[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECONCILIATION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Sunday, March 21, 2010

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I strongly oppose a government takeover of 
our nation's healthcare system. It is irresponsible for Congress to 
approve a vastly unpopular and costly measure at a time of 
unprecedented budget deficits and uncertainty about the future of the 
economy. Despite overwhelming opposition by the American people, the 
Majority in Congress, led by Speaker Pelosi, has resorted to 
manipulating longstanding procedural rules to rush through an overhaul 
of our nation's healthcare system. My constituents understand that any 
bill that requires backroom special deals to pass is fundamentally 
flawed.
  Obtaining quality medical care is a top priority for Ohioans and 
their families. Instead of forcing an unpopular, one-size-fits-all 
approach to healthcare reform, Congress and the White House should 
listen to the American people and return to the drawing board to 
negotiate a real bipartisan agreement in order to achieve true reform.
  Real health care reform does not have to undermine the strengths of 
our current system, nor limit doctor choice or care availability. A 
series of commonsense measures will go a long way toward improving 
health care for all Americans. For example, insurance companies should 
be prohibited from excluding a person for coverage based on pre-
existing conditions.
  Medical research is also essential to bringing health care costs 
down. Private ingenuity is the strength of our current system and 
should be preserved and encouraged. The federal bureaucracy cannot 
stand in the way of such important research.
  When employees change jobs, they should be able to take their health 
insurance with them. Continuity of coverage can be critical for a 
person in the midst of important health-related treatment.
  Our litigation system forces doctors and hospitals to raise operating 
costs. For decades, the cost of medical liability has risen much more 
rapidly than actual medical care. Limiting frivolous lawsuits would 
have a significant effect on containing health care costs and promoting 
accessibility to care.
  Individuals should be allowed to deduct the full cost of their health 
insurance premiums from their federal income taxes. Furthermore, we 
should expand the ability to put tax-free dollars into Health Savings 
Accounts (HSAs) to be used for lifetime medical expenses. These 
measures alone would make health care more affordable for many.
  These are reasonable reforms that don't rely upon the creation of a 
new, massive government health system. Although I oppose this bill, I 
will continue to fight to replace this government takeover of our 
healthcare system, and I remain committed to supporting Southwest 
Ohioans' call for commonsense solutions.

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