making sure that our legislators vote – and the appropriations committee permits an appropriate funding for that program…’’.}
Congressman John Shimkus announced earlier that he would not be seeking another term. So there will be a new person representing voters in the 15th Congressional District after the November election.
The district includes all or part of 33 counties stretching from Vermilion County on the north – along the eastern border of Illinois to the state’s southern tip.
