Political Quotes

“I speak in favor of the substitute, and it is for a very simple reason. There are three key elements developed in the substitute that I think are important but, more so than being important, I think they make the bill viable so we can get something done. The previous speaker just indicated that it is important to get something done, and it is. We had something that could have been done, and suddenly some of our friends have lobbed on things called tort reform, or revision, as I call it, changing the whole civil procedure and rights of victims in this country, and I think it caused unfairness. As my friend the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bentsen) pointed out, it seems to me to strip out any benefit or any recovery for non-economic damages and leaves a major part of the victims of this country without coverage. Now, we are fighting here to make sure real estate can go on, insurance can be sold, business can conclude; and we are going to take care of large entities, big investments, because they are the targets for terrorism. But the small victims, the individual citizens who do not measure into the definition providing the limitations in this bill for victims' recovery, they get nothing or are restricted in their recovery. That is nonsensical. First of all, it is not going to go anywhere. I plead with the other side. This bill is not going to be the bill.…”