Dean Admits Tort Reform Left Out of Health Care Bill Because Dems Fear Lawyers
In a response to a local resident’s question at a town hall meeting former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean admitted that tort reform was left out of the health care bill because Democrats were afraid of “taking on” the trial lawyers.
Roland Tulino, a local resident who attended the August 25 meeting sponsored by Rep. Jim Moran (D.-Va.) at South Lakes High School in Reston, Virginia, asked the following question:
“There’s $200 million over 10 years in savings if we had tort reform and nobody loses but the lawyers,” said Tulino. “Why have we not even considered that tonight in the discussion sir? Tell the American people that.”
Moran offered the podium to the former governor of Vermont, and Dean gave the following response:
“Here is why tort reform is not in the bill. When you go to pass a really enormous bill like that the more stuff you put in, the more enemies you make, right? And the reason why tort reform is not in the bill is because the people who wrote it did not want to take on the trial lawyers in addition to everybody else they were taking on, and that is the plain and simple truth. Now, that’s the truth.”
Although Moran praised Dean for giving an “honest answer,” his answer actually raises a more important question. Why do the Dems fear the trial lawyers more than they do the doctors whose profession, after all, is the one on the block for “reform?”
See the 3:06 video of the townhall exchange at CNS.com.
