GOP Retort Has Docs' Backing

The man who will give the Republican response following President Obama's health care reform speech tonight has a lot of support from his fellow physicians.

In fact, Rep. Charles W. Boustancy has accepted almost $1 million in campaign contributions from doctors and other health professionals in the past six years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Boustancy, a Louisiana Republican and a heart surgeon, has received more campaign money from health professionals than from any other group.

The largest physician group in the country, the American Medical Association, backs President Obama's health reform. But like a number of other doctors, Boustancy is not a fan. He's critical of existing government programs such as Medicare and opposes expansion of government health coverage for the uninsured. He favors market and tax changes to help people buy health insurance.

Among the doc groups giving Boustancy more than $971,000 in campaign money since 2003: the American College of Radiology, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons Professional Association, the American College of Cardiology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

To be sure, health professionals are giving plenty of money to Democrats as well these days. Sixty PACs already have contributed $3.6 million to Democrats and $1.7 million to Republicans for the 2010 election, Center for Responsive Politics' figures show.