Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, there are three points to be made on this motion to recommit. The first one is on the first part of the motion to recommit, it has to do with service on foreign corporations. The amendment of the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Conyers] was not stricken by the Cox amendment. It still is in the bill, the one that passed last night making foreign manufactures subject to the jurisdiction of the Federal courts in product liability actions. What the motion to recommit does has to do with service of process on foreign corporations. I tell you it is unnecessary. The Hague Convention, to which we are all subscribers, already provides for service of process on foreign corporations. So it is unnecessary and it is unneeded. As to the second part of the motion to recommit, it seeks to elevate the ceiling on punitive damages from $250,000 or three times the economic damages, which could exceed $250,000, to $1 million. Now, I point out with as much fervor as I can muster, punitive damages are not meant to compensate anybody. They are a punishment, they are a deterrent.”