Steve Kagen

Steve Kagen is an American politician and physician who served as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district from 2007 until 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, Kagen's tenure in the House was marked by his focus on healthcare reform, consumer protection, and veterans' issues. He was defeated in his bid for re-election in 2010, concluding his congressional career.

Early life and career

Steve Kagen was born on December 12, 1949, in Appleton, Wisconsin. He completed his secondary education at Appleton East High School before pursuing higher education at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There, he earned a degree in molecular biology, graduating with honors. Following his undergraduate studies, Kagen attended medical school and underwent further training at both Northwestern University in Chicago and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He is board certified in several medical specialties, including internal medicine, allergy, asthma and immunology, as well as diagnostic laboratory immunology.

Kagen's interest in politics was influenced by his father, Marv Kagen, who was a physician and an unsuccessful Democratic Congressional candidate in 1966. Steve Kagen volunteered for his father's campaign, an experience that significantly shaped his political aspirations. Prior to his election to Congress, Kagen established four medical clinics in various Wisconsin cities, including Appleton, Green Bay, Fond du Lac, and Oshkosh. He also held a position as an assistant clinical professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin and served as an allergy consultant for CNN for seven years.

House tenure

Kagen's political career in the U.S. House of Representatives began when he won the Democratic Party nomination for Wisconsin's 8th congressional district in September 2006. This seat had become available following the decision of four-term Republican incumbent Mark Green to run for Governor of Wisconsin. Kagen's campaign was characterized by significant financial expenditures, making it the most expensive Congressional race in Wisconsin's history. He faced Wisconsin Assembly Speaker John Gard in the general election, where he narrowly secured victory with a margin of 51% to 49%.

During his first term, Kagen focused on various legislative initiatives, particularly in healthcare and consumer protection. He was re-elected in 2008, defeating Gard again with approximately 54% of the vote. This victory made Kagen only the third Democrat to win a second term in the 8th District in over nine decades. However, his political career faced a setback when he was defeated by Republican Reid Ribble in the 2010 election, concluding his time in office on January 3, 2011.

Legislative focus and committees

Throughout his time in Congress, Kagen served on several key committees that shaped his legislative priorities. He was a member of the Committee on Agriculture, where he participated in subcommittees focusing on operations, oversight, nutrition, and forestry, as well as livestock, dairy, and poultry. Additionally, he served on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, contributing to subcommittees related to the Coast Guard and maritime transportation, highways and transit, and water resources and environment.

Kagen's legislative agenda prominently featured healthcare reform, encapsulated in his "No Patient Left Behind" initiative. This proposal aimed to ensure transparency in healthcare pricing, establish a single insurance risk pool, and provide coverage for all children and working adults. He emphasized the need for affordable healthcare access and declined to participate in the Congressional health care plan until such access was guaranteed for all Americans.

In addition to his healthcare initiatives, Kagen supported various legislative measures, including the 911 Commission Recommendations Act, the Minimum Wage increase, and the SCHIP Children's Health Bill. He was also a proponent of campaign and lobbying reforms and advocated for oversight of FISA warrants and terror surveillance. Kagen co-sponsored the Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act, which aimed to allow the importation of prescription drugs from Canada for personal use. He also supported the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act of 2007, which sought to enable negotiations for lower drug prices.

Kagen's commitment to veterans' issues was evident in his authorship of the Rural Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act, which aimed to expand mental health coverage for veterans. He consistently voted in favor of military appropriations bills, reflecting his support for the armed forces.

One notable piece of legislation introduced by Kagen was the Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008, which sought to amend the Sherman Act to make oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal. This legislation was passed by the House with a significant majority, allowing the Justice Department to take legal action against foreign states that engaged in price-fixing or restricted oil production.

Despite his legislative efforts, Kagen's career was not without controversy. He faced scrutiny regarding compliance issues with one of his allergy formulas, which drew attention from the FDA. Nonetheless, his tenure in Congress was marked by a focus on healthcare, consumer rights, and veteran support, reflecting his background as a physician and his commitment to public service. After leaving office, Kagen considered running for the Democratic nomination in a recall election against Governor Scott Walker in 2012, indicating his continued interest in political engagement.