Michael Burgess

Michael C. Burgess, a Republican, has represented the Twenty-Sixth Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2002.

Environmental record
For more information on environmental legislation, see the Energy and Environment Policy Portal

Oil
Michael Burgess has voted in favor of big oil companies on 100% of important oil-related bills from 2005-2007, according to Oil Change International. These bills include Iraq war funding, climate change studies, clean energy, and emissions. See below for oil money in politics.

Ties to Tom DeLay
In April 2005, Burgess was one of only 20 House Members (out of 427 voting) to vote in opposition to the restoration of the House Ethics Committee rule barring indicted members from holding leadership positions in the House. His critics have claimed this was due to his ties to then-House Majority Leader Tom DeLay--although DeLay himself had voted in favor of the resolution.

Photos of Burgess and Delay

Ties to President Bush
The following is a letter Michael Burgess sent his constituents in July, 2006 in defense of President Bush:*


 * Thank you for expressing your support for the impeachment of President Bush. I appreciate hearing from you on this important matter.


 * On January 20, 2001, George W. Bush, was sworn in as the 43rd President of the United States. Since taking office, President Bush's record shows that he is an honest and humble man who will seek to unite the American people and not divide them along political party, racial, ethnic, or gender lines. His vision for the United States is one based upon trusting American families through providing much-needed tax relief for everyone, empowering parents with control over their children's education, rebuilding our national defense, and protecting and enhancing Medicare and Social Security benefits for our nation's elderly. He has exhibited excellent leadership through crises like the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center and the economic recession. I believe that President Bush has and will continue to serve our country well, restore trustworthiness and respect to the Office of the Presidency, and work to ensure that every American has the opportunity to experience the American dream.


 * Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the U.S. House of Representatives. Please feel free to visit my website (www.house.gov/burgess) or contact me with any future concerns.


 * Sincerely, Michael C. Burgess, M.D. Member of Congress

Bio
Burgess was born December 23, 1950, in Rochester, Minnesota. He graduated from North Texas State University and from the medical school at the University of Texas in Houston. He completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.

Burgess worked in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for over 20 years, delivering over 3000 babies in North Texas, including Paul LeBon and his children (Burgess would later face LeBon in the 2002 general election).

Burgess made his first run for elective office in the 2002 Republican primary to fill the seat of Congressman Richard Armey. The winner of the GOP primary was virtually assured of winning the November general election, as the district (comprised of the majority of Denton County) was (and remains, even after the controversial redistricting of 2004) strongly Republican. Using the campaign slogan "We Need a Doctor in the House", and with the endorsement of his fellow physicians, the relatively unknown Burgess took second place in the primary behind Congressman Armey's son Scott (a Denton County Commissioner), finishing with 23% of the vote to Armey's 45%, but Armey's failure to capture a 50% majority led to a runoff election.

Before the runoff was held, The Dallas Morning News reported that Armey used his influence to procure county jobs and contracts for his friends. In what was considered an upset, Burgess beat Armey by a 55%-45% margin in the runoff, and as expected went on to defend the district for the GOP, defeating Democrat LeBon by a large margin in the general election.

Congressional career
Burgess ran for re-election in 2004 (now using the slogan "We Need to Keep The Doctor in the House") and easily won by a 2-to-1 margin in his district.

2006 elections
In 2006, Democrats nominated Tim Barnwell to face Burgess in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See U.S. congressional elections in 2006) Burgess retained his seat.

Money in politics
cid=N00025219&cycle=2008

Oil Money in Politics
Michael Burgess has received $70,700 in oil contributions during the 110th congress. $54,000 of those dollars were from industry PACS. In total, Burgess has accepted $144,096 from oil companies since from 2000 to 2008, which makes him a top recipient of oil money. See above for oil and energy voting history.

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
 * Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection

Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)

 * House Committee on Energy and Commerce
 * Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality
 * Subcommittee on Health
 * Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

Twitter
 Michael Burgess posts on Twitter at http://twitter.com/michaelcburgess/

Latest posts: http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/15751083.rss|title=none| max=3| short See all the members of Congress who Twitter

External resources

 * Official website
 * Campaign website
 * DMI Congressional Scorecard
 * Open Secrets - 2006 congressional races database
 * Follow the Oil Money
 * Vote Tracker
 * Follow the Coal Money
 * Appalachian Voices

Critical of Burgess

 * The North Texas Liberal - Denton County


 * Whosplayin.com - Lewisville / Flower Mound Area


 * Gonzomuckracker Denton Area


 * Burnt Orange Report