[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

[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