Bill Delahunt: “I am really becoming more confused as I listen to this debate. When I first arrived in Congress some 5 years ago, I…”

“I am really becoming more confused as I listen to this debate. When I first arrived in Congress some 5 years ago, I recollect very passionate rhetoric coming from the other side about States' rights and a new era in federalism. So it is really ironic that this particular week we are considering two bills that would send us off in an entirely different direction. This bill, the so-called, and let me suggest it is truly mislabeled, Class Action Fairness Act, would remove thousands of class action suits from State courts to Federal courts; and a consequence of that would be that ordinary citizens and hurting American families and consumers would be severely disadvantaged against large corporations. And that is why every consumer group in America is opposed to this bill. Every legitimate major consumer group is opposed to the bill. Now, the other bill that is scheduled for tomorrow, the so-called 'Two Strikes and You're Out Child Protection Act,' continues that relentless federalization of crime that has been roundly criticized by such conservative icons as former Attorney General Ed Meese and the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Mr. Rehnquist.”