Posted on 08/17/2004 11:08:45 PM PDT by bamaroots04
Limiting jury awards in lawsuits is one way to lower insurance costs nationwide, both in health care professions and for small businesses, said Marvin Scott, a Republican candidate seeking to defeat incumbent U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind. in November.
"I want to make sure that we have tort reform. What happens too often is that we don't have enough limits on what people can sue for. Indiana does and so does four other states, but when costs are averaged out nationwide, it makes insurance costs higher," Scott said Wednesday in Terre Haute.
While in Terre Haute, Scott toured Doughmakers, a company in the Vigo County Industrial Park.
"Certainly if a company such as [Doughmakers] were hit by a $20 million lawsuit, it would be catastrophic," Scott said. "That is what has also happened in the medical profession. Malpractice insurance costs are too high for many physicians."
Scott, 60, is a sociology professor at Butler University. He believes he can unseat Bayh, twice elected as Indiana governor and seeking a second term in the U.S. Senate. Scott is more in touch with Hoosiers and their values, Scott says.
He is driving about 2,200 miles every six days. He's already driven nearly 90,000 miles in his 2003 Buick Park Avenue, visiting all 92 Indiana counties at least three times.
He is an Indianapolis resident and has four children ages 8 to 33. His wife, Dulce Maria Scott, is a professor at Anderson University.
Scott ran for the former 10th U.S. Congressional District seat in 1994, 1996 and 2000, earning the Republican nomination in 1994 and 2000. He lost to Rep. Andy Jacobs in 1994 and to Rep. Julia Carson in 2000.
He is the first black person in state history to secure a major-party nomination for the U.S. Senate.
"I think this election is going to be one of the most critical elections America has faced. We may have four to five Supreme Court justices that will be selected that will set the tone for America's social behavior," Scott said.
Scott said he supports traditional marriage, "is pro-life and opposes taxpayer-funded abortion."
He advocates national medical savings accounts and prescription drug benefit programs, as well as increasing amounts for national education savings plans.
In addition, Scott supports making President Bush's tax cuts permanent. "Those tax cuts have been one of the greatest stimulus to small business. Evan Bayh has filibustered and voted against that every time. I think that is antithetical to what small businesses need," Scott said.
"If you look at the Small Business Administration's score card, you will see Evan Bayh is near the bottom," Scott said. "That typifies his duplicitous behavior and voting record."
Bayh spokeswoman Meg Keck challenges that remark, saying Bayh voted in favor of a Senate version to stimulate small business, but against the final version because it took away help from small business.
The senator is a member of the Senate's small business committee and "has conducted annual job fairs and small business summits which are designed to put small business owners in touch with organizations and experts who can grow there business and in turn create more Indiana jobs," Keck said.
Bayh also has fought for more funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program, Keck said, "in the face of administration efforts to cut funding for that program. He is one of more than 50 senators from both sides of the isle, including Sen. Richard Lugar, that have signed letters asking the administration to fully fund the MEP program.
"I don't think you can find a bigger advocate for small business than Senator Bayh," Keck said.
Campaign Website: http://www.marvinscott.org/
For more on Mr. Scott's positions:
http://www.marvinscott.org/issues.html, http://www.marvinscott.org/news_story-08132004-scotts_trip.html
what are the poll numbers?....does he have a chance?
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