Todd Tiahrt: “America's liability lawsuit system has imposed huge costs on the economy and our society. Even Little League baseball…”

“America's liability lawsuit system has imposed huge costs on the economy and our society. Even Little League baseball has not been exempt. Its liabilities insurance rates have climbed 1,000 percent in 5 years. So Americans are going to have to pay more for their children to play baseball. I feel safe in saying that if our current liability system had existed 100 years ago, we would not be flying airplanes. And being from the air capital of the world, Wichita, KS, that is a startling thought. Americans are brave and adventurous people. We like to take risks. We have historically been willing to pay the price for progress. But all we are paying today is the cost of frivolous and predatory lawsuits brought by lawyers who in many cases are only out to protect their fees. Mr. Speaker, $300 billion a year. That is what our system costs Americans each year in higher prices and lost wages and in lost jobs. While we need to ensure that people with legitimate grievances have access to the justice system, we also need to make commonsense reforms.”