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Burgess Votes “No” on Democrats’ Health Reform Bill in Committee

Washington, July 31, 2009
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after the Committee favorably reported HR 3200, the Democrat health care reform bill, by a vote of 31 to 28: “With today’s vote, Democrats on this committee delivered to Americans more government spending, more federal debt, higher taxes, and more government control over their everyday lives. This is not what health care reform should look like.
Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-Texas), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement after the Committee favorably reported HR 3200, the Democrat health care reform bill, by a vote of 31 to 28:

“With today’s vote, Democrats on this committee delivered to Americans more government spending, more federal debt, higher taxes, and more government control over their everyday lives. This is not what health care reform should look like. Americans want quality health care that is affordable, and this bill does the exact opposite. Americans want to be able to keep their current health insurance and doctor, and this bill takes those decisions out of their hands and into the hands of the government. With this bill, the Democrats will drastically expand the federal government’s involvement in health care by adding millions more to the rolls of Medicaid and creating a new government entitlement – the government-run health insurance option.

“With this bill, the Democrats will strap billions of dollars in new taxes and penalties on the backs of hard-working Americans and small businesses. They will replace choice and freedom with new federal mandates, and mandates have no place in a free society. Those Americans seeking health care insurance but can’t get it because of a pre-existing condition will have to wait five more years for coverage, under the Democrats plan.

“I voted no on this legislation, but I will admit that there are parts of this bill that are good, such as the increased steps to tackle the problems of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid. I am pleased that several of my bipartisan amendments that make needed improvements to the bill were accepted. But, despite Republican attempts to improve the bill, many parts are still missing, such as medical liability reform.

“Republicans had ideas – do not let anyone say otherwise. We offered amendments, and many of them were bipartisan efforts, but in the end we were silenced.

“I still have faith that the American people will make their voices heard and demand that Congress pass real health care reform that will fix what is wrong and build on what works. There is a right way to improve our country’s health care system – the best in the world – and a wrong way. The bill reported out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee today is the epitome of what Americans have said they do not want, and Congress should listen.”


Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees: Health, Energy & Environment, and Oversight & Investigations. He is also a member of the bipartisan, bicameral Joint Economic Committee. Prior to becoming a member of Congress in 2002, Congressman Burgess practiced medicine in North Texas for over 25 years.