Political Quotes

“we have heard for the last 2 days capping noneconomic damages and liability suits would hurt women. The reason given is that women stay at home, so juries cannot calculate economic damages for them in the way they can for men who work. This is a strange argument, even a bizarre argument, coming from women who have spent their political careers telling us the traditional family is dead and we had better get used to it. I never thought I would hear the gentlewoman portray an ``Ozzie and Harriet'' view of America. The facts are, in fact, just the opposite. Many women now, of course, work. There is no problem in calculating the economic damages there. But even more striking, juries now regularly calculate what the market value of a woman's services to a household would cost on the open market. Every woman has done this calculation in her head. I dare say the gentlewoman from Colorado has: chauffeur, cook, nanny, housecleaner, manager of the family budget, child care professional; the list goes on and one. I am told that when juries make this calculation, they regularly come up with six figures; in other words, more than what most families make through their jobs. Juries respect and honor the economic role of women, including homemakers. Mr. Chairman, I am amazed that those in this Chamber who have been so self-righteous for so long about their role in defending women would make arguments that essentially demean the role of women in our society.”