U.S. Congressman Michael Burgess (R-Lewisville) had a long conversation with a large number of his constituents Wednesday night.

He called it a Tele Town Hall. It was like a conference call, with 5,830 people listening. Many of them asked questions or expressed concerns.

Health care seemed to be at the top of the list. That may have been partly because many people in Burgess’ 26th District of Texas know that he was a practicing medical doctor for many years before being elected to Congress in 2002.

Burgess also fielded questions and heard concerns about tensions in North Korea and Iraq, Social Security cost of living allowance, and the fact that big government appears to be getting much bigger under the Obama administration.

Burgess said he expects Congress to begin looking at changes in federal health care programs within the next few weeks. He said he was surprised that Obama did not come into office with a new health care plan already prepared to present to Congress.

Now, more than four months after the Obama administration took control, Congress still has not seen a health care proposal from the administration. However, Burgess said Congress has received word that Democratic leaders are now preparing a proposal.

Burgess said Republicans are not proposing a new health care plan.

“We will wait and see what the Democrats propose, and then see what changes we think should be made,” he said.

Burgess said both Barack Obama and John McCain had promised during the presidential campaign, “If you like what you have now, you can keep it.”

However, Burgess said Obama also campaigned on the promise of change, and therefore some changes will be forthcoming.

He said Americans are concerned about how much the changes will cost the taxpayers and how it will affect their medical services and private insurance.

“About 64 percent, or two thirds, get their insurance through their employers,” Burgess said. He said a poll last year indicated that 65 to 68 percent of his constituents were either satisfied or very satisfied with their health coverage as it is.

“People are concerned about losing their insurance if they lose their jobs,” Burgess said.

Burgess said he prefers a consumer directed health plan, where the patient is more involved with how much is spent on medical care.

He proposes a savings health plan, where employees contribute a small amount from each paycheck to be used in case medical needs arise.

“If you are spending your own money, you are more careful than if you are spending someone else’s money,” Burgess said. “Too many people (with Medicare or Medicaid) say, ‘I don’t care what it costs as long as I am not spending my money.”

Also on the Tele Town Hall, people expressed concern about North Korea testing long-range nuclear weapons.

Burgess said China, Japan and other Asian countries are likely more concerned about this than the U.S. However, he noted that the U.S. has a significant number of military stationed in South Korea. He said if North Korea fires a nuclear weapon at South Korea or some other country, it could mean a Korean war all over again.

About Iraq, Burgess said U.S. military are being moved outside the cities into rural areas in order to give Iraqi military and police more control of the cities. He said a concern may be that some militants may want to take advantage of the fact that U.S. military are no longer in the cities, although U.S. soldiers could return quickly to the cities if necessary.

Concerning Social Security, Burgess said he does not expect a cost-of-living increase to be granted this year, but also said he does not expect an increase in Medicare deductions.

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