The Liberty Tree Lantern

by: FoxPolitics.net

8/5/2009Thank you for listening to your constituents yesterday and Monday in Green Bay and Appleton. Listening. The operative word. Unlike media suggestions (your suggestions?), the crowds were not manufactured by shady “corporate interests,” but were caring, frustrated Americans, there to listen to you because they’re desperately fearful about the future of their beloved country – and the future we’re building here for our kids.I was moved by the passion – and I hope you were too. 300 people filled that auditorium a half hour before your meeting’s start time in both Green Bay and Appleton hearings. Perhaps next time your staff can find you a larger room, so that 300 or 400 constituents need not be locked out.As an aside sir, it’s interesting that I knew of your meeting schedule from friends and neighbors. In talking with the Steelworkers Union member (the emblem proudly emblazoned on his shirt) sitting behind me, I learned he received an email invitation from your office. You have my email sir, as I’ve contacted your office numerous times. You have my email sir, as I receive pleas for dollars from your campaign committee at the close of every campaign reporting period. Why didn’t I receive a notice of your “listening session” in Appleton?

Such passion Dr. Kagen. I’m not sure you got the message these caring and concerned constituents were sharing.

When asked how you were going to pay for any health care reform bill coming out of Congress, you said you would find $800B – $1T wasted. Wow. When asked if you will vote for health care reform if the majority of your constituents oppose the bill, you took a big sidestep – “It’s [the final bill] something that doesn’t exist yet.”

When a constituent said she heard the benefits of the medicine you and Congress are prescribing, now could you please share with us the side effects, you shrugged her off repeatedly, unable to “explain the whole thing because it will raise controversy.” Well, that surely is being honest, Rep. Kagen. Wow.

Rick Sense, writing for his “The Inside Scoop,” shares further goings-on from yesterday’s gathering.

Some of [Rep. Kagen’s] less than stellar moments included a claim that “the United States Senate is the real enemy” and that he believes it is “unconstitutional” for a pharmacy to be able to charge different people different prices for the same medication (ever buy a used car Rep. Kagen?). When asked if he would support healthcare legislation despite the majority of his constituents being opposed to it, he first replied, “Well, let me explain the legislative process to you,” later adding the cliché “these are complex issues” and ending his answer with, “I will vote for the best interest of our constituents.” At one point, obviously frustrated, Kagen yelled at a constituent, “How dare you!” during an exchange with a member of the audience on how to possibly help a different audience member facing the tough prospect of covering healthcare costs with her husband out of work.

Yes sir, the majority of your constituents understand the need for reforms in our health care system. But no sir, the majority of your district is not in favor of huge new federal bureaucracies taking over health care in America.

You are well aware of those needed changes sir – and indeed have advocated for them.

• Incentivize self-reliance and individual responsibility. More of us must understand what our health care is costing us before we care about what health care is costing us.
• Incentive individual responsibility via extensive price and quality transparency.
• Incentivize wellness
• Help us make good choices by standardizing basic health insurance policies
• Support modified community rating and yes, require that insurance be available for those with pre-existing conditions. 

Hold your ground sir. You are not beholding to Speaker Pelosi or President Obama or any of your congressional colleagues. You sir, are beholding to us. The majority of your district does not want government running their health care. The majority of your district believes HR 3200 or anything like it must be scrapped and substituted with much more basic changes that will control costs in the system and build on individual – not government – responsibilities.

Jo Egelhoff, FoxPolitics.net

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The Liberty Tree Lantern - would like to ask Dr. Kagen which prescription he is writing for himself and his family, the one he is writing for us Wisconsin citizens and our fellow countrymen across America, or the “special” one that each member of Congress and their families get?

Today Congressman Steve Kagen will be in Oconto and Marinette, WI:

Wednesday, August 5th

10:30 AM
Health Care Listening Session
Oconto Falls Senior Center
512 Caldwell Ave
Oconto Falls, WI

Note that the Oconto Falls listening session is BY INVITATION ONLY.  The Liberty Tree Lantern has confirmed with the Green Bay office of Congressman Steve Kagen, that you as a constituent are NOT INVITED and you will be turned away at the door.

6:00 PM
Health Care Forum
Marinette Senior Center
1603 Ludington St.
Marinette, WI

The Liberty Tree Lantern has confirmed, with the Green Bay office of Congressman Steve Kagen, that as of 09:21 this morning if nothing changes, constituents will be allowed into the Marinette listening session.