Howard Dean Admits the Democrats Oppose Tort Reform out of their Fear of Trial Lawyers.

[itscrazycock]

I know that frivolous lawsuits exist, but who am I to decide weather your lawsuit is frivolous? Moreover why would you take the power away from that jury and give it to anyone? I gave away my rights for the protection of my country only to watch my country give away its rights for the protection of big business. Are we saying that juries are no longer capable of rendering just verdicts and need the government to decide fair compensation?

[itscrazycock]

I am not a smart person I have a degree from a community collage and recently retired from the military after years as a ground pounder. I used to think that tort reform sounded like a good idea. However upon further investigation I have realized that it takes the power away from the people without giving citizens anything in return. I dont trust many people but I really dont trust a few people to make decisions for everyone. does anyone thing that insurance companies dont want to make money?...

[StoogeWatcher]

Democrats love frivolous lawsuits, like those fat people who sue McDonald's.

[canisdormit]

If they're willing to ignore one american, what makes anyone think they give a damn about anyone else? There's a very good way to stop government spending: put down the government and it's criminals.

[Sonofthebeach009]

Many of those politicians are former lawyers. If they had any stones at all they'd take on the lawyers in a second.

[Wilone328]

Your opinions need to be heard!!! Would you back Barak 0bama's new health care bill? Stop by my you tube channel to learn exactly why Americans opinons means something !!

[Wintermute01001]

The Congressional Budget Office found that over 10 years, tort reform would save $54 billion. In 2008 alone, we spent $2.3 TRILLION dollars on health care. So over ten years, tort reform will save TWO PERCENT of what we spent in one year. That's why Dems oppose tort reform, because it won't accomplish jack shit.

[dhinge]

That's a horrible answer, but after doing some research, I discovered tort reform probably wasn't included in the bill because it isn't much of a problem. There's already caps (government controlled!) in most states and most plaintiffs have actually had a debilitating injury that robs them of their livelihood.

[phillipmarch22]

You are correct! Tort reform has NOTHING to do with our screwed up healthcare system. Texas and California have the strictest tort reform laws, yet the citizens of those 2 states pay the highest private health insurance premiums. Tort reform protects the doctors and insurance companies, period!

[ForTehNguyen]

Massachusetts has the highest premiums in the nation, and guess what they already have Obamacare

[phillipmarch22]

@ForTehNguyen Massachusetts did it all wrong too! The problem is none of the states can afford this reform, that is why we need the federal government to handle it. Let's spend our federal taxes on making sure our fellow Americans can have access to healthcare instead of spending 3 TRILLION on needless, illegal, and immoral wars. What do ya think?

[DLuckyFNP]

That's a pretty slick assertion. So I guess the GOP is willing to take on layers and democrats are not. What they are really saying is that they don't want the ambulance chaser associations to stop funding democratic campaigns.

[residentzombie]

Do you guys see the 'heard' mentality with the audience members?

[nikkowinter]

What a pussy remark FUCK THESE GUYS!!!! fuck all Democrats!

[curious7ful]

Soo classy. Must be a Republican!

[mrc6565]

The shortage of doctors will just increase if tort reform is not consider and applied in someway in this health care reform.

[onlyrey]

The CBO has told Congress several times that TORT reform will NOT do anything to reduce costs (/watch?v=gmXthkj-gV8). Mr. Dean is FOR TORT reform while being a democrat; this only shows that Mr. Dean is not partisan which I think is the way every politician should be.

[residentzombie]

If you believe any government agency's prediction, you are foolish.

[residentzombie]

Politicians need to be Constitutional in their policy making. The two party system (Rep. vs Dem.) was brainwashed to you by the mainstream media (Fox vs CNN) and on the issues that matter most now is America's sovereignty vs. globalization through the United Nations.

[tifforo1]

Well, Dean gave an honest answer about the pragmatic necessity that the Democrats addressed. Health insurance companies are lobbying against them already, and trial lawyers are an extremely powerful group on the Hill.

[phillipmarch22]

89,000 people die a year due to malpractice. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States.

Texas & California have the strickest tort reforms and they have the HIGHEST private health insurance rates in the nation. Sure, the docs are happy about it!

Let the states handle tort reform, isn't that what the GOP is all about? State rights?

[nygiants93]

no tort reform = less doctors and if you add more patients to the mix...well what do you think will happen?

[JoseThePhd]

The only thing keeping the number of Doctors down is the same doctors, there is NO free market when it comes to physician supply. Professional regulation (the same Doctors) limits the number of Doctors into the market on the supply side.

Malpractice protection has nothing to do with the number of Doctors, I would venture into saying that the restricted supply of Doctors is overworked and that may lead to more malpractice.

[savemyplaylist]

@phillipmarch22

Trust me, they made it worse but called it "reform." Stop being naive, we are getting fucked in ALL directions, the gov and corporations. Allowing either to have more power is just fucking stupid.

[phillipmarch22]

No, trust me! California, (where I live), and Texas have the sticktest tort reform laws in the nation, yet the private health insurance rates in California and Texas are highest in the nation. Apples and Oranges. Tort reform protects un-qualified doctors and PHI companies. Howard Dean for the most part is right on the money when he talks about health care reform.

[savemyplaylist]

@phillipmarch22

I live in CA as well, one of the most regulated states in the country. What you call reform, is just further restriction and barriers to entry.

[phillipmarch22]

You hit the nail on the head. Our wonderful Republican Governors fucked up everything in regard to PHI industry regulation. We need a FEDERAL uniform standard regarding healthcare. The PHI companies are one of the biggest lobbyists in Washington and they have been able to keep the status quo for decades. I don't know how anyone that works for a PHI company can sleep at night.

[savemyplaylist]

@phillipmarch22

But wait, I thought you said they lowered restrictions in CA. Which is it? You can't have it both ways.

[phillipmarch22]

What I meant is California and Texas have strict tort reform laws, yet the cost of private health insurance is higher in California and Texas than any other state. My point is tort reform protects doctors the PHI industry and has NOTHING to do with the cost of private health insurance.

[savemyplaylist]

@phillipmarch22

So you haven't a clue what tort reform even means? And you use the term "reform" ambiguously, probably on purpose.

When conservatives say reform, the refer to a repealing of the regulatory laws. That is not what California got, it got more regulations on the industry. More barriers of entry were created!

So why do you continue to call that tort reform? It's just a continuation of the same fucking laws!!!! God forbid you read the legislation

[Zakdayak]

I agree with both fivestarmichael and jonp72. I want to add though that the question from the guy at the meeting is silly. 200 million over 10 years? We spend 400 BILLION A YEAR on Exec's, bonuses, ad budgets, book-keeping for private health insurance. Now, you'd think an honest ballsy answer from a Liberal Democrat would get some credit, but instead somebody called them cowards. Strange.

[roscoe85cj]

Dean is such a mutt

[Vunks2000]

Their in Bed with them... we exposed them

[biggerturtle]

Henry the 6th "The first thing we do is let's kill all the lawyers" Shakespeare was right!!!

[NoGuff]

Trail lawyers like John Edwards?

Dean finally admitted that the DNC is in the hip pockets of the trial lawyers.

[gammyland]

Rather take on the whole country rather than the few lawyers. Nice.

[ActontheActor]

great comment...

[getagripy]

These days we have lost of ambulance chasers. My company has been sued 3 times and won all cases! We still payed. If I do whats right why do I have to suffer?

[jipjap1]

Brilliant excuse: "We can't take on tort reform because the bill is too big". Add that one to "We can't read the bill because it's too big"; and "It's too big to debate before we go on vacation".

Instead of these 1000-page legislative monstrosities let's start with a very focused bill that everyone can unite around: Go after tort reform, trial lawyers and their windfall profits right from the start.

As Shakespeare said, "First let's kill all the lawyers". Legislatively speaking, of course.

[henleythecat]

The problem with Tort reform is not who losses, but who wins? If all you do is cap the awards, then what?

- Malpractice insurance win, but would they pass along all their savings? If yes:

- Health care providers win, but would they pass along all their savings? If yes:

- Health care insurance providers win, but would they pass along all their savings?

It's no wonder it didn't work in CA & FL

[drphogg]

Typical politicians.

[tropicalmale]

Meanwhile:

Percentage change since 2002 in average premiums paid to large US health-insurance companies: +87%

Percentage change in the profits of the top ten insurance companies: +428%

Chances that an American bankrupted by medical bills has health insurance: 7 in 10

[tropicalmale]

At a town hall meeting in Missouri, one audience member asked how Senator Claire McCaskill felt about tort reform as an answer for bringing down health care costs due to malpractice suits. Her response: In states like California and Florida where there has been aggressive tort reform, health care costs havent gone down, but have instead gone up. In Florida their health care costs have risen faster than almost any place else in the country even with tort reform.

[phillynotebook]

howard dean he is a loon

[Stingray3440]

You better forget the lawyers.... the american PEOPLE are about to make susi out of you.

[Anakha13]

Sometimes I just love Howard Dean. Those times are when he forgets he's a politician and is supposed to be pissing on your leg while insisting that it's raining and has these moments of truth. Any discussion of healthcare reform that doesn't include tort reform (among other things) is a joke.

[justinhoffma]

LobbyistCare.

So basically, tort reform isn't in because the ambulance chaser lobbyist donors to the democrats said no.

Awesome.

[vllmer]

The 1000+ page bill was too full for loser pays in frivolous medical lawsuits? I hear defensive medicine (extra scans, biopsies, tests, for cover in potential lawsuits) can add up to $2000 to a medical bill. Which get passed along to the insurer.

obama has stake in preventing private health care access now.

its all about seizing more taxes, boosting dependancy, and creating another vast bureaucracy that also equals paid voters for dems.

Actual health care improvements will be an afterthought.

[tanitatt]

I see a lot of nice pro health care posters ... hmmm ... I wonder if they're organized...

[kholloway6]

Wonder if Moran is for checking ID's at the polls too?

[PalinRepublic]

ObamaCare has turned into a farce.

This debacle will be the emperor's Waterloo.

Behold, his elite troops retreat in disarray!

[snowcloud]

Jim Moran is a communist.

[Serafinos]

2010 - Conservatism Shall Rise Again

Not far right -- not middle of the road!

TRUE Conservatism!

Thank you Demonrats -- you united the party again! :D

[ButterflyDragon9]

At least Howard Dean told the truth. He should have expounded just a tad bit and explained that "going up against" really means "losing contributions from".

[TheLiberalssuckdick]

Michael Savage brought that up in his radio show.

[fivestarmichael]

This is one many reasons Conservatives don't back the Democrats proposed legislation. We want a bill that actually reforms healthcare. Not a bill that favors big-Pharma and Attorneys.

Campaign contributions by Lawyer/ law firms in 2008.

178,691,485 To Democratic candidates.

$54,482,030 To Republican candidates.

Where is the liberal outrage of corporate influence?

So far 2010 election cycle:

$19,396,155 To Democrats

$4,382,373To Republicans

opensecrets (dot) org.

[jonp72]

You right-wingers are full of crap anyway. You wouldn't support the bill even if it had tort reform in it. So why should it be in the bill?

[fivestarmichael]

Are you really so closed-minded? Everyone supports healthcare reform. How is Obamacare going to bring down healthcare costs? It is only insurance reform. It doesn't tackle the underlying reason why insurance is so expensive.

People in Europe pay 1/10 the price for drugs and 1/2 as much for procedures. Why isn't Medicare, the largest purchaser of healthcare in the U.S. not already negotiating lower prices?

[jx14aby]

Tort reform? California has had "tort reform" for years and it hasn't done anything to bring down costs. All it does is protect doctors who screw up and amputate the wrong leg.

[ActontheActor]

good point...

[campsteveo]

democrats = cowards

[Zakdayak]

campsteveo, was Dean being a coward when he answered the question??

[campsteveo]

No, he was not. However, by not including tort reform, which by some estimates cost more than $200 Billion / year, because they don't want to anger the trial lawyers, it becomes obvious that lowering costs is not a concern.

[Zakdayak]

I'm talking about Dean admitting why tort reform isn't on the plate, not about the merits of tort reform. You called Dems chickens after witnessing one giving an honest answer. WTF?? This proves you dodn't give a flying dump, you're just another one who wants to score political points. And by the way, I'm from a state where we got rid of "frivolous law suits" - it did make corporations happier but didn't relieve costs.

[campsteveo]

So, I am talking about tort reform and the democrats being afraid of the trial lawyers.