Political Quotes

“this bill as presently drafted would preempt the consumer protection laws of each of the 50 states and restrict the legal rights of consumers who are harmed by Y2K computer failures. Why is this bill creating new protections for large corporations while taking away existing protections for the ordinary citizen? We all know that individual consumers do not have the same knowledge or bargaining power in the marketplace as businesses with more resources. Many consumers may not be aware of potential Y2K problems in the products that they buy for personal, family or household purposes. Consumers just go to the local store downtown or in the neighborhood mall to buy a home computer or the latest software package. They expect their new purchase to work. But what if it does not work because of a Y2K problem? Then the average consumer should be able to use his or her home state's consumer protection laws to get a refund, replacement part or other justice. The liability limits in S. 96 would protect companies whose acts or omissions result in harm to consumers' products or services--even if those companies manufactured or sold products that they knew would fail when the date changes to the Year 2000. Is that fair? Let me give you a real life example of how an ordinary person might be harmed by this bill.…”