BRANCHBURG – Andy Kim stood before about 500 people Friday night and talked about his two young children.
“I’m terrified at what kind of country they will grow up in,” the senator said at a town hall at Raritan Valley Community College.
Kim ticked off some of what he considers the most damaging moves of the Trump Administration.
Broadly speaking, they included the power of Elon Musk, cuts to Medicaid, which as of now benefits 2 million New Jersey residents, the on-again, off-again tariffs and a tilt toward Russia in defiance of traditional U.S. support for democracy.
This was a supportive crowd – at least as far as Donald Trump was concerned.
Most of the questions revolved around what average residents can do to fight the Trump Administration.
Kim boiled things down to two areas – fighting Medicaid cuts, which he said will impact nursing homes, and tariffs, which he said can force many small businesses to raise prices.
More than one question, however, was about why Democrats are not fighting harder. Along these lines, when Chuck Schumer’s name popped up, there were boos.
In response. Kim said he was proud of Democratic accomplishments when he was in the House, including action on climate change and reducing drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices.
But then he acknowledged:
“It isn’t just about passing legislation. We were terrible at messaging.”
Applause from the crowd showed they agreed.
He said that is why he is trying to “step up” and engage residents with town halls.
Kim, actually, is a veteran of such things.
Counting his time in the House, Kim said the Friday gathering was the 85th town hall he has held. On Thursday, he held one in Atlantic County and on Saturday, he had one scheduled for Brick Township.
And here is a key question the senator says he must consider.
“Does the message you are trying to convey get to the people?”
The only time the nearly two hour session briefly went off the rails was when a Palestinian supporter practically gave a speech about unjust Israeli actions.
“This is not the place for that,” one woman yelled. Another spectator did likewise. Order was soon restored.
The location of the event was in CD-7, which is something Kim – and the audience – certainly recognized.
Rep. Thomas H. Kean Jr., the local congressman, has become infamous – at least to some – for not holding in-person town halls and avoiding contact with the press. He does have a telephone town hall set for next week.
With that in mind, one man asked Kim what he thinks people should ask Kean if they get through on the phone.
This event was not necessarily a partisan one, but Kim could not bypass the chance to score some points with the crowd. He said a good query for Kean would be:
“Why are you hiding from your constituents?”
In a recent interview with Insider NJ, Kim, a resident of New Jersey, opened up about her fears regarding the Trump administration. Kim expressed concerns about various policies and actions taken by the administration that she believes are harmful to the country and its citizens.
One of Kim’s biggest fears is the administration’s stance on immigration. She is deeply troubled by the separation of families at the border and the harsh treatment of immigrants seeking asylum in the United States. Kim worries about the long-term effects of these policies on families and communities, as well as the message it sends to the rest of the world.
Additionally, Kim is concerned about the administration’s approach to healthcare. She believes that efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act without a viable replacement would leave millions of Americans without access to affordable healthcare. Kim fears that this could have devastating consequences for those who rely on the ACA for coverage, including herself and her family.
Furthermore, Kim is worried about the administration’s disregard for environmental protections. She is alarmed by the rollback of regulations aimed at protecting the environment and believes that this could have serious consequences for future generations. Kim is particularly concerned about the impact of climate change and feels that the administration’s lack of action on this issue is putting the planet at risk.
Overall, Kim’s fears about the Trump administration stem from a deep concern for the well-being of her fellow Americans and the future of the country. She believes that it is important for individuals to speak out against policies and actions that they believe are harmful and to advocate for a more just and equitable society. Through her interview with Insider NJ, Kim hopes to raise awareness about these issues and inspire others to take action in support of a better future for all.
