Demos’ Delay on Lawsuit Reform Vote Is ‘Terrible Public Policy’

Senate Republican leaders said the announced plan by Democrat legislative leaders to delay consideration of lawsuit reform legislation until the final week of the legislative session is “terrible public policy.” Republicans also demanded that the final version of the bill be written in an open conference committee, and made available for public review at least one week before the end of the legislative session.

“Job creation should be our number one priority this legislative session. Waiting until the last minute to roll out a lawsuit reform bill is terrible public policy that could cost jobs. I’m sure the Democrat leadership and their trial lawyer allies would prefer to kill or water down lawsuit reform in secret. But Republicans believe the proposal should be considered in the open so the public can see who supports job-creating lawsuit reform – and see who opposes it,” stated Senate Republican Leader James A. Williamson of Tulsa.

“It is in the public’s best interest to have the lawsuit reform bill ready for public review at least a week before the Legislature adjourns, and the public should insist on it. Legislators and interested parties must have time to read and digest the bill,” Williamson said.

Assistant Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee of Oklahoma City said, “The Democrat leadership insisted on holding open hearings on lawsuit reforms. It only makes sense to keep the process open by having the conference committee meet and write the final bill in open meetings.”

“Writing the final bill in an open forum increases the likelihood that we’ll end up with a good bill. If the bill is written in a closed conference committee process that Democrats prefer, we’ll be guaranteeing the trial lawyers have an opportunity to gut or kill the bill,” Coffee stated.

Senate Republican Whip Owen Laughlin, R-Woodward, stated, “Gov. Henry needs to get off the sidelines and get into the game. If he puts half the energy into lawsuit reform as he did into promoting his gambling expansion bills, we have a chance to beat the trial lawyers and force the Democrat leadership to draft a good bill. So far, the governor has been all hat and no cattle.”

The Republican senators said the GOP’s goal for lawsuit reform remains the same as it has been all year: Pass a bill that meets or beats the landmark reforms enacted last year in Texas.

“Oklahomans won’t tolerate being second-best to Texas in football. Why on earth would we settle for being second-best when it comes to attracting jobs and businesses?” Williamson said.

Laughlin and Coffee are members of the joint conference committee on lawsuit reform, while Williamson authored a GOP version of lawsuit reform.