Mark Steffen
Mark Steffen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Kansas Senate from the 34th district | |
| Assumed office January 11, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Ed Berger |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 30, 1962 Enid, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Deanna |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Hutchinson, Kansas, U.S. |
| Education | University of Oklahoma School of Medicine Northwestern Oklahoma State University |
Mark B. Steffen (born August 30, 1962) is an American politician in the Kansas Senate from the 34th district.[1] He assumed office in 2021, after beating one-term Republican incumbent Edward Berger with 57.5% of the vote in the August 4, 2020 primary, and Democrat Shanna Henry with 69.8% of the vote in the general election.[2]
Medical practice
[edit]Steffen is an anesthesiologist and pain specialist who promoted unproven medications to help sufferers from COVID-19 by the United States Food and Drug Administration, including Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine. [3] On January 26, 2022, Steffen reported his practice had been investigated by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts for the previous 18 months. Steffen demanded a hearing to debate the science and later claimed that the government agencies dismissed all complaints. He contended that Dr. Steve Stites, the chief medical officer at The University of Kansas Health System, who was critical of politicians who oppose vaccination and masking, was "the Kansas Dr. Fauci," accusing Stites of spreading "propaganda."[4]
Tenure
[edit]In January 2021, Steffen introduced SB187, a bill designed to levy heavy penalties against media corporations that censored political posts. It died in Committee in 2022.[5][6]
On January 26, 2022, he appeared before a Kansas Senate committee to discuss affordable, effective COVID-19 remedies. He demanded that a "panel of physicians and scientists from both sides of this issue," be convened. An "Early Covid Treatment Symposium" was then held in Lenexa, KS.
In January 2023, Steffen filed the first bill of the legislative session, SB1. It would have subjected online social media to fines of up to $75,000 per instance for platform censorship of user posts, with the Kansas Attorney General given the latitude to bring such cases on behalf of Kansas residents, under the authority of the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Senator Mark Steffen - Kansas State Legislature". Legislators. 2021-03-24. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
- ^ Edward Berger, Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- ^ Anti-vax death cult rampages through Kansas politics, with Sen. Mark Steffen out in front, Kansas Reflector, Clay Wirestone, January 28, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Senator under health board investigation calls KU doctor 'Kansas Dr. Fauci' as COVID rates worsen, Topeka Capital-Journal, Jason Tidd, January 27, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Kansas Republicans promote effort to preserve political expression on social media, Kansas Reflector, Noah Taborda, March 24, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ Kansas State Legislature 2021-2022 Legislative Sessions, Kansas Legislature, May 19, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
- ^ Kansas lawmakers introduce bills to bar social media censorship, WIBW-TV, Sarah Motter, January 23, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.