Why should the taxpayers of Oklahoma pay for the gross negligence of private citizens?hb1603ok

This is unbelievable.  Three weeks after millions of people show their disgust for the federal bailouts at thousands of Tea Parties, Oklahoma Legislative leaders announce their own bailout — of big insurance companies and doctors who have committed acts of such gross negligence that a jury awards their victims of more than $400,000. (Don’t believe it? click here)

The “compromise tort reform” bill, HB 1603, says that insurance companies only are liable for $300,000 in damages, and would force the taxpayers to pick up any additional damages.

Here are the questions for you:

Why should you pay someone else’s bill for extraordinary gross negligence?

Isn’t tort reform supposed to reduce frivolous lawsuits by holding individuals accountable through some sort of looser pays systems, not passing the cost onto the taxpayers.

What can you do?

Contact your State Senator and Representative

(Click Here to Locate Your Elected Officials)

House of Representatives Switchboard: 800-552-8502

Senate Switchboard: 405/521-0126

Call or email key leaders:

Speaker of the House Benge — chrisbenge@okhouse.gov (405) 557-7340

President of the Senate Glen Coffee — coffee@oksenate.gov 405.521.5799 Fax 405.530.2304

Governor Brad Henry — (405) 521-2342 Fax: (405) 521-3353

CLICK HERE TO MESSAGE


Ask them to oppose HB 1603

Here is an email one opponent to this bill sent in:

Attention Oklahoma Legislators: “Don’t pee down my leg and tell me it’s Raining!  I know a bailout when I see one. What is disappointing apparently Republicans at the Capitol don’t. You are telling everyone that the doctors and the lawyers are in favor of HB so that is all that matters. Oh, so now you only represent 1% of the population of Oklahoma. Have you ever stopped to consider the doctors patient? Have you ever stopped to consider the taxpayers? Have you ever stopped to think that what you are proposing is direct violation of my Constitutional rights! This law takes away the jury to determine the damages in a case. Now you the Legislators has decided a life, arm or leg is only worth $400,000. If it’s over $400,000 the taxpayers are responsible for the doctor’s mistake.

You claim that it’s a compromise between the doctors and lawyers so everyone is happy. Well it does not take a brain surgeon to figure this one out. Of course the doctors are in favor of only being responsible for up to $400,000 per mistake. The lawyers like it because they know the person they are suing (the State of Oklahoma) has unlimited funds to pay everything over $400,000. This is still nothing but a bail out by Republicans.

Why don’t you just put an ad in the Wall Street Journal “Oklahoma needs incompetent Doctors?”

Here is what James Dunn, National Republican Committeeman from Oklahoma says about this bill:

It really is corporate welfare or corporate immunity.  How can conservative leaders support this continued fleecing of Oklahoma is beyond me.