U.S. Rep. Michael Turner (R-Centerville), in opposing health care reform legislation introduced by Democrats, suggests measures that he believes would increase availability of health insurance for individuals and families.

The representative of the Third U.S. House District, which includes Clinton County, was in Wilmington on Thursday and discussed health care and other issues during a visit to the Wilmington News Journal.

Back in the district during the current recess from Congress, Turner has been meeting with community groups, senior citizens and other individual constituents, saying that the economy and health care top the concerns.

Turner feels that President Obama has retreated from his campaign pledge that individuals and families could keep the coverage they have while the government addressed the issues of providing coverage to the uninsured and assisted those who have been refused coverage due to a pre-existing medical condition. He said Obama’s plan to pull $500 billion from Medicare would reduce coverage and services. Americans are concerned about end-of-life counseling provisions in the Democrat-sponsored legislation, as well funding for abortions.

“People are upset over government encroaching into the doctor-patient relationship,” he said.

Turner believes there are steps that could be taken to expand health coverage to those who need it. Most of these steps, he said, would be “revenue-neutral,” meaning they would not require additional spending.

He believes that the government should act to assist people with pre-existing medical conditions in getting insurance coverage.

He suggests that national associations should be allowed to pool together to provide coverage to their memberships. Turner said small businesses, which currently struggle to pay for health insurance for their employees, would be assisted if such insurance pools were formed.

Turner advocates allowing individuals to deduct the cost of their insurance premiums on their federal taxes. This would be especially beneficial, he said, to those who are self-employed.

Turner also believes that provisions should be passed which would allow for employees to keep their health insurance should they change jobs.

He also advocates tort reform in order to reduce costs to doctors and other medical providers.

Turner acknowledges that his solutions would not achieve coverage for all who are currently uninsured. Once these steps are taken, though, he said Congress could look at additional steps to assist those in getting coverage.

Discussing other issues, Turner said the Senate has yet to act on legislation which includes $250,000 to help in the restoration of the Murphy Theatre in downtown Wilmington. The congressman managed to get that measure through the House of Representatives despite an attempt by Arizona Congressman Jeff Flake to have it stricken from the bill.

He said he is addressing the concerns of the family of Sgt. Brad Rokicki, who are concerned about the care he received at Walter Reed Army Medical Center after being evacuated from Iraq. Turner also has raised the matter with the military in an effort to ensure that the Wilmington High School graduate receives the best possible medical care.

In his discussions with local constituents, Turner said the economy continues to be the primary concern. He opposed the economic stimulus bill, and maintains that those funds have not been effective in bringing about an economic recovery.

Turner hopes that the community will soon acquire the Wilmington Air Park from DHL, a move which will he is confident will greatly enhance efforts to redevelop the facility.

Turner said another concern among constituents is government ownership of private companies. Turner has introduced legislation, co-sponsored by 103 of his Republican colleagues, to pass a constitutional amendment that would prohibit the federal government from such ownership.

The congressman noted that he also opposed the bank bailout advanced by former President Bush, the additional bailout funds advanced by President Obama, as well as the bailout of the auto industry and the stimulus. He said these measures have resulted in “astronomical” spending and greatly increased the national debt.

“We’re not going to be able to spend our way out of this,” he said.

Congress reconvenes after Labor Day.