Patience wearing thin on liability reform

By Staff
Nov. 17, 2002
The patience of many Mississippi taxpayers who are footing the nearly $1.5 million bill for the ongoing special legislative session is wearing thin with the haggling over business liability reform. This week, lawmakers have an opportunity to wrap it up, go home and prepare for the next regular legislative session, which begins in about seven weeks.
On Thursday, the state Senate sent one more proposal to the House for consideration even as conferees from both houses were meeting on similar issues. The bill, an amended version of one already passed by the House, was released Friday by the Senate to the House. Its fate is uncertain. House leaders said they probably would not act on it because conferees have those issues under study.
Did lawmakers miss the results of the Nov. 5 election? Are they truly bogged down over the issues involved in business liability reform, or still reluctant to buck the powerful trial lawyer lobby?
We believe most members of the Mississippi Legislature are responsible people who want to return home with good, solid, positive reforms they can show their constituents. But the meter on the special session is still running, even as eyes are turning toward the 2004 budget year.
Clearly, it's time to protect Mississippi businesses and the state's fragile economic climate from frivolous lawsuits. We encourage lawmakers to act this week.