Jim Sensenbrenner: “I am shocked at listening to the argument from the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt] and the gentleman from Texas…”

“I am shocked at listening to the argument from the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt] and the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Doggett]. That was the same argument that was used 30 years ago in this Chamber by those who were opposed to the civil rights legislation that revolutionized our society. This Congress, 30 years ago used the commerce clause for passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, one which opened up public accommodations, lunch counters, mom and pop cafes, local city buses to people of all races without discrimination. And that is one of the things that this Congress can take pride in doing. What we are proposing to do here is to use the commerce clause for something that is just as much interstate commerce as the civil rights legislation. And that is to try to have a uniform standard throughout the country on punitive damages so that there will not be forum shopping in a State that has a lower standard on what has to be proven in order to get punitive damages.”