Democrats hear Congress candidate Mackey tackle ‘Obamacare’ repeal effects

Announced Democrat candidate for U.S. Congress Joe Mackey of Lafayette addresses Putnam County Democrats at the Greencastle Elks Lodge.

Courtesy photo

Declared Democrat candidate for Indiana’s 4th congressional district seat in the U.S. Congress, Joe Mackey of Lafayette, knows all too well the financial devastation families can suffer when a child is diagnosed with cancer.

One of at least three potential candidates (Sherry Shipley of Lafayette and George Reed of Brownsburg are the others) for the 2018 Democrat nomination for the congressional seat currently held by Republican Todd Rokita, Mackey addressed Putnam County Democrats Sunday night at the Greencastle Elks Club.

Mackey, a lifelong Lafayette resident who worked for 30 years at Caterpillar Inc. before retiring last year, discussed the Affordable Care Act and the impact its repeal could have locally and nationally.

Currently, 6,400 people in Putnam County are covered under the Affordable Care Act, it was noted.

Featured speaker for the evening, Mackey discussed the loss of his two children to pediatric leukemia, within 30 months of each other, and the financial devastation that followed. In response, he and his wife have founded the Claire E. and Patrick G. Mackey Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Mackey spoke of the negative effects that the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (or so-called “Obamacare”) could have on many families.

“If your congressman comes home and tells you that sacrificing your family’s health care is good for the country, fire him,” Mackey said.

The meeting was opened by Putnam County Democratic Chairman Adam Cohen who introduced Vice Chairman Kim Fidler to provide a brief Indiana legislative session update.

Hodge Patel, staff worker for U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Indiana), then addressed Donnelly’s upcoming campaign and the senator’s vision for representing Indiana.