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Armstrong calls for more
effective tort reform legislation
Calling the tort reform
legislation that passed out of the House today “insufficient,”
Rep. Mike
Armstrong, R-Wenatchee, demanded a “real solution” to the state’s
liability crisis.
“It’s hard to stand up and
say much good or bad about this package of legislation because these
bills really don’t do much of anything. It may not hurt, but it won’t
help either,” said Armstrong. “These bills will do little to control the
cost of the civil justice system, slow the mass exodus of doctors from
our state or make Washington more competitive when it comes to creating
jobs. What we’re doing today is tort reform in name only.”
Armstrong said the worst part was that the House action today may leave
the citizens with the impression that “we have addressed this critical
problem, when in reality we haven’t.”
Lawmakers who opposed what was referred to as “tort light,” demanded
that the House recognize the real problem the state, employers, doctors
and patients face, and pointed to the package of bills passed out of the
Senate last week.
“Real tort reform like the Senate passed and sent to the House last week
for consideration will put ‘justice’ back into our justice system,” said
Armstrong. “It would do the job more effectively because the legislation
has teeth in it to bring down the cost of insurance, help weed out
frivolous lawsuits, keep good doctors in our communities and make sure
Washington citizens can get the best medical care, products and
services.”
The package of bills that
passed the House today now goes to the Senate for consideration. It’s
uncertain whether House leadership will let the Senate tort legislation
out of Committee and onto the House floor for a vote.
“This is a big disappointment for me and those I serve,” Armstrong said
of the apparent deadlock in the Legislature. “We must get a better
handle on our civil justice system in Washington. Jobs, affordable homes
and access to good doctors in our communities depend on it.”
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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