Political Quotes

“I make clear a couple of issues. Eight States have already passed legislation that redirects punitive damages to specific purposes. I mentioned Georgia is one; Florida allocates money into the medical assistance trust fund; Illinois, into the department of rehabilitative services; Iowa puts money into the civil reparations trust fund; Kansas puts money directly in the State treasury; Missouri, to the tort victims compensation fund; Oregon, to the criminal injury compensation account; Utah, anything in excess of $20,000 in punitive damages goes to the State treasury. This is not a brand new concept but a concept States have adopted because they understand, as the State of Georgia, that these are punitive damages, not compensatory damages. These are to punish people. We are saying, if you punish a guy who does a bad thing, who is a criminal, the crime is against everyone. Those who are not in the courtroom should be benefiting from this. That is the uninsured. What will happen if those punitive damages are awarded to the individual or to the lawyer--because they get a big chunk? There will be more uninsured because the cost of health care will go up. This is punishing people who have insurance with higher premiums and higher rates. As the Senator from Louisiana said, we are already compensating the victim. They are getting unlimited compensation. There are no limits in State or Federal court for any compensation that is due this person.…”