[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H6077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PROTECT-THE-TRIAL-LAWYERS HEALTH CARE BILL

  (Mr. KINGSTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, we have heard a lot of squawking today 
from the Democrat side about their big protect-the-trial-lawyers health 
care bill. I think if you look at the Republican versus the Democrat 
bill, it is very clear: One of the bills gets you quickly into the 
courtroom, and the other one gets you quickly into the emergency room. 
The Republican bill gives you a choice of doctors; the Democrat bill 
gives you a choice of lawyers.
  Now, we know that the trial bar gives obscenely to the other side. We 
know that many on the other side want to socialize medicine, and we 
know that socialization leads to rationing of health care. But we 
believe that American consumers should have a choice of doctors and a 
choice of plans without interference from HMOs and government 
regulators. We do not believe in centralized health care planning.
  Last year my seven-year-old cut his foot and had to go in because of 
a complication to the surgery room and was in surgery for about two 
hours. During that time, and, I might add, there are certainly no 
atheists in a waiting room, but let me say this, while I was there, at 
least I knew that he was getting quality, professional, safe health 
care, free of excessive government bureaucracy regulating it and 
bringing down the quality. I was comforted by that, and I believe 
American consumers should be.
  Vote for health care reform, not lawyer reform.

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