Dr. Steve Kagen also received threats over health care reform

[undeterred]

Former congressman Steve Kagen says Arizona shootings will change government

APPLETON — Former congressman Steve Kagen says Saturday's shooting of an Arizona lawmaker at a public appearance will choke off interaction between elected officials and the people they represent. "It's an absolute catastrophe," Kagen said. "Every member of Congress has put their family and their career and their lives on the line in service to their communities, and it could happen to anyone.

Kagen, the Appleton Democrat who was unseated in November after serving two terms representing the 8th Congressional District, said safety concerns during his last term prompted him and other representatives to increase security at appearances.

Already, Kagen said, congressional colleagues he spoke to Saturday said they will alter their routines following the shooting at a grocery store in Tucson, Ariz., that severely injured Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, an Arizona Democrat, and killed six others. A total of 18 people were reported injured. It's going to be a challenging time for our system of government.

"Elected officials are going to be harder to reach," Kagen said. "If we're going to be a representative government, we should have unfettered access to the people who are our spokespeople." As the tenor of politics changed, so did his security considerations. He said threats eventually prompted him to use metal detectors and have undercover police in the audiences of constituent meetings.

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Kagen was an outspoken supporter of the controversial health care reform package, and received threats as both Congress and the nation engaged in debate before it became law.

http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20110110/OSH0101/301100044/Kagen-says-shootings-will-change-government

I really didn't know how bad this was until Saturday but apparently the threat to our representatives has been building for a while.