Kagen’s Rx for Disaster; the truth about what is actually in the healthcare bill!

Appleton—Congressman Kagen and the Democrat Majority in congress, who Kagen votes with 98.2 percent of the time, voted yes for a bill that the non-partisan Congressional Research Service says could allow sex offenders to receive Viagra from the federal government, free of charge.

Speaking on April 26, 2010, Congressman Kagen said, “There’s a great deal of confusion it’ll take time to understand what’s in the new health care law.”

“Over the last twenty days, this campaign’s Healthcare Truth series has uncovered a lot about the recently passed health spending bill that has further angered the people of the 8^th District,” said Roth.

“From examining the healthcare disaster, we’ve found $120 billion in new taxes, $311 billion in new health spending and unconstitutional mandates.  Even still, I don’t know if anything could have prepared citizens for the news that their tax dollars could be used to provide sex offenders with Viagra.”

Worst of all, the Democrat led Senate defeated an amendment that would have barred sex offenders from receiving taxpayer funded male enhancement drugs.

“We have a congress and a senate who aren’t listening to the American people, and in this case, it has resulted in the worst of unintended consequences simply because Democrats would stop at nothing to pass their healthcare monstrosity.  What we need in Washington are leaders who will represent their districts and do what’s right for America; not politicians who tow the party line at all costs.”

Appleton— With Americans still struggling to find work and our nation’s unemployment rate hovering around ten percent, Representative Roger Roth, candidate in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, declared it unacceptable that current Congressman Steve Kagen has voted in favor of broadly expanding the Internal Revenue Service.

“As I travel across Northeast Wisconsin, one theme remains constant: everybody from the 22 year old college graduate to the 55 year old husband and father are worried sick about finding or keeping their job,” said Roth.

According to estimates on Capitol Hill, the recently passed health care bill will add at least 17,000 workers to the IRS payroll.  And, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the IRS will need an additional $10 billion in funding over the next ten years as a result of the health spending bill.

The new law also creates 159 new agencies, commissions and bureaus.

“What we need in Washington are leaders who are focused on real, private sector job creation, not incumbents like Steve Kagen who are voting to expand one of the government’s most inefficient agencies while citizens nationwide and across Northeast Wisconsin remain out of work,” Roth said.

Appleton—Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, said it is shameful and appalling that Congressman Steve Kagen would proudly vote for a bill that deliberately violates the United States Constitution.

“By proudly casting his vote in favor of this massive health spending bill, Congressman Kagen and Democrats in congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, have knowingly violated the very document they swore to uphold when they were elected to congress,” said Roth.

For the first time in our nation’s history, the federal government is mandating that its citizens purchase a product or face a penalty.

According to the Heritage Foundation:

The health care overhaul also diminishes the federalist system upon which the U.S. was founded… by undermining state authority through the individual mandate to purchase insurance, a mandate to expand Medicaid (a state–federal joint program), and several new federal regulations of the insurance industry.

“Not only did Steve Kagen turn a deaf ear to the people of northeast Wisconsin when he didn’t like what they had to say in phone calls, e-mails and town halls; he ignored the Constitution to appease Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in Washington.”

“The 8th District deserves better; and that’s what we will get on November 2nd.”

Appleton—On Tuesday, Representative Roger Roth, candidate for congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, condemned Steve Kagen and Democrats in congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of time, for hailing their health spending bill as a cure-all when it could deny 14 million Americans access to employer-provided insurance (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS Confirms ObamaCare Will Increase Spending, 4/23/10).

“We have a congressman in northeast Wisconsin who was instrumental in forcing a trillion dollar piece of legislation through congress against the will of his constituents because he and other Democrats have been treating the health spending bill like a silver bullet,” said Roth.

The CMS estimates that 14 million Americans will lose their employer coverage as a consequence of the new law, resulting in 1 million fewer citizens covered under employer-provided insurance by 2019.

“Steve Kagen and his Democrat colleagues in congress have used 2300 pages, $120 billion in new taxes and $311 billion in new health spending to deny quality, affordable care to 14 million Americans.”

“The 8^th District needs a common sense, conservative congressman who is committed to sensible, meaningful reform that addresses the real problem facing our healthcare system, which is skyrocketing costs.”

Appleton—Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, said on Monday that it is irresponsible and reckless for Steve Kagen and the Democrat majority in Congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, to vote for a health spending bill that will almost certainly result in a public option and more massive government bailouts like those given to Wall Street and the auto industry.

The bill opens the door for a de facto public option by creating government-sponsored national health plans administered by the Office of Personnel Management to compete against private health plans.  Because of this difference in regulatory authority, it would be very easy for the OPM-administered health plans to secure an unfair advantage against other plans in the state insurance exchanges (The Heritage Foundation, Top Ten Disasters of Obamacare, 3/30/2010).

“We have already seen the federal government dole out billions of dollars in bailout money to private sector entities such as Wall Street and the auto industry,” said Roth.

“If they are willing to go that far for private business, it is downright scary to imagine how much taxpayer money they will pump into their own hopelessly flawed health care law which they will almost certainly decide is ‘too big to fail’ once it evolves into a single-payer system.”

Appleton—Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, believes it is remarkable that Steve Kagen and the Democrat majority in Congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, can look the American people in the eye and tell them that they are reigning in healthcare spending by passing a bill that will make healthcare 21 percent of our nation’s GDP by 2019.

“We need Congressman Kagen to be honest with us.  If the health spending bill is such a great piece of legislation, how could it possibly take four years for him to explain its benefits to the people of northeast Wisconsin?” said Roth.

According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, healthcare will account for 21 percent of America’s GDP by 2019—up 5 percent from 2010 and .2 percent from projected data pre-Obamacare.

“If Congressman Kagen can proudly vote for $311 billion in additional healthcare spending, $120 billion in new taxes on employers and changes to the system which will now account for more than one-fifth of our GDP, he owes it to the people of the 8^th District to tell them what’s good about this bill instead of simply telling us that we have four years to find something we like buried in its 2000 plus pages.”

Appleton—Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, chided Congressman Steve Kagen on Thursday for supporting a health spending bill that includes billions in cuts to Medicare Advantage, a program thousands of seniors rely on.

“Instead of passing real, meaningful healthcare reform that would benefit all Americans, Congressman Kagen and Democrats in Congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, forged ahead with a health spending bill that actually punishes every demographic in our country ranging from families and business owners to seniors citizens,” said Roth.

Even worse, the savings from cutting Medicare Advantage–assuming they ever occur–will be used not to extend the solvency of the Medicare program, but to fund the new entitlement programs that are now law (The Heritage Foundation, Top Ten Disasters of Obamacare, 3/30/2010).

“Everybody knows that one of the biggest challenges our healthcare system faces is Medicare and its rapid tailspin toward insolvency.  That Congressman Kagen can call a bill that does little to address this issue ‘healthcare reform’ is remarkable.”

“At a recent listening session in Appleton, Congressman Kagen went on record as saying that by 2014, all Americans will find something in the health spending bill they will like.  If the new law hurts individuals, families, business owners and senior citizens, who does that leave to enjoy his faulty healthcare disaster?”

Appleton—According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, half of the 32 million Americans who will be insured as a result of the health spending bill championed by Congressman Kagen will receive their coverage through Medicaid, a move that Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, says will only drive up costs for consumers.

In passing this healthcare disaster, Steve Kagen and the Democrat Majority in Congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of time, did nothing to address the skyrocketing cost of healthcare in our country,” said Roth.

“In fact, they probably made it worse.  Medicaid is an already flawed, struggling program; and many doctors refuse to treat Medicaid patients because of the low reimbursement rates they receive.”

When Tennessee tried a similar expansion in the mid ‘90’s, costs exploded.

According to the Heritage Foundation, while inflation adjusted per capita Medicaid spending across the rest of the states increased an average of 71 percent between 1994 and 2004, the corresponding increase in spending on TennCare was 146 percent. Tennessee’s Democratic Governor Phil Bredesen was forced to restructure TennCare dramatically beginning in 2004, calling the program “a disaster,” and stating he would not “let TennCare bankrupt our state.”

“Instead of focusing on real, meaningful healthcare reform that would improve care, foster competition and lower premiums and other costs to consumers so people could afford their healthcare themselves, Congressman Kagen has succeeded only in passing legislation that will decimate our pocketbooks and potentially bankrupt our healthcare system.”

Appleton—Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, said it is short-sighted and unacceptable that the federal government says they will provide 100 percent of the funding for new Medicaid formulas created by the health spending bill Congressman Kagen voted for, when in truth they will cut off funding altogether two short years later, leaving states to foot the bill.

While in the initial years of expansion the federal government will provide 100 percent of the funding for new Medicaid formulas, the Heritage Foundation reports that after two years, federal funding for increases in provider payment rates will cease.

“It is time for the federal government to stop creating temporary solutions to growing problems while completely ignoring the costs and long term impact of their flawed policies,” said Roth.

“Because of this flawed policy being championed by Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, state governments that, for the most part, are already stretched too thin and have not even a dime to spend are going to have to find a way to either cover the costs or return to lower reimbursement rates.”

“This particular provision of the health spending bill will cripple states by putting them in a deeper financial bind and will provide Medicaid beneficiaries having trouble finding primary care with two years of false hope and security.”

Appleton—Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, revealed today that the recently passed health spending bill will cost states almost $10 billion in administrative costs alone between 2014 and 2019.

According to Edmund Haislmaier of the Heritage Foundation:

Just the state share of administrative costs for the benefit expansion is projected to be $9.6 billion for FY 2014 to FY 2019.

“Steve Kagen and the Democrat Majority in Congress, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, passed a health spending bill that does not take into account the nearly $10 billion in administrative costs that Medicaid Expansion will require; a burden that now falls on the shoulders of state governments already hurting for cash,” said Roth.

“While northeast Wisconsin faces near double digit unemployment and our state government is already billions of dollars in the red, Congressman Kagen has cast his vote in favor of legislation that will cost Wisconsin taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars more that we simply cannot afford.”

Appleton—On Friday, Representative Roger Roth, Candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, roundly criticized Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress for creating an atmosphere of class conflict and inequality by casting their votes in favor of the health spending bill.

“The federal government is offering Americans generous subsidies to purchase insurance in the newly created health exchanges, but only if they fall between 133 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level,” said Roth.

“What Congressman Kagen and the Democrat Majority in Washington–who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time–have done is create a dangerous atmosphere of inequality among Americans who earn similar incomes but don’t all enjoy job-based insurance.”

According to the Heritage Foundation, it will cost those who do not qualify for the subsidy thousands of dollars more to buy into the government exchange than it will their more impoverished counterparts.

“Under the guise of cheaper, improved health care for all, Congressman Kagen has succeeded only in driving a wedge further between those who can afford quality care, and those who cannot.  By casting his vote in favor of Obamacare, Congressman Kagen was looking out for the Democrat Party and their Socialist agenda, not the people of the 8^th District.”

Appleton—Congressman Kagen and the Democrat Majority in Congress—who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time—didn’t even flinch when they raised taxes on individuals, families, businesses and investment income by casting their votes in favor of the health spending bill.

In a move deemed unacceptable by Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, they thought it wise to institute a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical equipment, too.

“Like his Democrat colleagues out in Washington, Congressman Kagen’s record is one of taxing, spending and passing flawed legislation,” said Roth.

“They spend what they have, borrow what they can and print the rest.”

The new law is expected to tax medical device manufacturers, who will undoubtedly pass the cost on to their consumers, $20 billion between 2013 and 2023.

“Just as they have hurt families, individuals, businesses and the American economy with the bevy of taxes included in the health spending bill they have so proudly championed, the medical device excise tax could very well hurt already vulnerable senior citizens who rely on a fixed income to get by.”

“It is imperative that we elect a fiscally responsible, conservative congressman to the 8^th District who will protect those that our current Congressman, Steve Kagen, continues to punish and neglect.”

Appleton—In yet another example of a hidden tax in the recently passed health spending bill, Obamacare will tax American’s investment income 3.8 percent in order to provide revenues to foot the massive cost of the healthcare disaster.

“It should surprise no one that Congressman Kagen, who has facilitated $670 billion in tax increases since January, 2009 by voting 98.2 percent of the time with Democrats in Congress, would have no problem voting for a health spending bill that will further tax our investment income,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District.

“By following the lead of Speaker Pelosi and voting for Obamacare, Cap and Trade and numerous government bailouts, Congressman Kagen has consistently shown little to no regard for the American taxpayer.”

According to the Heritage Foundation, President Obama’s originally proposed investment income tax rate of 2.9 percent would reduce disposable household income in America by $17.3 billion a year. The 3.8 percent tax that Congressman Kagen voted for will undoubtedly cause that figure to skyrocket.

“At a time when Congressman Kagen should be focused on job creation and keeping more of American’s hard earned money in their pocketbooks, he continues to vote for reckless tax and spend legislation that either kills jobs or ships them overseas, rather than encouraging private business to create jobs.”

Appleton—Having already shed light on the $2,000 fine that will be imposed on employers who fail to offer employees “adequate” health plans, Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, again reprimanded Steve Kagen on Tuesday after discovering that the fine can be as high as $3,000 per low income worker.

“The provision in the health spending bill that will penalize employers at a cost of $3,000 per low income worker who chooses to enter the government run health exchange is unique in that it punishes both businesses and workers,” said Roth.

“On one hand, Steve Kagen, who votes 98.2 percent of the time with his Democrat colleagues in Washington, is punishing businesses to the tune of $3,000 simply because their workers are choosing to enroll in a government run health plan. On the other hand, Congressman Kagen is punishing workers who may be fired, laid-off or plain discriminated against in the hiring process so that employers can avoid excessive government fines. It’s a lose-lose situation.”

“In the 8th District, we have a congressman who is anti-business, anti-worker and anti-Northeast Wisconsin values. Come November, it is due time we elect a common sense, conservative congressman who will stand up and fight for the rights of workers and businesses alike.”

Appleton—The recently passed health spending bill will force employers who do not offer “qualified” health plans that meet the government’s standards of affordable coverage, essential benefits and other consumer protections to pay a fine of $2,000 for per employee.

“Congressman Kagen and his Democrat colleagues in Washington, who he votes with 98.2 percent of the time, just don’t get it,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.

“At a time when businesses are struggling to stay afloat and citizens across Northeast Wisconsin are having a hard time finding work, Steve Kagen has once again followed the lead of Nancy Pelosi and voted for a bill that will further decimate the American economy.”

“Congressman Kagen’s vote for the health spending bill will inevitably lead to the slashing of wages, elimination of jobs and a reliance on part-time workers once employers are forced to confront the thousands of dollars in fines being imposed on them by this healthcare monstrosity.”

Appleton—Under the recently enacted health spending bill, the Department of Health and Human Services will have the authority to control the health plan’s of each and every American.

“It is mind boggling that Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress can look the American people square in the eye and tell them that the recently passed health spending bill is not a government takeover of their healthcare as they grant HHS the authority to dictate what may or may not be in one’s health plan,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.

“What it boils down to is another textbook case of “I know better than you” governance coupled with flat out dishonesty that our so called leaders out in Washington have grown so accustomed to.”

“Not only did Congressman Kagen cast his vote in favor of this hopelessly flawed legislation, but he proudly proclaimed to have written the bill himself. Is Congressman Kagen lying when he claims it is not a government takeover of our healthcare? The people of the 8th District deserve honesty and integrity from their Congressman.”

Appleton—In yet another example of how the recently passed health spending bill will actually increase the cost of healthcare for Americans, the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation reported that the average premium for non-group individuals will rise by 13 percent.

“With a health spending bill approved by Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress that actually increases health spending in this country by $222 billion and carries a price tag of around $2.5 trillion, it should surprise no one that the cost of insurance premiums is also going to rise,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.

“Congressman Kagen and Liberals in Washington have either remained silent or tried to mislead the public on the real cost of insurance premiums under the new healthcare law in an effort to hide from consumers the true cost of their feeble attempt at reform.”

“They can try all they want, but Steve Kagen and his Democrat colleagues won’t be able to hide from the hole left in their constituent’s pocketbooks as Americans spend their years trying to pay for this healthcare monstrosity.”

Audio message from Representative Roth:
HC Truth 17

Appleton—When taking into account the costs omitted by the Congressional Budget Office in their score of the recently passed health spending bill, the actual cost of the new law checks in at approximately $2.5 trillion, which is considerably more than the $940 billion figure touted by Congress.

“It should come as no surprise that Congressman Steve Kagen and his Democratic colleagues in Washington have chosen to ignore all of the costs associated with the health spending bill they rammed through Congress,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.

“Once again, politicians out in Washington have used budgetary gimmicks and disingenuous assumptions as a substitute for truth in masking the actual cost of a massive government program that a large majority of Americans oppose.”

“Congressman Kagen has continued down the path of “I know better than you governance” from his seat of power out in Washington. Unfortunately for him, that seat is grounded in Northeast Wisconsin, and the votes he has taken fall well short of the values and expectations of the 8th Congressional District.”

Appleton—According to the Federal Government’s own Department of Health and Human Services, the recently passed health spending bill will actually increase the overall cost of health spending in the U.S. by $222 billion between now and 2019.  

“Despite what Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress would lead you to believe, we have the Department of Health and Human Services, whose chief responsibility it is to implement health care policy in this country, telling us that the healthcare bill passed by Congress will actually increase spending,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.

“Instead of enacting real reform that addresses the ballooning cost of healthcare in America by improving patient care, providing for transparency in the system and curbing frivolous malpractice suits, Democrat incumbants in Washington chose to force upon us a 2,300 page monstrosity that actually increases the already rising cost of care.”

“Congressman Kagen owes it to the people of the 8th District to first be honest and forthright when discussing the healthcare disaster he voted for and second to explain how we’re going to afford another $222 billion in spending.”

Appleton—The bulk of the recently passed health spending bill’s provisions do not kick in until 2014.  Put another way, the American people will be paying ten years of taxes for six years of government service.

“When I talk with voters about the health spending bill that was passed by Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress, I hear a lot that frustrates them,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District.

“Rather than work in a bipartisan manner toward real, sensible reform that would benefit all Americans, Congressman Kagen and his friends out in Washington rammed this legislation through Congress when they should have been working on protecting jobs.”

“Now Congressman Kagen travels the 8th District in stealth mode as he again tries to avoid the angered voice of the people he should have listened to this last year.”

Appleton—Because Rep. Steve Kagen and Democrats in Congress don’t want the American people to know the details of the recently passed health spending bill, Representative Roger Roth, candidate in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District, is unveiling 20 Days of Health Care Truth to help the people of Northeast Wisconsin better understand just what the government is forcing on them.

20 Days of Health Care Truth will feature a series of news stories designed to shed light on the recently passed health spending bill.

“The people of Northeast Wisconsin and all across America deserve to know what is actually in this health spending bill,” Roth said.  “If Congressman Kagen and his secret listening sessions won’t tell them, this campaign will.”

Through Doctor Kagen’s RX for Disaster, the Roth Campaign will provide concerned citizens with 20 appalling, eye-opening facts from the health spending bill.

De Pere–Responding to Congressman Kagen’s “You can trust us on healthcare attitude,” candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8^th District and State Representative Roger Roth (R-Appleton) released the following statement:

“Once again the Washington elite led by Steve Kagen and Nancy Pelosi have taken it upon themselves to force the rest of us to live under another one of their ‘we know better than the people’ pieces of legislation. After smugly voting for a government takeover of healthcare, they step to the microphone and respond to the concerns of Americans left to pay the bills by in effect saying, ‘You can trust us on healthcare!’ ”

“They promise to cover millions of additional citizens while lowering costs and say, ‘You can trust us on healthcare.’ They cut a half a trillion dollars out of an already under funded Medicare system and try to make us believe that it will actually help Senior citizens, which is another way of saying, ‘You can trust us on healthcare.’

Steve Kagen, Nancy Pelosi and their friends in Congress try and tell us that this is not government run healthcare, yet the bill they passed provides kickbacks to their special interest friends and creates dozens of new government agencies in addition to adding at least 16,000 new IRS agents whose job it will be to ensure we follow the mandates of this government run healthcare system as they again say, ‘You can trust us on healthcare.’’’

Roth concluded, “Congressman Kagen, if you feel the people should trust you, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of your buddies in Washington concerning government run healthcare, why don’t you first clean up the other failed agencies your were elected to oversee? Congress has had 71 years to fix Fannie Mae, 74 years to ensure the solvency of Social Security, 46 years to win the ‘War on Poverty’, 32 years to achieve independence from foreign oil which was promised when the Energy Department was founded and 31 years for the Department of Education to turn around a rapidly deteriorating educational system.

“Government and your friends in Congress have continually failed the American people on almost every level, and still you cannot see why the people do not trust you or their government on healthcare? Here’s an idea. Why not first succeed at the job you and Congress have been given, and then–and only then–ask voters to ‘Trust you on healthcare.’”

With Americans still struggling to find work and our nation’s unemployment rate hovering around ten percent, Representative Roger Roth, candidate in Wisconsin’s 8^th Congressional District, declared it unacceptable that current Congressman Steve Kagen has voted in favor of broadly expanding the Internal Revenue Service.

“As I travel across Northeast Wisconsin, one theme remains constant: everybody from the 22 year old college graduate to the 40 year old husband and father are worried sick about finding or keeping their job,” said Roth.

According to estimates on Capitol Hill, the recently passed health care bill will add at least 17,000 workers to the IRS payroll.  And, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the IRS will need an additional $10 billion in funding over the next ten years as a result of the health spending bill.

“What we need in Washington are leaders who are focused on real, private sector job creation, not politicians like Steve Kagen who are voting to expand one of the government’s most inefficient agencies while citizens nationwide and across Northeast Wisconsin remain out of work,” Roth said.

Despite an influx of phone calls, emails and protests against it, Rep. Steve Kagen voted Sunday in favor of the Democrat’s trillion dollar healthcare bill.

“Rep. Kagen deliberately ignored the people of the 8^th district when he voted yes,” said Representative Roger Roth, candidate for Congress in Wisconsin’s 8th Congressional District. “Last week, nearly 250 protested the bill outside his office. Over the weekend, thousands more protested against it across Northeast Wisconsin. If Rep. Kagen wasn’t so busy cutting deals with fellow Democrats behind closed doors, he might have heard his constituents loud and clear.”

The legislation was approved 219-212 in a vote largely along party lines.

“Perhaps the only ‘no’ Rep. Kagen will hear and understand is the one that voters deliver on November 2 regarding his incumbency,” Roth added. “It is time to return a representative to the 8^th district Congressional seat who listens to constituents and fights for them.”