Tort Reform? Not if you're a Democrat

[ruggbutt]

The new health bill will empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states that reform their medical malpractice systems. There are just two conditions: Those reforms must not "limit attorneys' fees or impose caps on damages."
...
In California, pain and suffering damages cannot exceed $250,000. Attorneys may collect no more than 15 percent of malpractice awards over $600,000.

The impact of these kinds of reforms can be dramatic. After Texas capped pain and suffering damages at $750,000 in 2003, the number of malpractice lawsuits dropped abruptly. Lawsuits in Harris County (Houston and environs) plunged by 50 percent.

Fewer lawsuits meant lower malpractice premiums. Texas' largest malpractice insurance carrier cut costs to doctors by 17 percent. Lower insurance premiums attracted more medical professionals to the state. In the 1990s, Texas ranked low in the nation in the number of doctors per person. In the four years after 2003, the number of doctors in the state jumped by 18 percent.

[callmeslick]

nothing to disagree with.....we'll see how Obama addresses it, but civil trial lawyers contribute beaucoup bucks to the Party, so don't hold your breath. Unless some overwhelming public outcry forces them to, don't expect the Dems to ride that one too hard. Sort of like how one doesn't expect Republicans to crack down on companies that employ illegals, only a massive public outcry will prevent them from following their money.

[ruggbutt]

Sort of like how one doesn't expect Republicans to crack down on companies that employ illegals, only a massive public outcry will prevent them from following their money.

You kill me. The Republicans are doing next to nothing regarding illegals and the Dems are doing zero. Nada. Zilch. Thank god that law enforcement like our Sheriff are enforcing the laws the people of the state are passing. We have more tough anti-illegal laws since the last election and he's doing something about it. If people get smarter they'll just elect local officials that pass laws that trump federal law.

[Daiichidoku]

[callmeslick]

has that been reformed??