Issues

Problems We Face Together

TOGETHER, WE WILL…

I strongly believe that we must begin to think differently in America, and find a better way of doing things.

During the past decade, our government lost its way and failed to listen to ordinary people.

“We must restore faith in our government, for good government can make a positive difference in people’s lives. Let’s restore our faith in each other, as we guarantee access to affordable health care for every citizen, enact effective election and lobbying reforms, secure our borders, and move towards energy independence - even as we continue to protect and conserve our environment.”

“Abroad, we need to show our allies and our enemies that conversations, not confrontations, can solve even our greatest differences.”

“Let’s rediscover the American values that made us great. I believe we have chosen positive change and a new direction, and by working together, we will build a better future for all of us.”

Steve Kagen, M.D.
Member of Congress

FIXING OUR BROKEN HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

With our new health security law families may now have peace of mind. No longer will a family go broke or lose their home, just because a loved one has an accident or gets sick. Our nation’s new health care law puts patients first, not health insurance and drug companies, finally guarantees affordable access to care for all of us and strengthens Medicare.

No longer will insurance corporations be allowed to discriminate against small business owners by charging them higher premiums than big corporations, or drop you if you become ill.

We are beginning to rebuild America and level the playing field for all of us. And, finally, our hard-won civil rights, which protect all citizens against discrimination, apply to our health care system.

TRANSPARENCY IN HEALTH CARE PRICING.

While we have guaranteed affordable access to health care for all Americans and ended the practice of discrimination by insurance companies, our health care system is still lacking one essential element: open disclosure of all prices.

The health care marketplace is still veiled, concealing the disparity in prices individuals and insurance companies pay for similar products and services. Competition is the key to capitalism, but without transparency we won’t have a competitive medical marketplace to drive quality up and prices down.

Washington has resisted my efforts to create a free and open medical marketplace, but I will continue to fight to get consumers what they’ve long deserved. Transparency allows consumers to determine quality and decide the best value at a price they are willing to pay, and with it, patients will finally get to see the price of a pill before they swallow it.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

To build a better future, we must become an energy independent nation. The price of oil has been too high for too long, but becoming energy independent is not only good for our economy, but it’s also a matter of national security.

To become energy independent we must implement policy that focuses on conservation and efficiency, harnesses the resources we have here at home, and invests in renewable energy. We must:

1. Drill for new oil in America, with any such oil obtained from within our territorial waters and national lands being sold to American citizens first.

2. Invest in every form of renewable energy, and provide tax incentives for wind, solar, geo-thermal, biomass, cellulosic and any other form of clean, home-grown energy;

3. Prevent any price manipulation, or unfair practices in the world’s oil marketplace.

These three elements are the foundation for an independent energy future for America.

With a plan that rids us of our crippling dependence on foreign sources of oil and protects our environment for future generations, we will all breath a little easier.

FIGHTING FOR WISCONSIN FAMILIES

For far too long, working families have taken a back seat to the banks and corporations that line Wall Street. Now, those same hard working families are suffering from the deepest worldwide economic downturn of our generation, because of tax policy that favored the wealthiest Americans and allowed bankers to gamble our hard earned money.

I have fought to level the playing field for working families in Wisconsin from day one.
In 2009, we made history by passing the largest tax cut that the middle class has ever seen. And, in 2010, we made a historic investment in education that makes a college degree more accessible and affordable than ever before.

While we have made some huge steps in the right direction, we still have a long way to go.

Business executives that place their profits over people, continue to ship our jobs overseas. I am working hard to negotiate balanced trade deals that ship our values overseas – not our jobs.

Hard working people unfortunately had to bailout the reckless Wall Street bankers that shattered our economy. We rescued Wall Street and it is time for Wall Street to return the favor by helping rebuild businesses on Main Streets across Northeast Wisconsin.

I voted against every single bailout, and I’m determined not only to make sure that we get our money back, but to see to it that we catch and punish all those who looted our treasury.

Hard working families are why America is great, and I will not rest until they finally get what they deserve from their government.

CREATING JOBS

Privately owned businesses are the best creators of new higher-wage jobs. I strongly believe in free enterprise where people are rewarded for working hard, playing by the rules, and living within their means - like we do here in Northeast Wisconsin.

I have continually supported legislation that gives incentives to small businesses so they can hire more workers. For example, I co-cosponsored the HIRING Act, which would provide temporary tax credits for businesses who expand their payrolls in the next two years.

Small businesses employ over 95% of workers in Wisconsin, and we need to constantly seek ways to help them put us back to work.

I have also fought for balanced trade policy that looks out for American manufacturing and agriculture. If we can make it here in American, we should buy it here in America.

I also support increased efforts to crack down on illegal imports from companies that receive subsidies. Countries like China need to play by the rules- and if they don’t, they will have a high price to pay to do business here.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

I am honored to represent a community that supports our veterans and our military each and everyday. They have our backs and we will always have theirs.

We have done a lot for our veterans that we can be proud of, and I am working hard to guarantee that our veterans receive the benefits they have earned.

Throughout Northeast Wisconsin, veterans are now attending college on the 21st Century GI Bill. I was proud to vote for this legislation that restored the promise of a full, four-year college education for our veterans.

We are also on the brink of seeing the new Milo C. Huempfner Veterans Affairs Clinic come to Green Bay. As a doctor, I know that the best health care is closest to home. This new facility will finally offer services previously unavailable in Northeast Wisconsin to thousands of veterans who have to drive to Milwaukee to simply receive routine medical care.

As a nation, we have an obligation to care for those who have selflessly answered the call to defend our great nation. I will continue to make sure their service is honored as we build a better future for all of us.

PUBLIC EDUCATION

If we get public education right, everything else will follow. If we get it wrong, nothing else will matter. Let’s move up – not down. A great public education made the difference in my life, and one of my top priorities is to improve our public schools, universities, and technical colleges so they will make a lasting difference in all our lives.

I firmly believe that great public schools are the best tool to guarantee good health, economic development, and equal opportunity.

We need to establish higher standards, measurable outcomes and affordable tuition for all our children. That means continuous improvement and higher expectations. It also means heading off schemes to take our hard-earned tax dollars out of public schools and into voucher plans for private schools. We need to invest in public education to solve the many challenges we face. When we make a commitment for the long haul, we will re-energize our public schools.

History has confirmed that every economy to ever have been successful invested heavily in education - after all, your education really never ends.