Patricia Schroeder: “I must say this has been frustrating because we have not been able to have a debate and all the artificial time limits…”

“I must say this has been frustrating because we have not been able to have a debate and all the artificial time limits on here have made this all really kind of a charade. When you listen to people stand up and talk about how terrible it is we have punitive damages, there are no punitive damages and punitive damages are terrible. OK. But this bill does not do away with punitive damages, it just leaves it for economic interests. So if you guys think punitive damages are so bad, then be fair and do away with all of them. But you are leaving them for your fat cat friends. If you happen to have a paycheck, you get economic damages and punitive damages. If you do not have a paycheck, if you are a child who has been burned by pajamas, it is tough bunchies, you do not get anything because they just burn a child who is not worth anything because a child is not working and does not have a paycheck. Listen to what the gentleman from Virginia is saying. If that were your child, America, you would be angry. Now, if we are going to do away with all punitive damages, fine. But this bill does not do it. It puts a fence around wage earners and fat cats, and it allows them joint and several liability. You heard the gentleman from Wisconsin saying how terrible joint and several liability is. Yes; this does not do away with it, it just limits it to people with a paycheck. So if you have a paycheck, America, we love you.”