PBS Wisconsin Public Affairs

Hello, I'm Dan Kohl and I'm running for Congress in Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District. Like many of you, I'm incredibly concerned about the direction of our country. Every day, it feels like there's another manufactured crisis coming out of Washington. This chaos is hurting us as Americans. Not only does it diminish our standing in the world, and in some cases threaten our national security, it is also distracting attention away from the issues that people here in Wisconsin really care about. In Congress, I will focus on the issues you, my constituents, are most concerned about. That's why I'm not taking money from corporate PACs during my campaign. In Congress, I will only be beholden to the people of the 6th Congressional District, not corporations or not to special interests. I'll fight to protect Social Security and Medicare for Wisconsin's seniors. Americans have paid into Social Security and Medicare for years with the expectation that these hard-earned benefits will be there for them upon retirement.

We need to send a message to Congress that's loud and clear

It's your money, not theirs. In Congress, I will make sure every American has access to health care that's quality and affordable. We are the wealthiest nation in the world and there is no reason any American should have to choose between paying for health care and putting food on the table. I'll fight to preserve protections for people with pre-existing conditions and require that health insurance plans cover pregnancy, mental health care, and addiction treatment. We must also take concrete steps to lower prescription drug prices. That starts with allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices for the 60 million seniors and people with disabilities that it covers. I will also push Congress to crack down on big pharma's predatory practices, which jack up the cost of life-saving drugs and keep lower-cost generic alternatives off the market. There are clear steps we can take to make life better for people in Wisconsin, but to move forward, we need to elect officials who will come together to find practical solutions to the issues Americans face. Here in Wisconsin, we understand that give and take is necessary, and that compromise leads to better and more sustainable outcomes. In Congress, I will buck party leadership when necessary and work with both sides of the aisle to get things done for Wisconsin families. My opponent in this race, Glenn Grothman, has consistently chosen to support his party leaders over his constituents. In fact, he is ranked one of the most partisan out of more than 400 members of Congress. He voted to take health care away from 44, 000 of his constituents and voted to strip coverage away from people with pre-existing conditions. He voted against funding the Children's Health Insurance Program, a critical source of care for more than 9 million children and pregnant women. He also voted for huge corporate tax cuts that added nearly $2 trillion to the national debt and put funding for Social Security and Medicare at risk. That's not the Wisconsin way. When I get to Congress, I will fight for the people of Wisconsin, not my party's leaders. I will fight for term limits and will serve no more than eight years in Congress. I'll make sure Wisconsin's economy works for working families not multinational corporations. And in Congress, I will make sure every American has access to quality and affordable health care. I would be honored to have your vote on November 6th. Thank you.