Todd Tiahrt: “I want to carry on with what we talked about earlier this evening. It is natural for each of us to feel sorry for a…”

“I want to carry on with what we talked about earlier this evening. It is natural for each of us to feel sorry for a person who suffers in an accident or mishap. One of our fundamental freedoms is the ability to bring suit in order to receive justice. When big corporations get sued, we often side with the individual against the companies. We think ``big bad corporation'' and ``poor individual.'' And when the big companies pay millions of dollars in settlements, we pretty much shrug and say, ``Well, they can afford it.'' But that is not really true, Mr. Speaker, because the people who pay the price for those big settlements are the working people of America, and they pay it at the cash register. When companies are forced to pay outrageously high settlements, they eventually have to cut jobs, raise prices, and pass the costs on to the American people. This does not affect the rich as much as it affects the hard-working families who have to pay this price.”