Steve Kagen: “I think it's only fitting that on this Valentine's Day we begin to have a discussion about health care in America. It's…”

“I think it's only fitting that on this Valentine's Day we begin to have a discussion about health care in America. It's a heartwarming day. It's a day of friendship, a day of conversation between one's loved ones. When I was sent here by the people of northeast Wisconsin, I was sent here to listen to their concerns. In my previous existence, I was a physician caring for many thousands of people across northeast Wisconsin. And I continue to listen to them while I'm here in the halls of Congress, and I want to share in the first few minutes of this hour some of their conversations with me. Tom and Sue Wright from New London, when I asked them what was important to them, 50 million people without health insurance is a disgrace. Tom and Sue are right, but they're not alone. Bob from Green Bay writes, 'If taxpayers can't get the same health insurance as Congress, at least get drug costs down so we can afford our pills.' What about from Casco, Russ writes, 'I'm 60 years old, and I have a $5,000 deductible on my health insurance per family member; all of my health expenses out of pocket. We need help desperately.' That's Russ in Casco.”