More Q&A from Burgess' town hall meeting

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess

Additional questions and answers from U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess' town hall meeting in Denton last Saturday.

Scott Strauss - I haven't noticed any ground-breaking medical procedures and advances from Canada or Europe.  Also, can we expect a rollback of stimulus dollars paid as political payouts?

Michael Burgess - Suggested "put stimulus money into something that will last beyond a political contribution, like transportation."

Mr. Strauss' point being, the stimulus package was more a "payout" to political supporters of Democrats than actual stimulus, and these funds should be returned to taxpayers.  Dr. Burgess' point was that these dollars, if they had to be spent, would be better served going into freeways than pocketbooks of political supporters of the President.

Anonymous - Hawaii has a socialized system for health care that is bankrupt--why is this not being discussed more?

MB - "That's why Hawaii is interested in something coming out of D.C."

Anonymous - This bill is being portrayed as 'free health care.'  This is not free health care, the dollar premiums are listed right there in the bill!  If you earn 'X' dollars, you will pay 'X' in premiums.  <Proceeded to list a couple of examples of high income earner and their premiums versus middle class earner and their corresponding premiums versus low wage earner and theirs.>  This is not health care, this is income redistribution!

MB - "You have done a better job than I at expressing that!"

Anonymous - Will you support any bill that contains a provision for taxpayer-funded abortions?

MB - "No."

MB, in response to another question regarding Congress being exempt from public health plans - "The President was asked at a town hall meeting if this plan was good enough for his wife and daughters.  His reply was, 'No.  I want the best for them.'  This reply is problematic for the President (in the current debate)."

Dianne Edmondson, Denton County Republican Chairman and Denton County Republican Examiner, asked a long question regarding the reported shortages of specialist doctors in Massachusetts and if a shortage could be expected under the President's plan.  Now, I have a problem with the County Chairman asking a question at the microphone at such a public forum in the first place.  This is not the place for elected officials and Party officials to interact with a Congressman.  This was a case of showboating and glamorizing in front of Rep. Burgess for the cameras and the people.  But it is a good question nevertheless.

MB - "Short answer, yes."  As in, it will be of concern.  And for the explanation of that, please see my article reviewing the Greater Dallas Pachyderm Club's Tuesday lunch meeting with guest speaker Dr. Devin Herrick, Senior Fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas.