Some Northwest Indiana voters, unhappy that Indiana’s Republican Sen. Todd Young did not have a town hall meeting scheduled nearby, brought their concerns to him in a virtual meeting Thursday.
Forty or so voters gathered at Space Revival in Griffith to conduct a “Recess Resistance,” phone call drive to Young’s offices. The group, convened as an extension of the Women’s March and 100 Days of Action, gathered their concerns over what Young and other members of Congress are doing – or not doing, as it were – and then placed calls to his offices around the state. None of those offices are in Northwest Indiana, event organizer Sue Eleuterio said.
Young has offices in Indiana in Indianapolis, New Albany, Evansville and Fort Wayne.
“It’s frustrating to be the second most populous county in the state, but I would have to make a four-hour round trip to get face time with a sitting senator. What are we, chopped liver?” Eleuterio said.
Those who didn’t want to make phone calls in a group were able to address Young in a cheeky way: Eleuterio and her co-organizers brought in a mannequin with a heart-shaped balloon for a head, and taped Young’s headshot to it. Brandon Dothager, of Highland, did just that.
“Let’s face it, Sen. Young. You didn’t have a plan,” Dothager said to the balloon as the room chanted, “Shame on you!” “You voted for Betsy DeVos, but this state voted against Tony Bennett in favor or Glenda Ritz. Hoosiers spoke very loudly, but you forgot your Hoosier history.
“Are you appropriate for the job since you forget those lessons?”
The group’ focus was mainly the Affordable Care Act, and many had stories to tell about how it saved them.
Dan Reynolds, of Ogden Dunes, said he had a minor heart incident, but after doing everything he was supposed to do to remain healthy, he ended up needed a bypass five years ago.
After a series of health problems, he praised the ACA.
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“Thank God for the ACA, or I would’ve been bankrupt or dead,” Reynolds said.
Cherie Mack, of LaPorte, reminded the group that she wasn’t getting paid to be there, as some have claimed.
“You can tell (Trump press secretary) Sean Spicer that, too,” Mack said to cheering. “I’m not sure (Trump) has gotten the message, but the United States has all races and all religions. We have to pray this energy lasts to 2018.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.