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Defending the Affordable Care Act from Republican efforts to repeal it was the theme Tuesday for a town hall-style event at the Columbia Activity & Recreation Center.

The event, which drew about 200 people, was presented by Missouri Jobs with Justice, CoMo for Progress and Planned Parenthood. Moderator Richard von Glahn, policy director with Missouri Jobs with Justice, said that during the week of congressional recess, no Missouri members of Congress had scheduled any public events in the state.

"It's pretty shameful," he said.

Kristen Wright, with Democratic U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill's office, read a letter from McCaskill. In the letter, McCaskill said that because of the Affordable Care Act, more than 20 million Americans have health care who did not have it previously.

"Missourians are going to hold Congress accountable, and I am going to be standing with you," Wright said, reading from McCaskill's letter. McCaskill could not make it because she was touring the U.S.-Mexico border.

Audience members shared their health care stories. Wendy Cunningham said she and her husband both lost their jobs and got coverage through the ACA marketplace. She said she needs surgery but is afraid to start it because she's afraid her health care coverage will go away.

Kimberly Kinnard said she blew out her knee when she slipped in the mud, which led to her becoming homeless.

"I had to become indigent to get Medicaid for a $12,000 knee surgery," she said. She urged everyone to fight for better health care.

Wes Knight, a pastor, said the U.S. health care system reduces people to dollar signs.

"It's about selfishness," he said. "It's about profit margin. When do lives start to matter? When are we more important than shareholders?"

Former Councilwoman Ginny Chadwick, in tears, said that after she left the Columbia City Council, she was able to get coverage through the Affordable Care Act and get the surgery she needed.

"I have the best insurance I've ever had on ACA," she said. "That's what everybody in this country should have."

Others advocated for going beyond the Affordable Care Act.

"I'm in favor of single-payer health care," said Roy Hartley. "We have this broken system. Stand up and say we want single-payer."

Andy Quint, medical director of the Family Health Center, said some politicians seem to think Medicaid does not matter.

"Having Medicaid or other insurance really, really matters," Quint said. "Single-payer is the way to go. A lot of physicians support single-payer. For now we have to hang on to what we have."

Eva Petahovic said many in the audience should run for office.

"Most of us can become candidates ourselves," she said.

Scott Fines said his son was born with a pre-existing condition, but because he was born in 2014 under the ACA, his costs for treatment were covered. He said officeholders are disregarding their constituents.

"These representatives believe that we are small," he said. "We are not small, and we are not silent, and we will not be ignored."

The town hall was the latest in a string of public events in Columbia where progressives have assembled to protest Republican policies and push for liberal policy priorities, with the next planned for today. Fines told the audience to turn out this morning as Republican U.S. Reps. Vicky Hartzler and Blaine Luetkemeyer participate in the Columbia Chamber of Commerce/U.S. Chamber of Commerce Financial Services Roundtable at the Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center. He said the meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. but asked audience members to be there by 9:30.

"We're not invited, but we're going to be there anyway," Fines said.

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Progressives voice support for ACA - Columbia Daily Tribune