Arlen Specter: “I declined to enter into a time agreement because this is an amendment which deals with the complex subject of…”

“I declined to enter into a time agreement because this is an amendment which deals with the complex subject of jurisdiction. I have long been a cosponsor for a Patients' Bill of Rights, and I was surprised to learn many years ago of the Federal preemption which precluded an injured patient--for example, where a family doctor recommended a specialist and the HMO refused to provide the specialist to the person and the person was injured, or perhaps died, and had no redress in the Federal courts because of the so-called preemption under ERISA. It has seemed to me for many years that that was one of the problems that ought to be addressed. I compliment Senator McCain, Senator Kennedy, and Senator Edwards for the work they have done, and also Senator Frist, Senator Breaux, and Senator Jeffords for their companion bill, and what the managers have done here. This amendment addresses what I believe, from my experience as a litigator in the civil courts, to be a very fundamental question of concern as to what courts these cases are going to be tried in.”