Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX), and Rep. Jason Altmire (D-PA), each offer their opinion on how health care ought to be reformed and how health care will be reformed, as well as the challenges reform faces in Congress.
Afterward, John Reichard, Editor of CQ HealthBeat, moderates a joint question and answer session.
Bio
Jason Altmire
Congressman Jason Altmire is serving his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represents all or parts of six counties in western Pennsylvania. He has quickly established himself as one of Congress' leading voices on health care, small business and veterans' issues.
He is co-chair of the New Democratic Coalition's task force on health care reform and serves as a subcommittee chairman on the Small Business Committee. His successful effort to guarantee bonuses for combat wounded veterans garnered national attention.
Michael C. Burgess
After spending nearly three decades practicing medicine 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.
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.
John Reichard
John Reichard is current editor of Congressional Quarterly's HealthBeat. Washington HealthBeat was founded in 2001 by John Reichard, whose 20-year career in Washington specialty publications included editing stints with McGraw-Hill, Thomson and other organizations.
I find it interesting to hear Burgess before the Blue Dog revolt. Though he was not one of them, which is clear from his commentary here . I am happy they forged out a compromise, though that was inevitable regardless of what the press had to say: http://www.newsy.com/videos/a_bad_case_of_the_blue_dogs