Democrats Counterattack on Malpractice Issue (NYT)

[Merlin]

Is it possible that anything good can come from Lindsey Graham???:

WASHINGTON, July 8 — About to be pushed by Republican leaders into an uncomfortable vote against capping medical malpractice awards, Senate Democrats joined today with a freshman Republican, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, to strike back with a malpractice bill of their own.

"I am going to fight this bill," Mr. Graham said of the Republican legislation, "because the consequences to everyday Americans would be devastating." He also suggested that his fellow Republicans were using the malpractice issue to score political points, calling their bill a "political document."

Unlike the Republican measure, which would cap jury awards for pain and suffering at $250,000 in malpractice cases, Mr. Graham's bill — co-sponsored by Senator Richard J. Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who is leading the charge against caps — would offer tax relief to doctors to help offset their soaring malpractice premiums, create a commission to study that problem and strip the insurance industry of its exemption from federal antitrust laws, among other provisions.

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http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/09/politics/09MALP.html

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Here's an interesting paragraph

On Wednesday, the American Association of Health Plans will announce that it is joining with the Iowa and New Hampshire state medical societies to wage a campaign putting malpractice changes on the agenda in the Democratic presidential primaries.

I predict a propaganda campaign on the Dem side in the near future..if you can't get their ear....

[Mechatanketra]

2. Keeping fingers crossed ...

Maybe I'm just being stupidly loyal, but I think Durbin's support is a trustworthy voucher for Graham's involvement. It helps that Graham has a visible Sinister Agenda™ (his trial lawyer connections) which lessens the probability that Durbin had to trade him some devil's deal down the road.