Steve Kagen

Steve Kagen
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives from Wisconsin's 8th district
In office January 3, 2007 –January 3, 2011

On September 12, 2006, Kagen, a first time candidate, won the Democratic Party nomination for Wisconsin's 8th District. The seat had been left open by the four-term incumbent Republican, Mark Green, who unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Wisconsin. On November 7, Kagen narrowly defeated Wisconsin Assembly Speaker John Gard of Peshtigo in the most expensive Congressional race in Wisconsin history,^{[ citation needed ]} a race dominated by attack ads, mainly created by third-party 527 issue ad groups, outside the control of the candidate or parties. Some of the issues where Kagen and Gard disagreed were President George W. Bush's direction in the Iraq War, stem-cell research, and tax policy.

Kagen's campaign advertised that Wisconsin doctors voted him one of the "best doctors in America". He promised to fight to ensure that every American could get affordable health care.

Before Kagen's congressional campaign, his allergy clinic sponsored pollen count and allergy reports on several local television stations which aired after their weather reports during the last few years.^{[ citation needed ]}

Kagen won the 2006 election 51-49% against Gard and again defeated Gard in Brown County, home to Green Bay, in 2008. Kagen narrowly lost Gard's home county of Marinette. ^[7] Kagen is the third Democrat to represent the 8th District since World War II.

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district Democratic primary, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Kagen	25,523	47.55
	Democratic	Jamie Wall	15,427	28.74
	Democratic	Nancy Nusbaum	12,721	23.70
Total votes			53,671	100.00

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election, 2006

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Kagen	141,570	50.90
	Republican	John Gard	135,622	48.76
	Write-ins		943	0.34
Total votes			278,135	100.00
	Democratic gain from Republican

2008

See also: 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin § District 8

Kagen faced a rematch against Gard in 2008. CQ Politics forecasted the race as 'Leans Democratic'. ^[8] Kagen won reelection, defeating Gard with 54% of the vote, becoming only the third Democrat to win a second term in this district in 92 years (it was known as the 9th district before 1933).

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election, 2008

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Kagen (inc.)	193,662	54.00
	Republican	John Gard	164,621	45.90
	Write-ins		364	0.10
Total votes			358,647	100.00
	Democratic hold

2010

See also: 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Wisconsin § District 8

Kagen was defeated by Republican nominee Reid Ribble on November 2, 2010.

Wisconsin's 8th congressional district election, 2010 ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Reid Ribble	143,998	54.77
	Democratic	Steve Kagen (inc.)	118,646	45.12
	Write-ins		294	0.11
Total votes			262,938	100.00
	Republican gain from Democratic

2012

According to notes taken during a series of union endorsement interviews in January 2012 that were obtained by a local news reporter, Kagen strongly considered a run for the Democratic nomination to face Gov. Scott Walker in a recall election. ^[10]

Controversies

FDA compliance question

Kagen received a letter from the FDA regarding a compliance issue with one of his allergy formulas. News reports stated Kagen was accused of "selling allergy shots without a valid license." ^[11] The formulation was registered with the FDA during manufacture and distribution, but was re-classified under a new regulation and required a new application. ^[12] The FDA accepted the allergy clinic's decision to no longer offer that particular formulation and the FDA ended its license question.

Politically incorrect comment

After attending a campaign event on the Oneida reservation, and then in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on 20 October 2006, Kagen commented, in part:

Appreciate getting here almost on time. Our excuse in Oneida was, well, we're on Injun time. They don't tell time by the clock. Our excuse here is that I am a doctor and that we're never on time. ^[13]

Kagen later apologized. ^[14] The apology was accepted by the Oneida and other state tribes within two days. ^[15]

Behavior at White House function

Kagen came under fire for a rumored comment at a November 13, 2006, White House function, after Appleton-area newspapers picked up on a story printed in an alternative paper, The Scene. According to the paper, Congressman-elect Kagen met presidential adviser Karl Rove in a bathroom and told him : "You recognize me? My name's Dr. Multimillionaire and I kicked your ass." The term "Dr. Multimillionaire" refers to the name "Dr. Millionaire" the Republican campaign used to refer to Kagen during the 2006 campaign. The Scene also said that the Congressman-elect thanked Vice President Cheney and President Bush for campaigning in Wisconsin for his opponent, telling them, "I couldn't have won without your help." It is reported that he then addressed First Lady Laura Bush as Barbara, saying "I learned on the campaign trail that the biggest insult you could do to another man is to call his wife by another name." ^[16]

The White House officially denied the conversation took place, calling the story "ridiculous." ^[11] Kagen talked to constituents about the reported verbal insults he delivered to the President and Mrs. Bush six days after the November election. ^{[17] [18]}

See also

• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress

References

1. "Steven Leslie Kagen (D-Wis)" . Retrieved 2012-04-21.
2. "Steve Kagen, M.D. Highlights" . Retrieved March 17, 2018.
3. "Representative (D-WI) Steve Kagen" . Retrieved 2012-04-21.
4. "United States of America Declaration of Health: No Patient Left Behind". Archived from the original on 2016-01-18. Retrieved 2012-04-21.
5. Steve, Congressman (2007-06-29). "Why I Declined My Congressional Health Coverage". Daily Kos. Retrieved 2010-07-12.
6. "THOMAS - Library of Congress - "H.R.6074"". Archived from the original on 2008-11-25. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
7. "Election Results". CNN.
8. U.S. House Wisconsin - 8th District Archived 2008-10-06 at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
9. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010" (PDF). pp. 54 & 55.
10. Comp, Nathan (1 February 2012). "Total Recall: Sen. Kathleen Vinehout 'definitely running'". Dane101.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
11. Craig Gilbert, "There's no such thing as bad publicity . . . right?" January 18, 2007 at 1A.
12. FDA/CBER - Steven L. Kagen, MD Archived June 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
13. "Pol sorry for 'Injun time' remark—But Oneida tribe says no apology needed". Chicago Sun Times. 2006-10-24. Archived from the original on November 16, 2006.
14. Steve Schultze "Kagen apologizes for remark" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel October 24, 2006.
15. Gard's history a factor in 'Injun' dustup" Politics Blog, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel October 27, 2006.
16. "Kagen introduces a little levity to the White House". The Scene. Archived from the original on January 19, 2007.
17. Hudson, Lane (March 28, 2008). "Steve Kagen: My Favorite New Member". The Huffington Post.
18. "Kagen: Nothing to Apologize for in White House Visit". Shawano Leader. Archived from the original on February 15, 2007.

External links

• Steve Kagen for Congress official campaign site
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Profile Archived 2008-08-14 at the Library of Congress Web Archives at SourceWatch
• Kagen Allergy Clinic
• Appearances on C-SPAN

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Mark Green	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district 2007–2011	Succeeded by Reid Ribble
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Mark Neumann as Former US Representative	Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative	Succeeded by Ed Zschau as Former US Representative