ALEC's role in NC tort reform bill especially heavy-handed -- even a "boot camp" for legislators

[highplainsdem]

From WRAL in Raleigh:

http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/blogpost/9373018/

Laura Leslie
Capitol Bureau Chief
Behind the Bill: Liability Reform
Posted: April 1
Updated: April 2


-snip-

ALEC came to Raleigh on March 22nd to hold a “tort reform boot camp.” Speaker Thom Tillis’s spokesman Jordan Shaw said his office didn’t organize the event. Bowman confirms it was paid for by ALEC.

The two-hour meeting was held in the legislative auditorium, but wasn’t publicized or put on the legislative calendar. Shaw said about 20 House and Senate members attended.

The only person allowed to speak at the next day’s Tort Reform committee meeting was ALEC board member John Del Giorno from GlaxoSmithKline.

The draft bill that came out that day had ALEC’s model language in it.

-snip-

The bill is House Bill 542, which will "ease negligence laws for doctors, cap damages for malpractice, and restrict attorneys’ earnings in some cases" and -- most importantly for ALEC's private-sector (corporate) members -- "bar North Carolinians from suing for injuries caused by almost any product regulated by government." Any product from toys to drugs to cars.

Just in you're wondering why the ALEC board member who was the ONLY person allowed to speak at the Tort Reform committee meeting was from GlaxoSmithKline...

This is how ALEC works. Pushing through state legislation drafted by corporations and the rich, for the benefit of corporations and the rich, no matter how much harm is done to the public.

According to the article, the NC House Senior Budget Chairman, Republican Harold Brubaker, is on ALEC’s national board of directors. He didn't respond to the reporter's request for comments.


You can find more info on this group in the long compilation topic about the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

[highplainsdem]

1. kick

[barbtries]

2. this is disgusting.

and i'm in nc.

[Patiod]

3. Read it and learn it, DU

Very important information for us.