Gregg Underheim
Gregg Underheim | |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin State Assembly | |
| In office 1987–2007 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 22, 1950 La Crosse, Wisconsin |
| Political party | Republican Party |
Gregg Underheim (born August 22, 1950 in La Crosse, Wisconsin) is former politician. He was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from 1987 until 2007, when he did not seek reelection.[1] For 12 of those years he served as Chair of the Assembly Health Committee. He represented the 54th District in and around Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
History
Teaching
He went to college at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. After graduation, he became a high school English teacher at Caledonia, Minnesota.[2] He quit teaching in 1978 to get involved in politics.
Politics
Underheim went to Texas, and talked with then unheard of Karl Rove. Nothing came of the meeting. Underheim went to Tennessee, but failed again with people connected to then-powerful Senator Howard Baker. Underheim then went to Washington D.C., and wrote a tryout speech for the Republican National Committee, which also failed.[2] He returned to Wisconsin, and helped Tom Petri's campaign for congress. Petri won the race, and Underheim joined Petri's staff.
Political highlights
Underheim ran for the State Assembly in 1987, and was elected as the representative from Oshkosh.
Underheim has focused on health-related issues.[2] In 1998, Underheim proposed legislation that required physicians provide and pay for the submission of claims data. The legislation was the initial battle in Wisconsin over the issue of health care transparency.
Underheim became involved in controversies in the mid 1990s about how to teach reading to children. Underheim argued that research supported phonics-based reading programs. Underheim used the argument as a key issue in his first unsuccessful race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1997.[2] Underheim sought election to the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction a second time in 2005. He was again unsuccessful.
Award
Underheim received a lifetime recognition award from the Wisconsin Hospital Association in 2006.[3]
References
- ^ Summary State Elections Results, PDF file, Retrieved January 12 2007
- ^ a b c d [1] Alan J. Borsuk; "ELECTION 2005; STATE SUPERINTENDENT CANDIDATE PROFILE; Gregg"; March 29 2005; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; Retrieved January 12 2007
- ^ WHA Presents Awards to Reps. Rhoades, Underheim and Meriter Hospital
External links
- Image of Underheim in Assembly from the Oshkosh Northwestern's "Newsmakers of 2006" collection, Retrieved January 12 2007
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