Thomas Daschle: “I want to commend so many Senators on both sides of the aisle for their efforts over the last couple of weeks on product…”

“I want to commend so many Senators on both sides of the aisle for their efforts over the last couple of weeks on product liability. This has been a vigorous debate, and a debate that obviously has required a good deal of compromise and concession on both sides. I believe there was another opportunity that we could have had to reach greater consensus on the bill, and I am sorry we missed that opportunity in the final days of this debate. But I do believe that as a result of the decisions made by this body over the last couple of weeks, the message ought to be very clear. The message is this: Members of the Senate are not willing to accept the extreme measures that have been proposed by the House. If those more extreme measures are added to the bill in conference, it is very unlikely that anything will ultimately pass. It is critical, as we look to the conference report, that we keep this bill modest, that we not load it up with expansionist amendments, that we seek to ensure that what has been passed is all that comes back to the Senate. I will say unequivocally that I believe this legislation will again be in trouble if it comes back vastly different from what it is right now. Many of us felt very strongly we could have improved upon this bill, especially with regard to punitive limits and with regard to the limitations on joint and several liability.”