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Legislation masquerading as
tort reform is mere window dressing
The House of
Representatives worked the better part of Monday passing the House
Democrat tort reform package that House Republican Leader
Richard DeBolt
deemed “tort lite.” DeBolt said the list of more than 20 bills falls far
short of what is needed to rein in a runaway tort system that is raising
costs for consumers on everything from housing to health care.
“This package of bills fails to address the underlying conditions that
have made our tort system among the most expensive in the world. It is a
500-pound weight on our economy that has an impact on every family” said
DeBolt. “The high cost of liability insurance and enormous jury awards
is forcing health care providers to close their doors, especially in
rural areas. It affects the cost of building homes and exposes cities
and counties to tremendous liability that comes back to the local
taxpayers.
“These proposals won’t do
any great harm. It won’t harm our doctors and hospitals, but it won’t
offer them relief from the current crisis they face,” DeBolt said.
DeBolt said a more meaningful approach to tort reform is contained in
House Bill 3030, a comprehensive measure introduced by House
Republicans, and Senate Bill 5728, which has been adopted by the Senate.
Both bills remain stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.
“More could have been done
– and more should be done – to help families and help our health care
providers. Our failure to address this issue in a meaningful way will
prevent Washington families from getting the care they need,” DeBolt
said. “The House Democrat plan is tort reform in name only. It doesn’t
make things any worse, but leaves citizens under the weight of a
high-cost legal system that drives up the price of insurance and the
cost of goods and services.”
DeBolt noted that Washington has become a national embarrassment on the
tort issue, having been the target of a full-page ad in the Wall Street
Journal and USA today last week. The ad, sponsored by Doctors for
Medical Liability Reform, brought attention to the difficulty in
accessing health care in Washington and uncompetitive economic climate
that has been created by the lack of action on real tort reform.
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For more information, contact:
John Rothlin, Staff
Director - (360) 786-7254
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