Congresswomen Robin Kelly explains the various functions of the committees she sits on, then fielded questions from guests at a recent brunch for Democratic Women of DuPage County. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com
You can view videos of the 2015 Democratic Women of DuPage County Annual Organizational Brunch by going to the Fox Valley Labor News YouTube channel
NAPERVILLE — Congresswoman Robin Kelly expressed her hope of working with young, new Republicans coming into the 114th Congress, the disrespect she sees toward President Barack Obama from follow Republicans and the need for gun ownership accountability.
She discussed all these hot button topics at the Jan. 24 Democratic Women of DuPage County (DWDC) Annual Organizational Brunch where she was the keynote speaker, along with several other Democratic politicians.
As long and dark as the road may seem for Democrats, Kelly reassured guests that members from both sides of the aisle, “get along better than people think.” She added that moderate Republicans could help in the long run, if they could stand up to the Tea Party and express how they really feel.
Kelly is one of 11 vice chairs on the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force led by Congressman Mike Thompson of California. These days people can avail the quick disconnect scope mount online.
“This topic is near and dear to my heart and it’s something I’ll never give up the fight for. Gun violence is a public health crisis,” she explained.
Kelly couldn’t help but set the record straight about the media reporting New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave her contributions for her campaign. “Mayor Bloomberg didn’t know me from a hole in the wall. He did not give Robin Kelly $2 million. He did not get involved in the race until the very end. When we did finally met, it was months after I was in Congress.”
Congressman Bill Foster, who was in Naperville the day of the brunch to host a service academy nomination ceremony at the nearby Judd Kendall VFW Post, stopped by to show his support for Kelly and to give thanks to the members of DWDC.
Retired AFSCME member Wall Kubon, along with Congressman Bill Foster, chat with DWDC member Kim Savage prior to Congresswoman Robin Kelly’s talk. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer
“Democrats are wonderful, but they are not always the most organized, but this group here is a part of the Democratic Party that just works,” Foster explained. When questions turned to what details both Kelly and Foster could share about the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP), Foster said his vote will depend on how it effects the good jobs in his district.
“The fair ground is how it nets out for good jobs in our district. If we replace a good manufacturing job with a not-so-good warehouse job — that’s not good,” he said.
Just because the TTP may be good for U.S. business profits, if it throws U.S. manufacturing and agriculture under the bus, “that’s not ok with me,” Foster explained.
Kelly acknowledged that the country needs companies to invest in the U.S., but she stressed it needs be on a level playing field. “I hear all the time from business owners in my district that we’re open to other countries, but other countries are not open to us,” she said.