Judy Feder, Turner's Primary Opponent, still working on a position on health care

PURCELLVILLE, VA—At a panel discussion organized by the Blue Ridge district of the Loudoun County Democratic Committee on March 20th, Retired Air Force Colonel Mike Turner, a candidate for the U.S. Congressional seat in Virginia’s 10th District, squared off against a spokesperson for his opponent in the June 10th primary, Professor Judy Feder. When questioned about important issues, Turner talked about ending the war in Iraq, fixing the economy, and transportation, then he announced his support for Single Payer national health insurance. Subsequently, the Feder spokesperson revealed that Feder was still "working on a healthcare proposal" and would be "rolling it out later."

Turner’s campaign manager, Alan Letzt, was very surprised by the Feder campaign’s admission that her position on health care has not been completed. Letzt said, "For years, Judy Feder has touted her expertise in healthcare policy and her major role on Hillary Clinton’s Task Force on National Health Care Reform. It is common knowledge that this ill-fated task force failed to build a consensus in Congress and among the health care community. Clearly, she has had 15 years to rethink health care and either develop a new position or adopt one of the proposals being discussed by the Democratic Party. I am curious what is taking her so long."

Turner echoed the claims of 89 Congressional co-sponsors of HR676, including Virginia Congressman Jim Moran, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, and the 15,000 members of “Physicians for a National Health Program”, that single payer health insurance will provide true universal coverage with equal or better quality and lower costs.

With 30 years of experience in public service, Turner has an established track record of leadership and accomplishments across the U.S. and internationally. Turner asserted, "It is time to stop studying health care and time to take action for the benefit of the American people."

According to the National Library of Medicine, a "Single-Payer System" is an approach to health care financing with only one source of money for paying health care providers. The scope may be national (like Medicare), state-wide, or community-based. The payer may be a governmental unit or other entity such as an insurance company. The potential advantages of single payer health insurance include administrative simplicity for patients and providers, and resulting significant savings in overhead costs.

For the first time since the mid-1980s, Democrats in the 10th district will have an opportunity to vote in a primary election for Congress. They will be able to choose either Mike Turner or Judy Feder to oppose Frank Wolf in the general election. The Democratic primary is on Tuesday, June 10th.