Harry Reid: “I say that has nothing to do with this matter now before the Senate because these attorney's fees were very high, of…”

“I say that has nothing to do with this matter now before the Senate because these attorney's fees were very high, of course, and litigation results because these attorneys recovered not hundreds, thousands, millions, but billions of dollars. Tobacco attorneys were hired by State attorneys general. I don't think there is anything that I can ever even contemplate that would be the same in relation to tobacco and these HMO cases. I would say that we have pretty well formulated both of our positions. I respectfully say that the Senator from Virginia is taking away the discretion the State judges have. It makes it very complicated to determine attorney's fees. What we have come forward with is a process that is very specific, direct, and to the point, and leaves some discretion with State judges.”