|
|
|
Featured Sponsor  |
 |
 |
 |
|
U.S. House votes to repeal burdensome 1099 reporting requirement
Governor asks legislature for reform bill; major newspapers lend backing The PA Chamber has made notable strides in its steadfast pursuit of crucial reforms needed to restore balance to the state’s legal system. This effort received a boost recently thanks to Gov. Tom Corbett’s specific mention in his budget address of joint and several liability reform, and favorable editorials from two key Pennsylvania newspapers – the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Harrisburg Patriot-News. During his March 8 budget address before the General Assembly, the governor promised to sign Fair Share Act legislation – which would repeal the unfair legal doctrine of joint and several liability – as soon as it passed. “The way the law stands now, a person or business can be held two percent responsible. If the real culprit can evade payment, the minor player is stuck paying the full bill. That’s irrational. It’s unjust. And it’s got to end,” the governor stated. “The General Assembly has passed this reform before. I’m asking you to pass it again. You now have a governor who will sign it.” The Fair Share Act was previously passed in two legislative sessions. However, it was thrown out by the courts the first time on a technicality in its passage, and vetoed by Gov. Ed Rendell the second time (despite the fact that candidate Rendell promised to sign the bill if elected). The same legislation has been re-introduced in the House (H.B. 1) and Senate (S.B. 2). It would make liability more proportional to degree of fault for an injury or loss. Long overdue, Fair Share Act legislation would stop trial lawyers’ pursuit of “deep pockets” in liability cases. The Post-Gazette said Fair Share Act legislation would “bring some sanity to the notion of who is responsible for what when somebody has suffered harm.” And the Patriot-News wrote, “We live in a society where fairness is a central part of our moral code…But under our current legal system, we don’t practice what we preach.” With the PA Chamber and a coalition of more than 50 employer, health-care, insurance and local government associations advocating commonsense civil and medical liability reforms, the growing support for improving a system that prohibits job growth and business development in the state is welcome news. The voice calling for meaningful lawsuit abuse reform is growing stronger!### Founded in 1916, the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry is the state's largest broad-based business association, with its membership comprising businesses of all sizes and across all industry sectors. The PA Chamber is The Statewide Voice of Business. |
| Archived articles |
| Copyright © 2006 Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry |