GOP Pushes Vote to Curb Class-Action Suits [WA. POST-filibuster in senate]

[truthisfreedom]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55890-2003Oct20.html


GOP Pushes Vote to Curb Class-Action Suits
Senators Struggle To Beat Filibuster


By Helen Dewar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 21, 2003; Page A04

<snip>

The bill is a priority for President Bush, who has argued it would free businesses to focus on creating jobs. It also represents a potentially decisive moment in the five-year struggle over the issue between Republicans allied with business interests and Democrats with ties to trial lawyers and consumer groups.
<snip>
Republicans said they will seek a vote on the measure Wednesday.
Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) said last week he believed Democrats would succeed in stopping the bill, but Republicans have expressed guarded optimism that they can pick up the three votes needed to prevail.
<snip>
Other "tort reform" initiatives championed by Republicans have not fared well in the Senate. Earlier this year, it sustained a Democratic filibuster against legislation that would limit medical malpractice awards. A proposal to create a trust fund to compensate asbestos victims remains in limbo.

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. And Oxycontin lawsuits are soon to follow.

Anybody who doesn't see that one coming down the pike isn't paying attention.

[Tippy]

4. Why do you think Oxycontin lawsuits

will follow soon?

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Go take a look at:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/

[salin]

2. Corporate responsibility... Wasn't that a Bush theme awhile back?

SOme of these big repubs LOVE to sue for themselves ... but want to make sure that the general public does not have that same right.

[Zhade]

7. The words "responsibility" and "Bush" don't belong in the same sentence!

NT!

[Guaranteed]

3. I guess this would mean that CA couldn't sue Enron

class-action after Arnold throws away the $9B coming to them.

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

6. They're continuing to starve the Dems of funds

Tort Reform and eliminating class action suits have the same result: it decimates the incomes of trial lawyers, who make up one of the largest group of contributors to the Democratic Party.

The same is true for "right to work laws" (union busting) and the recent replacement of decades of civil service protections with the patronage system in the name of "homeland security" (one of the Dems dumbest moves was to let that one get passed). Every time they win, the Repugs eliminate one more source of funds for our party, all the while building their war chests as the corporations grow wealthier and wealthier.

IMHO, that is what we need to be focused on.