Trial lawyers could win bonanza in health care reform

CNN ^ | November 9. 2009 | David Frum

[listenhillary]

(CNN) -- You've heard the saying: "In war, amateurs talk strategy, professionals talk logistics."

The political equivalent: "Amateurs talk ideology -- professionals talk interest groups."

Small but sophisticated interest groups use big political battles to gain special advantages. Health care reform is, of course, the biggest battle of them all, with trillions of dollars at stake.

On Saturday night with the House vote in favor of the health reform bill, the trial lawyers sliced themselves a nice little piece of that bonanza.

It's Section 2531 of the bill -- to be precise Section 2531(4)b -- and it provides as follows:

The new health bill will empower the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants to states that reform their medical malpractice systems. There are just two conditions: Those reforms must not "limit attorneys' fees or impose caps on damages."

Which is like saying that we're going to encourage you to develop a personal weight loss plan that includes neither exercise nor changes in diet.

[listenhillary]

Not really news I suppose.

[freespirited]

CNN letting the ugly truth out is news in my book.

[Senator Goldwater]

Its never been about health. Its about Democrat constituent groups, and there are none bigger than the trial lawyers.

This is an ambulance chaser stimulus.

[Carry_Okie]

Tort reform, Democrat style.

[Hans]

As a visionary I see an unhappy ending to the many bonanza's suffered by the trial lawyers. They have spread rot throughout our government and business. Now the whole mess created in the image of their horrible godlette C’est moi is about to collapse.

[DAC21]

Wow, how did they let “Loser pays” slip through as a condition.

[MNJohnnie]

Of course. The Democrat Party is a wholly owned susidary of the Trial Lawyers. It never does any legislation without including some payoff to them.

[MNJohnnie]

Of course. The Democrat Party is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trial Lawyers. It never does any legislation without including some payoff to them.

[sportutegrl]

Good thing they held back this vital info until after the vote.

[wastoute]

So as the once mighty U.S. of A. is going through it's dying agonies, the vultures circle to gorge themselves on the carcass. Here dies a once mighty nation inhabited by a once courageous people.

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[mo]

Basically this bill lets every special interest in the country “put it to the people”...