Congressman Steve Kagen, who seems to have decided to hide behind Speaker Pelosi, President Obama and the 900 some miles between the 8^th District and Washington, DC, might now get a chance to skirt all responsibility granted him by voters in NE Wisconsin should Democrats in Congress move ahead with the proposed “Slaughter Solution.”

“The Democrats want to push through legislation they know is not right for America, and they plan to do it secretly so that when it backfires they won’t get blamed,” said State Representative Roger Roth, a candidate for congress from the WI 8^th.  “This move is the exact reason the people of the 8^th District are sick and tired of politics as usual in Washington.  The problem with the ‘Slaughter Solution’ is that it is unconstitutional.  The Constitution says that a bill MUST pass both houses of congress before the President can sign it into law; not just ‘deemed’ to have passed it.”

Under the “Slaughter Solution,” which is known also as ‘deem and pass,’ house democrats would be allowed to pass the senate version of the health care bill, which included the infamous “Cornhusker Kickback” and “Louisiana Purchase,” without actually voting on it, sparing Steve Kagen and other members of Congress from the kind of tough vote they were elected to take.

“Rep. Kagen talks about wanting more transparency in government.  Where is that transparency in a move like this?” Roth added.  “The people of the United States, and particularly the 8^th District, deserve to know how their representative votes on each and every issue.”

“There is no question that our health care system is in need of reform.  Unfortunately, the bill that Nancy Pelosi, Steve Kagen and Liberals in Washington are now trying to ram down the throats of Americans with shameful, underhanded and unconstitutional political parlor tricks like the “Slaughter Solution,” does not address the real problems facing our health care system including affordability and frivolous malpractice suits.”

Roger Roth is a lifelong resident of Appleton, Wisconsin.  He is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom and participates in his family’s third-generation construction business.

APPLETON – Rep. Roger Roth is speaking out against the possibility that members of the House could pass the $875 billion health care bill without having to tell voters how they voted.

House Republicans currently are trying to block Speaker Nancy Pelosi from using a legislative trick that would allow rank-and-file Democrats to pass the health care bill without really voting for the health care bill.

“The Democrats want to push through legislation they know is not right for America, and they plan to do it secretly so that when it backfires they won’t get blamed,” Roger Roth said. “This move is the exact reason people of the 8^th District are sick and tired of politics as usual in Washington.”

House Republicans plan to introduce a resolution that would require an “up-or-down” vote in the House on the Senate-approved health care plan, to ensure everyone goes on the record as for or against the bill.

“Rep. Kagen talks about wanting more transparency in government. Where is that transparency in a move like this?” Roth added. “The people of the United States, and particularly the 8^th District, deserve to know how their representative votes on each and every issue.”

According to a New York Times article, dated March 14,2010, “Millions Spent to Sway Democrats on Health Care“:

“The health care debate is unfolding against the backdrop of an already difficult political year for Democrats. The White House has signaled to lawmakers that assistance for midterm elections — for example, presidential visits and fund-raisers — will be prioritized for those who support the bill.”

The people of the 8th District want to know if Congressman Kagen, who claimed to have written the House health care legislation, will be swayed politically by the White House, said State Representative Roger Roth.

3/8/2010

APPLETON – Following months of debate on the $950 billion healthcare proposal, Rep. Steve Kagen now wants to add transparency to the healthcare bill.

“The people of northeast Wisconsin have already made it clear they do not want this expensive bill passed,” said State Representative Roger Roth, candidate for the WI 8th Congressional seat currently held by Steve Kagen. “Instead of listening to his constituents about their feelings on the entire bill, Congressman Kagen has just added another page to it.”

“We need transparency in this bill and by those writing this bill.  Transparency in cost is a good start, but Congress needs to continue listening to the public by supporting tort reform and allowing for competition across state lines to further reduce healthcare costs.

Neither idea is outlined in President Obama’s healthcare proposal.

“There are a few good ideas in the healthcare bill,” said Rep. Roger Roth, “but if we’re going to spend nearly a trillion dollars of taxpayer money on something, it had better have more than just a few good ideas.”

3/4/2010

APPLETON – Even after New York Congressman Charlie Rangel stepped down from the Ways and Means Committee following ethical questions raised by his peers, Congressman Kagen still has no intention of returning donations received from Rangel.

“Would Congressman Kagen accept another $21,000 if Congressman Rangel offered it to him right now?  If not, then he should return the money immediately,” said state Representative Roger Roth, a candidate for the 8^th Congressional seat.

“Congressman Kagen’s non-response to calls to return the $21,000 he’s received from scandal-plagued Congressman Charlie Rangel is exactly why people in Northeast Wisconsin are so frustrated with Kagen and with Washington.”

Rangel, a Democrat, was admonished by the House Ethics Committee last week for taking corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean. He also is facing allegations that he used his office to raise money for an academic center named for him and that he used his stature to rent out four rent-controlled apartments in Harlem.

According to the FEC, Congressman Rangel has given at least $6,000 to Kagen since 2006. The Rangel National Leadership PAC has donated another $15,000 to Kagen in the same time period.

“People are hungry for straight talk and honest answers, and they are sick and tired of politics as usual. They are tired of politicians like Steve Kagen saying he’s working to reduce government spending the same time he votes to increase the national debt to a record high. They are tired of politicians like Steve Kagen saying he wants to reform Washington but voting for special-interest earmarks. They are tired of politicians like Steve Kagen who can’t even answer a simple question.”

Charlie Sykes Show

03/03/10

In response to calls for him to return the campaign contributions from Congressman Charlie Rangel, Congressman Steve Kagen issued the following response: “I’m working hard to bring jobs back to Wisconsin and responsibility back to Washington, and if that means leadership in the House of Representatives must change – so be it.”

Congressman Kagen does not address the campaign contributions nor does he say if he believes Rangel should remain as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. In response to Kagen’s statement, State Representative Roger Roth, who previously called on Kagen to return donations from Rangel, issued the following statement:

“Congressman Kagen’s non-response to calls to return the $21,000 he’s received from scandal-plagued Congressman Charlie Rangel is exactly why people in Northeast Wisconsin are so frustrated with Kagen and all of Washington. People are hungry for straight talk and honest answers, and they are sick and tired of politics as usual. They are tired of politicians like Steve Kagen saying he’s working to reduce government spending the same time he votes to increase the national debt to a record high. They are tired of politicians like Steve Kagen saying he wants to reform Washington but voting for special-interest earmarks. They are tired of politicians like Steve Kagen who can’t even answer a simple question.”

“Elect me as your congressman and I can’t promise you’ll always agree with me, but I can promise you’ll know where I stand and my door will always be open.”

“Congressman Kagen should tell us if he plans on keeping Rangel’s contributions and he should tell us if he thinks Rangel should be permanently stripped of his chairmanship of the most powerful committee in Congress. A simple yes or no answer would suffice.”

3/2/2010

APPLETON— State Rep. Roger Roth is calling on Rep. Steve Kagen to return $21,000 in campaign donations from embattled New York Congressman Charlie Rangel.

Rangel, a Democrat, was admonished by the House Ethics Committee last week for taking corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean. He also is facing allegations that he used his office to raise money for an academic center named for him and that he used his stature to rent out four rent-controlled apartments in Harlem.

“While many Democrats call for Rangel’s removal as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Kagen says nothing,” said State Representative Roger Roth, a candidate for the WI 8th Congressional seat currently held by Steve Kagen. “Many of his Democratic colleagues, who also received donations from Rangel, have returned their money, and all Mr. Kagen can do is make himself unreachable for comment.”

According to the Federal Elections Commission, Congressman Rangel has given at least $6,000 to Kagen since 2006. The Rangel National Leadership PAC has donated another $15,000 to Kagen in the same time period.

“It is time to find out where Steve Kagen’s loyalty lies,” Roger Roth said. “It seems Mr. Kagen likes to speak through his voting record, so what does voting twice to keep Rangel in office say to the people of Northeastern Wisconsin?”

“As elected officials, it is not only our duty to speak for our constituents but also to hold the highest ethical standards,” Roger Roth added. “Mr. Kagen should do the right thing and return the money.”