Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on October 9, the Congressional Budget Office pronounced that a tort reform or civil justice reform package would reduce the Federal budget deficit by an estimated $54 billion over 10 years. CBO recognizes that civil justice reforms also have an impact on the practice of defensive medicine. Defensive medicine is when doctors order more tests or procedures than are necessary just to protect themselves from frivolous lawsuits. Studies show that defensive medicine does not advance patients' care or enhance a physician's capabilities, that billions of dollars in savings from tort reform could be used to provide health insurance for the uninsured without raising taxes on those who already have insurance policies. As the administration rushes to enact a massive government takeover of health care, Congress must remember that there is the option of saving between $54 billion and more than $200 billion by embracing tort reform, but it will take the leadership to stand up to personal injury lawyers instead of taxing Americans and cutting Medicare benefits. According to CBO, under the HEALTH Act, which includes tort reform, premiums for medical malpractice insurance ultimately would be an average of 25 percent to 30 percent below what they would be under current law.…”