Rep. Steve Kagen, Rep. David Obey receive threats for their support of health care reform

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Larry Bivins

WASHINGTON — At least two Wisconsin Democrats in the House of Representatives have received threats over their support for health care reform legislation.

Rep. Steve Kagen's office reported the word "kill" scribed Wednesday over Kagen's name on a sign outside the Kagen Allergy Clinic in Allouez. Kagen no longer owns the clinic, but his name is still out front. Earlier this month, the office also received a death threat left on the answering machine at Kagen's office near Green Bay.

Rep. Dave Obey's offices have received numerous menacing calls, according to staffers, and a security door is being installed at his Wausau office.

Aides to the lawmakers say the incidents have been reported to Capitol Police in Washington.

The incidents add to worries on Capitol Hill about the safety of lawmakers as more than 10 House Democrats have reported being threatened or having had their offices vandalized since Sunday's historic 219-212 vote to overhaul the nation's health care system, according to the majority leader's office.

All five of Wisconsin's Democratic House members voted for the legislation, while all three Republicans voted against it. Among the other Democrats, Gwen Moore has not been subjected to any of the attacks, according to her spokesman. The spokeswomen for Tammy Baldwin and Ron Kind would not comment, citing office policy.

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, said the threats were disturbing.

"I am dismayed to hear that one of Congressman Kagen's clinics has been victimized by threatening graffiti," Petri said in a statement. "There are laws against this for very good reasons, and I strongly urge the police to get to the bottom of it."

Kagen, D-Appleton, played down the threats to his life.

"We must resolve our differences through conversation, not confrontation," he said. "I'm anxious to get back home and look people in the eye and say, 'Look at what you now have.'"

Kagen's spokeswoman, Allison Jaslow, said the congressman has been receiving threatening calls throughout the intense debate over health care legislation. One staffer in the congressman's Green Bay office took a leave of absence to escape the stress, Jaslow said.

"After call after call after call, this sort of beats them down," she said. "At the end of the day, the folks who have to answer the phones are the real heroes."

But Jaslow said not all the calls have been negative. She said many supporters have called to praise Kagen for his stand.

Meanwhile, Democratic leaders are rallying to the defense of Kagen and other House Democrats who are being assailed because of their vote. Many of them face tough re-election campaigns.

The Democratic National Committee began airing a television ads Thursday in the districts of 25 House members, including Kagen's, thanking them for their vote and highlighting the bill's key benefits.

Similarly, Americans United for Change began a two-day telephone campaign Wednesday in Kagen's district and 16 others, thanking them for their votes Sunday. The calls were destined for 50,000 households in Kagen's Northeast Wisconsin district.

Jeremy Funk, a spokesman for Americans United, said the group is working on behalf of Democrats "who have been under siege from big insurance front groups that desperately want to kill any and all reform."

Tom McMahon, acting director of Americans United, said "an era of insurance industry abuse is finally coming to an end thanks to courageous members of Congress like Steve Kagen, who stood up to powerful special interest groups on behalf of Wisconsin families."

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