Tea Party Rep. Refuses Congressional Health Plan

A newly-elected GOP Rep. announced that he is refusing the congressional health insurance plan in a show of solidarity with the American people.

Rep-elect Joe Walsh (R-IL) told the New York Times that he will stick to his Tea Party roots and decline the government health care provided to members of congress.

“I don’t think congressmen should get pensions or cushy health care plans,” he said. But it's a decision that's not being welcomed by everyone in his family. Walsh's wife has a pre-existing medical condition, and she'll now be charged with the difficult task of finding a plan on the open market.

Walsh joins two other Republicans in declining the government's health plan. So far, incoming Reps. Bobby Schilling (IL) and Mike Kelly (PA) have made similar decisions.

But Walsh's decision is in lockstep with some of his other positions. He's a staunch fiscal conservative who wants serious entitlement reform, is hoping to repeal Obamacare, and is even against the recent tax-rate deal.

“We cut taxes, raised spending and contributed to the deficit,” he said of the deal. “Republicans should have held out for something better.”

That, along with the rejection of health care, may be politically incorrect. But Walsh doesn't care.

“I’m going to D.C. absolutely prepared to lose in two years.”