Tort reform

Tenth Amendment Zealots Block GOP's Medical Malpractice Reform

Sahil Kapur | January 20, 2012, 5:25AM

John Boehner

Whatever happened to medical malpractice reform? The cause has long been a high priority for Republicans, yet legislation on the issue hasn't even made it to the floor of a GOP-dominated House in over a year. What gives?

It's not for a lack of effort. The answer is that states' rights advocates within the House GOP caucus have split from top Republicans on the lynchpin issue of whether the federal government should limit the amount that malpractice victims can sue doctors in a particular case, forcing party elders to shelve the bill.

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Health Care

Rep. Gordon May Switch Health Care Vote To Yes

Rachel Slajda | March 5, 2010, 9:13AM

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN)

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), who voted against the House health care bill last year, released a statement saying he is pleased with President Obama's health care proposal -- a signal that he may change his vote.

"Throughout the debate over the past year, I've said any responsible health care bill must do two things: reduce overall health care spending and increase access to affordable care," Gordon said in the statement, according to the New York Times. "I voted against the House bill in November because it expanded coverage but did not do enough to bring down costs. I'm pleased to see the discussion moving in a more fiscally responsible direction now."

Gordon lauded the president for including provisions for medical malpractice reform.

Chamber of Commerce

Campaign Against Frivolous Lawsuits Coming To A Theater Near You

Christina Bellantoni | December 30, 2009, 8:46AM

If you saw Avatar, Sherlock Holmes or Up in the Air this weekend, you also may have heard a little bit about Richard Singer, a small business owner in Bay City, Michigan who says he fell victim to a bogus lawsuit.

It seems like a friendly, well-produced public service announcement detailing the "Faces of Lawsuit Abuse" with a focus on small business. But it's a bit strange to see a commercial with a political message in between traditional pre-movie programming of Coca-Cola ads and spots pushing new television shows.

"America needs more jobs, not more lawsuits," is the tag line after Singer tells his story.

The four-minute video is airing in the pre-trailer commercial reel in movie theaters in Washington, D.C., Albany, Denver, Orlando and Tampa Bay, Florida and in Baton Rouge. It's part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Legal Reform, which spent $4.2 million from June through September.

The Chamber is a major player, spending nearly $39 million lobbying Congress and government agencies in the third quarter of this year alone. Representing corporations both large and small, the Chamber has a goal of making it harder for people to sue their clients.

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