[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3820]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a true bipartisan health care bill 
would have included real lawsuit abuse reform that provides savings for 
the American people. The administration refuses to consider lawsuit 
abuse reform because they want to protect their political piggy bank, 
which is filled by trial lawyers. The legal industry contributed $43 
million to President Obama's 2008 campaign. More than 78 percent of the 
money given to Congress by lawyers, mostly from trial lawyers, went to 
Democrats, almost $100 million.
  By bankrolling Democratic politicians, trial lawyers have succeeded 
in preventing any lawsuit abuse reforms from becoming part of the 
health care legislation, despite the overwhelming support for lawsuit 
reform by a great majority of the American people.

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