Proposition 12 - Scary...

Few things are scarier than Proposition 12, a proposed Constitutional amendment Texas voters will have to weigh in on September 13th. For those of you unfamiliar with Prop 12, it seeks to limit nonmonetary damages in medical malpractice (and by its vague wording, "and other") cases to $250,000. Juries in Texas sentence criminals to death on a daily basis, but according to the insurance lobby, via the Texas legislature, those same juries are incapable of deciding that a grossly negligent doc be hit with a $5 million punitive damage award. What a load of crap.

The most egregious crime this proposed amendment perpetrates against the citizens of Texas is, while it caps jury awards, there is no insurance reform. I'm all for bringing healthcare costs in line, even through lawsuit reform, but I sure as hell don't blindly trust that the greediest bastards on the planet are going to lower malpractice rates to coincide with their newly limited downside. Tenet's CEO's salary is in the $6 million range; he's not gonna get that payday by lowering premiums.

My best guess is that Slick Rick Perry cut a deal with big insurance: Back off and make him look good on his promises to bring homeowners insurance in line, and he'll reciprocate by delivering this utter trampling of Texans' rights with a pretty bow on top.

Do we need healthcare reform? Yes. Is a Constitutional amendment that puts money in the malpractice carriers' pockets the answer? Hell no.

Get out and Vote No on Proposition 12 on September 13th, 2003!!!!