WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - Congressman Steve Kagen does not have an office on Capitol Hill anymore.
But the Appleton Democrat says he’ll keep working until the day his replacement takes over.
Republican Reid Ribble, a De Pere roofing contractor, defeated Kagen in last month’s elections. The incumbent shut down his House office on November 23rd, so it can be ready for one of the 96 new members to be sworn in on January 5th.
In the meantime, Kagen has a cubicle in the basement of another House office building – and he uses Wausau Democrat Dave Obey’s committee office to make phone calls or use a desk. Kagen said he had to huddle with his staff in a hallway to work out his strategy for the final bills in the House.
That includes the continuation of the middle class tax cuts, and the approval of a contract for Marinette Marine to build 10 Navy ships.
The House is expected to adjourn for the year on Friday, and Kagen says he’s not bitter about having to leave. He blames his defeat on a national tide against President Obama – and Kagen does not believe it was a referendum on his four years in Washington. He said people didn’t like how slow the economic recovery was going.
