Republican State Senator Blocking Tort Reform in Florida

Glenn Knox MD ^ | June 25th, 2003 | Glenn Knox MD

[eartotheground]

Tort reform is on the agenda in the Florida legislature. It has passed in the Florida House. That's the good news. The bad news is that it is being blocked in the Senate by a REPUBLICAN (!) Senator Jim King. Any comments, suggestions or help out there would be greatly appreciated, since physicians are packing up and leaving florida in droves. Maybe some FreePers could help us physicians during our next demonstration in Tallahassee. Also, any dirt on Senator King (payoffs from trial lawyers, etc. ) would be helpful. Thank you.

[Redbob]

Might I hazard a guess that Rep. King is a scum-sucking bottom-feeder lawyer?

[js1138]

Since you have to be a Republican to hold stat office in florida, there are a lot of RINOs. I'm afraid, however, that this reform does not really get to the heart of things.

[eartotheground]

amazingly no

[Redbob]

We're approaching the same situation in Texas; we get guys like Michael Burgess running for Congress as "fiscal conservatives", then he goes and votes for the Prescription Medicare entitlement program that's projected to cost $7.3 TRILLION!

Term limits has got to be the only answer...

[Coleus]

I'm not surprised, he's probably a lawyer or has lawyers contributing to his campaign, my former republican congressman, a lawyer, was against tort reform, pro gay rights in the military and was pro abortion.

[RightFighter]

This is Jim King...

From what I understand, his daughter is a tort lawyer, and that may have something to do with his stance on this issue.

If you want to Freep him, here's his contact information:

Capitol Office:
Suite 409
The Capitol
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL
32399-1100
(850) 487-5030
SunCom 277-5030
Fax (850) 487-5368
Fax SunCom 277-5368

District Office:
Suite 108
9485 Regency Square Boulevard
Jacksonville, FL
32225-8145
(904) 727-3600
SunCom 841-3600
Fax (904) 727-3603
Fax SunCom 841-3603

Legislative Assistants: Kay Rousseau, Rebecca Stagg and Kelly Williams

District-wide:
1-888-861-9761

Email:
king.james.web@
flsenate.gov

[Those_Crazy_Liberals]

Looks like he'll sooner need the help of a cardiologist than a lawyer.

[Mamzelle]

No surprise. Al D'Amato was a big recipient of lawyer money, and always returned the favor. I've always taken a close look at Lindsey Graham, hoping he doesn't turn out the same way.

[eartotheground]

Is there any way to confirm that his daughter is a tort lawyer and what her name is? That would be something to write to the paper about, since he would be biased in favor of preserving his daughter's megabucks.

[gas_dr]

so you are the other freeper around the hospital...you have freepmail!!!!

[gas_dr]

I am of the opinion that this RINO who takes republican money ought to be the subject of a recall. Any good lawyers out there know if there is a recall statute in the Sunshine State???

[votelife]

Freeped Sen King.

[wingnuts'nbolts]

He's got the look of the jolly old Irish priest from movies past. I am definately in favor of Tort reform. Or deportation of all tort attorneys to Devils Island. Especially those who have the look of the gift of the Blarney and the luck of the wee ones.

[Ed Anger]

Mmmmmmm .... BABY!!! The OTHER other white meat!!! BABY!!! It's what's for DINNER!!! I want my baby-back-baby-back-baby-back-baby-back ....

[eartotheground]

Yes you caught me. Went to DCMS tort reform meeting tonite. If nothing happens by the end of the July 9th special session we will petition the governor to suspend jimmy boy. More to come

[longtermmemmory]

you should ad, stupid juries are destroying the medical profession. Want tort reforms, eliminate juries in med mal cases.

[Goldwater Girl]

Jim King is a hardened warrior- and does not respond to threats. Physicians will hurt their case by resorting to smear tactics.

Instead, Doctor, I suggest you all enlist your patients into the cause. The trial lawyers have co-opted your natural constituency, and you need to take them back.

Patients are the ones who suffer when there are no specialists to treat them near their home. Patients are the ones who will be transported for hours to the few large centers still offering full specialty care. Families will be cut off from their loved ones in treatment so far from home. Severe head or vascular injuries will not be treated within the optimal time frame, with resultant lousy outcomes.

Every one of you has hundreds, if not thousands of patients who can add their voices to this "debate". They are spread across the entire state, and they vote. You only need 21 votes in the Senate to finish this thing- concentrate your fire power on leaning Senators, and bombard them with calls, faxes, emails and letters from your patients and their families. Convince them are are on the wrong side of this fight, siding against the people who put them in office.

Patients have been noticeably silent- and they need to be heard. Write an op-ed for your local paper, describing the result to PATIENTS if this crisis isn't solved. Limited obstetrics, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, emergency care, trauma services translates to rationed health care- and people will revolt and speak out against it.

Good luck- stay strong and positive. Don't resort to your opponents tactics- you're better than that (and them!)
GG