Although the majority of Americans oppose the current health care ‘reform’ bill, Nancy Pelosi is planning to ram this bill through Congress with a vote scheduled for March 18.

If you care about preserving your right to make your health care decisions for you and your family, please be sure to come to Saturday’s rally. Bring a sign demonstrating your opposition to the bill.

Sponsored by:

• Tea Party Patriots of the Twin Cities
• Citizens Council on Health Care
• Minnesota Majority

Bachmann to join Quist in Rochester Town Hall

Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann heads to Rochester on Monday in a big show of support for 1st Congressional District Candidate Allen Quist.

Bachmann will join Quist at a health care town hall from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Rochester. Also joining in the forum is GOP Congressman Michael Burgess of Texas, a doctor originally from Rochester. Quist is among four Republicans vying for the chance to take on Democratic Congressman Tim Walz.

This could prove to be a big boost for Quist among the Conservative wing of the party given Bachmann’s support among the Tea Party Movement and her ability to draw media attention. The visit comes at a critical time — one day before the state caucuses, a key step in determining the delegates for the state GOP convention.

Quist does have a personal connection with Bachmann. His wife, Julie, heads Bachmann’s Minnesota office.

Prior to the town hall forum, there will be a fundraising luncheon in Quist’s honor. Burgess will be the keynote speaker for that event.

At the town hall, Bachmann is expected to discuss a “Declaration of Health Care Independence.” Those principles include her call that the process of health care reform be transparent and that it not add to costs.

Fundraiser Luncheon and Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Michael Burgess in Rochester February 1, 2010. UPDATE: Congresswoman Michele Bachmann will also be speaking at the Town Hall Meeting.

Sponsors of the events are:

• Congressman Gil Gutknecht
• Drs. Brian and Lori Davis
• Drs. Bernie and Suzanna Kuipers
• Dr. Michael and Jane Van Norstrand
• Dr. William and Elise Wood

The Luncheon is a fundraiser on behalf of First Congressional District Candidate Allen Quist.

Dr. Burgess will speak to a noon buffet luncheon at the Rochester Ramada Inn (11:30 to 1:00, cost of $50) and at a town hall meeting also at the Ramada (1:30 to 2:30, no charge and open to the public).

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., is a five term Congressman from the 26th District in Texas. The luncheon is a fundraiser on behalf of Allen Quist for Congress.

The topic addressed by Dr. Burgess will be “Real Health Care Reform.”

RSVP for the luncheon to Lori Davis at 507-281-3024.

U.S. Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D.

After spending nearly three decades practicing medicine as an Ob/Gyn in North Texas, Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D., was first elected to Congress in 2002, and re-elected in 2004, 2006, and most recently in 2008.  During his time on Capitol Hill he has earned a reputation as a problem-solver who seeks sensible solutions to the challenges Americans face.

Dr. Burgess serves on the prestigious House Energy and Commerce Committee and three of its subcommittees: Health Care, Energy & Environment, and Oversight & Investigations.  He is also a member of the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and Dr. Burgess recently founded and is Chairman of the Congressional Health Care Caucus.  During his six years in Congress, Dr. Burgess has been a strong advocate for health care legislation aimed at reducing health care costs, improving choices, reforming liability laws to put the needs of patients first, and ensuring there are enough doctors in the public and private sector to care for America’s patients, and played an important role in bipartisan efforts to ensure the safety of food, drugs, and consumer products.

As a Member of Congress representing one of the fastest growing areas of the country, transportation is also a top priority for Dr. Burgess. He successfully amended the 2005 Highway Bill to include development credits, design-build, and environmental streamlining. During his time on Capitol Hill, he also has worked to build, maintain, and improve the safety of our roads, bridges, air service and transit in the North Texas region.

While in the House of Representatives, Dr. Burgess has received several awards, including the 2008 House Legislator of the Year from the Multiple Sclerosis Society; 2005 Legislator of the Year by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners; Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); and the Spirit of Enterprise award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, among others.

Today Dr. Burgess represents parts of suburban Dallas and Fort Worth.  He was raised in Denton, Texas and attended The Selwyn School, graduating in 1968 as valedictorian.  He graduated with both an undergraduate and a Masters degree from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas. He received his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and completed his residency programs at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.  Dr. Burgess also received a Masters degree in Medical Management from the University of Texas at Dallas, and in May of 2009 was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center.  Dr. Burgess has been married to his wife, Laura, for 35 years, and they have three children and a grandson.

 507-281-3024

Quist emphasized that our goal should be for every United States citizen to have the opportunity for the highest quality health care possible at an affordable cost.  He said, “The best way to improve our health care is by genuine reform of our present system; not by a radical shift to a government-run program.”

Quist said he agrees with Representative Collin Peterson who described the bills now under consideration in Congress as follows: “This is ideology run amuck.” And as Peterson also said, “I have so many problems with this [House] bill I don’t even know where to start.” [http://minnesota.publicradio.org]

According to Quist, “There are only two ways to allocate available resources—consumer choice or government dictates. These bills transform health care in our nation from being primarily a system of consumer choice to being one of government dictates.” “A system of government mandates,” said Quist, “won’t work over the long haul and is out of place in a free society.”

Quist stated that the bills are not about controlling costs. He noted that, “Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has admitted that putting reasonable limits on malpractice lawsuits would save $53 billion each year—over half a trillion dollars over ten years.” “If this was about controlling costs,” Quist said, “we would start by enacting real reforms concerning these lawsuits. The fact that this matter (tort reform) is off the table clarifies that the real purpose of the bills lies elsewhere.”

Quist said that the House bill’s $1.trillion cost estimate by the Congressional Budget Office over the next ten years is another major concern. Quist noted that this is a trillion dollars in addition to the half trillion dollars we are not saving by ignoring the medical malpractice problem. Quist said, “To paraphrase Everett Dirksen, a trillion here and a trillion there, and after a while it adds up to real money.”

Quist said that the real driving force behind these bills is ideology. “Congress is run,” said Quist, “by people who believe that problems are best solved by the federal government taking over.” Quist added, “Look at what has been happening overall: 1) problems in the auto industry are dealt with by the federal government taking over automobile companies, 2) problems in the banking industry are managed by the federal government taking over banks, and 3) here we go again—problems in the health care system are addressed by the federal government taking over the Health care industry.” “Do we see a pattern here?” asked Quist. “This is all about liberal ideology,” said Quist.

Quist said that at the forums he will outline a number of free market proposals for health care reform which he believes are superior to a government-run system.

Forum Schedule:

• Monday, Nov. 9th
  Rochester Ramada Inn – 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, Nov. 10th
  Mankato Happy Chef – 12:00 Noon
• Tuesday, Nov. 10th
  Worthington Pizza Ranch – 6:00 PM

The public is invited on a first come-first served basis.