Bob Dole: “there is a broad bipartisan consensus that we must do more to curb lawsuit abuse in America--the kind of abuse that has…”

“there is a broad bipartisan consensus that we must do more to curb lawsuit abuse in America--the kind of abuse that has turned suing your neighbor into the newest American pastime. This bipartisan compromise bill is an important first step: It will restrain outrageous and costly lawsuits that inhibit economic growth, threaten small businesses, and inflict a litigation tax on American consumers of $152 billion a year--that's right, $152 billion a year. I want to congratulate Chairman Pressler, and particularly Senators Gorton and Rockefeller for their hard work--years of hard work, really--on this important legislation. I also want to thank Senator Lott for his assistance in resolving the differences between House and Senate. But despite all the work, all of the bipartisanship, all of the sweet whispers of support out of the White House, suddenly we are voting on a bill that is under a threat of veto. Why? Well, let us take a look at what President Clinton said last Saturday when he issued his veto threat. President Clinton said that he was concerned about federalism and an ``unwarranted intrusion on State authority.'' But this argument was long ago dismissed by such concerned parties as the National Governors Association.…”