Rep. Burgess cites age as reason to exit Congress – NBC 5 Dallas
TL/DR –
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess has decided not to run for reelection due to his age of 72 years, noting the ongoing public conversation about the age of political candidates. Despite being healthy, he wants to enjoy his later years with his family after serving since 2002. Burgess also stated that he supports rolling back measures from Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act and aims to update Medicare’s reimbursement rates to doctors, citing that they have not kept pace with inflation.
U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess Declines Reelection Due to Age
At 72, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX 26th District) has announced he will not run for reelection, citing his age as a key factor. This decision arrives amidst public discussions about the age of top presidential candidates, with former President Donald Trump at 77 and current President Joe Biden recently turning 81.
“You don’t want to wait until it’s too obvious that this person is too old to serve,” Burgess asserted, “You would hope someone’s family would intervene with some reality testing.”
Stepping Back After 22 Years of Service
Burgess, a local obstetrician who was first elected in 2002, stated his desire to relinquish power in an appropriate time frame and focus on family. Despite his good health and lack of major medical issues, Burgess acknowledged his long-standing political career and the ongoing public debate about candidate ages.
He clarified that his decision had no relation to recent congressional chaos, such as an Oklahoma Senator challenging a union leader to a fight, debate over alleged violence between Republican colleagues, and ongoing budget and leadership battles.
Focus on Rest of Term and Future Priorities
Burgess intends to serve till the end of his term in January 2025. He emphasized the importance of fiscal control by the Republican-led House after significant government spending in response to the coronavirus pandemic and President Biden’s agenda.
He expressed support for revising aspects of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which limited the amount Medicare pays for drugs and invested billions into countrywide renewable energy projects. Signed by Biden in August 2022, Burgess, a long-practicing doctor, argues for an update in Medicare’s doctor reimbursement rates to keep pace with inflation.
Avoiding Influence in Successor Selection
Having won his post in 2002 against the incumbent U.S. Rep. Dick Army’s son, Burgess claimed he had no political recognition until voters elected him to Congress. He currently chooses not to endorse a successor and aims to prevent influential national and Washington D.C. power players from influencing the race.
“What’s important is the voters in the district do that picking and not power players in Washington D.C,” affirmed Burgess.
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