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Prescription for Health Care: Dr. Kagen Is In (And Wants You to Know It)

Rep. Steve Kagen of Wisconsin – a doctor who focused on health care during his 2006 run against Republican Assembly Speaker John Gard – is blogging about the issue on TPMCafe this week.

Since taking office, Kagen seems to have styled himself as something of a Democratic Bill Frist. (Announcing on Daily Kos, for example, that he had refused the health insurance offered to all members of Congress.)

At the same time, Kagen’s own bio and current policy suggestions perhaps belie the populist image he is working so hard to project.

Before running for office, Kagen, an allergist, founded four for-profit clinics in Wisconsin. During the campaign, the GOP dredged up news about a lawsuit he once brought against a patient who did not pay his bills.

Now in Congress, Kagen is speaking out against “Big Insurance,” and calling for health care help for Americans in need, while also assuring the American Medical Association that he is against “socialized” medicine.

It kind of makes me wonder if Kagen will wind up fielding any questions about Alex Berenson’s recent piece in The New York Times. Berenson argues that doctors’ salaries, and the way they are compensated, are a significant part of America’s health care headache.

Rep. Steve Kagen Earns a B+

As the 2008 contest swings into gear, Campaign Confidential is busy collecting some Congressional report cards. Several Jewish freshmen from swing districts are expected to face stiff competition, including Democratic physician Steve Kagen of Wisconsin.

Last time around, Kagen beat out the the state’s Assembly Speaker, Republican John Gard, for an open seat in the eighth district – in a race that turned out to be the most expensive in Wisconsin history.

Lately, Gard has been exploring a potential rematch. Either way, Kagen is likely to face a serious Republican challenge, given that his district is Republican-leaning (and went to Bush both in 2000 and 2004).

With that in mind, I asked David Canon, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, to grade Kagen’s political performance so far. Here’s the run-down:

Kagen’s Overall Grade: B+ (Canon says to keep in mind he’s “a pretty tough grader”

What Kagen Has Done Right:
* Fundraising
* Paying Attention to Local Issues, like the Farm Bill
* Making a Few High Profile Symbolic Gestures: Kagen has not accepted the health insurance offered to members of Congress and said he won’t accept any pay raise

What Kagen Can Work On:
* Reaching out to independent and Republican voters

The 2008 Money-Train

Second quarter fundraising results are in, including for the Jewish freshmen in the House. Here’s the quick summary of year-to-date fundraising totals;

Ron Klein: $1.3 million
Gabrielle Giffords: $908,494
John Yarmuth: $600,000
Paul Hodes: $550,000
Steve Kagen: $420,000
Steve Cohen: $137,000

While Klein, Giffords, Yarmuth, Hodes and Kagen are part of the DCCC’s Frontline program for potentially vulnerable incumbents, Cohen isn’t getting help from the party because he’s running in the overwhelmingly Democratic district of Memphis, Tennessee. But Cohen’s leading primary rival from the last go around, Nikki Tinker, has already raised over $100 K.

If you’re looking for a mid-day mental sorbet, watch NJDC’s silly video honoring tthe Jewish women of the House.