RSS
Home
Recap of health care from Burgess town hall
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
U.S. Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX 26) (DMN)
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess' town hall meeting Saturday in Denton focused largely on health care issues. After a brief introduction, Burgess spent the rest of the time fielding questions from the audience of over 1,000. A sampling of questions followed by Dr. Burgess' responses. The names of those asking questions is provided when they were stated.
Q: Is there a chance that your vote (on health care, HR 3200) will change?
MB: "No. My 'no' vote will not change."
Q: Darrell Boyko, Lewisville - Simply reading the bill is not good enough. What is the possibility of accepting President Barack Obama's invitation to go through the legislation line-by-line?
MB: "President Obama stated that it would not be necessary for Michael Burgess to attend such a meeting because the President had already had in-depth conversations with Burgess. I think what the White House was referring to was a question that I submitted to one of the President's town hall meetings in an online submission." Burgess stated that he is open to meeting with the President.
Q: If the legislation is so good, then why is Congress exempted?
MB: "I proposed previously to take Congress off of benefits and give each member a $3,000 voucher and then let's see how much creativity we see as a result." (received with great applause)
Q: Dr. Jennifer Giles, Flower Mound - You were in a Republican majority with a Republican President from 2002-2006. If you advocate health care reform, then why was nothing done during this time?
MB: Claimed to have introduced proposals in each Congress since his election and stated that Rep. Henry Waxman, the chief proponent of HR 3200, has wanted this legislation since his election in 1974 following Richard Nixon's resignation.
Q: Denton County Republican Chairman and Denton County Republican Examiner Dianne Edmondson - There are reports of a shortage of 400,000 doctors and more shortages to come under this plan. Is there cause to worry about this? Also, what can we do to assist you when you return to Washington?
MB: "Short answer, yes! And the legislation goes to the Senate side when we return."
Q: Latino lady and opponent of HR 3200 - I lived under socialized medicine (Mexico?) and am scared about this plan. Why is there a provision to provide medical benefits to illegal aliens?
MB: "There is a line disallowing benefits for those not here legally. Unfortunately, the line item requiring identity verification has been removed."
There were many great questions from concerned citizens on both sides of this issue, as well as other concerns that were addressed that I will include in my next installment.
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
.jpg)
