Political Quotes

“I am delighted to hear Senator Rockefeller state that the way the bill stands now, it is deformed and disfigured. That reminds me that this bill, as it stands right now, is pretty much similar to what the House passed. I do not think whatever we pass here in the Senate, when it goes to conference, is going to come out much different from the House bill. I think we know that the Speaker over there has great influence. I just feel that, basically, whatever we do here which passes the Senate and goes to conference will reflect the Speaker's position on this overall issue. I think the key battle is the battle here in the Senate and the Senate's role to be deliberate and to prevent unwise, unfair legislation. Now, if there is a disfigurement and a deformity by extending the language pertaining to punitive damages, by extending the language eliminating joint and several liability to cover all civil actions, then that is a recognition that there is a fault with that extension, there is a fault with the overall underlying principle that is being brought forth here in regard to punitive damages and also to eliminating joint and several liability.”