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Rep. Turner appointed to NATO assembly

Staff photo by Jan Underwood U.S. Rep. Mike Turner

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By Jessica Wehrman, Staff Writer 1:11 PM Sunday, July 5, 2009

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Mike Turner has been appointed a member of the NATO parliamentary assembly.

The assembly, made up of members of parliaments from the 28 countries that make up the alliance, aims to bring together legislative and public consensus for NATO policies.

Turner, R-Centerville, was appointed to the assembly earlier this year and made his first trip as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly in late May to Norway, where he was one of 12 members of Congress to attend the meeting.

Turner said he decided to pursue the position because of his position as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee. The subcommittee has jurisdiction over issues including space, intelligence, missile defense and nuclear weapons. Many of the issues, he said, overlap directly with NATO policy.

Turner was appointed to the assembly by House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-West Chester. He replaces retired U.S. Rep. Ralph Regula, R-Navarre. Former U.S. Rep. Paul Gillmor, R-Old Fort, who died unexpectedly last year, also served on the panel.

As a voting delegate on the assembly, Turner said he’ll take issue papers from the assembly back to Congress. He expects he’ll focus on missile defense, nuclear deterrence and the expansion of NATO.

He’s already weighed in legislatively. When the House last month passed its Defense Authorization bill, the bill included six of eight provisions Turner offered as amendments relating to work done by the NATO parliamentary assembly. One would bar the use of Department of Defense funds to reduce U.S. strategic nuclear forces as a part of the START Treaty unless Russian nuclear weapons are also reduced.

Turner said he was surprised to know members of several delegations, including those from England, Germany and Bosnia. Turner said he met one member, a former president of Bosnia, immediately after the Dayton Peace Accords when Turner was mayor of Dayton.

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Debrah, bless your heart, all the "terrible things he's done to this once great city" have occurred since Turner left office. However, you may be confused. As I recall, on the eve of the election that unseated him the current mayor (I believe they now call her McHat?) managed to engage a successful smear campaign, which (between that 7 her name familiarity) would be the only ways that she would be able to unseat the popular & talented Mr. Turner. We all know it isnt intellect or ability.

Schmedlap
11:09 PM, 7/5/2009

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Deborah, Mayor Turner was very effective in that role. But politics and realities of the city demographics meant he lost an re-election effort.
The fact he served at all as a conservative republican in the city is remarkable.
I supported Obama, tend to vote dem, did not agree with some of the divisive issues he took but appreciated his focus on the community in general. Turner politics aside was exceptional as city leader. Nobody is 100% but he was a very good mayor. Deborah what dirt?

David
8:36 PM, 7/5/2009

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Mark ur all confused. I hate to break it to you but Gingrich & Contact w/America were in 1995. Turner was the still mayor then. Doubt he was pushing that. Gingrich's contract had nothing in it about term limits. Google says Turner went to Washington in 2002. Gingrich resigned in 1999. Where's the connection?

George
6:47 PM, 7/5/2009

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I remember Mike Turner wholeheartedly supporting Newt Gingrich's 'Contract with America' and in particular, term limits. Mike, isn't it time for you to now step aside and let another great citizen of the Dayton area represent our interests in Washington? DDN: please ask Mike this question the next time he's in front of your editorial board. Thanks.

Mark
5:50 PM, 7/5/2009

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Debrah, pray tell what "terrible things" did Mayor Turner do to Dayton? If you're going to throw out dirt, be prepared to back it up.

Henry
5:43 PM, 7/5/2009

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