Rep. Burgess Says Repeated Votes On Bad SCHIP Policy Will Not Help Our Poorest Children, USA

Main Category: Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Also Included In: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 24 Jan 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Congressman Michael C. Burgess (R-Texas), M.D., urged Congress to stop voting on the same bad policy and seize the opportunity to strengthen the State Children's Health Insurance Plan (SCHIP) for the long-term:

"Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. He must have been foreshadowing the 110th Congress' votes on SCHIP.

Just because it is a new year does not mean bad policy magically becomes good policy. The SCHIP extension we passed in December ensures no one loses coverage and that states receive an increase in funding to head off shortfalls. Now we have the chance to keep the program healthy in the long run.

Despite the political rhetoric of an election year, we should put partisanship aside and cover our poorest children. That is what the American people expect and what our next generation deserves."

Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., practiced medicine as an OB-GYN in North Texas for nearly three decades before coming to Washington, D.C., to represent the 26th District of Texas. He serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and four of its subcommittees: Health; Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection; Oversight and Investigations; and, Energy and Air Quality. He is also the Vice Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee.

Congressman Michael C. Burgess