Like Gov. Bobby Jindal before him, Congressman Charles Boustany has the honor (or the task, depending on how you look at it) of offering the Republican response to President Barack Obama's prime time address to a joint session of Congress Wednesday. Boustany, a retired cardiovascular surgeon, will surely draw on his personal experience as a doctor in rebutting some of the president's proposals for a health care system overhaul. He'll also have the advantage of using Jindal's speech, and the widespread criticism that followed, as a road map for avoiding any major pitfalls. This morning, Boustany released the following statement:
As a doctor, I know we must lower costs and improve care, which we can accomplish by focusing on strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and working in a bipartisan way. Health care is a kitchen table issue that affects all Americans, and I believe we need an honest discussion about how we come together to fix what’s broken, while building on what works. That’s why I’m pleased the President will speak to Congress tomorrow night, and I look forward to presenting commonsense reforms that Republicans and all Americans can stand behind.
This statement comes form House Minority Leader John Boehner:
Dr. Boustany has been a tireless advocate for reform that lowers health care costs and expands access for the American people at a price our nation can afford. He understands why a Washington bureaucrat – as Democrats have proposed – should never get between a doctor and his patient. I’m pleased Charles has agreed to speak to the American people about a Republican vision for reform and the need for both parties to come together to craft a responsible proposal at a time when people across the country are focused on jobs.