Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503130083
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Regulations freeze
The House on March 3 approved 277-141 the Job Creation and Wage Enhancement Act (H.R. 9), a regulatory reform package that would temporarily suspend most new federal regulations. The bill would roll back current regulations and make it more difficult for the federal government to impose new regulations. The bill would also compensate landowners when regulations reduce their property's value. Supporters said regulations are hurting businesses and burdening property owners. Opponents said the measure would endanger the environment and public safety. A ``yes'' vote favors curbing federal regulations.
Rep. Rick Boucher, Dem. ... N
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Rep. ... Y
Rep. L.F. Payne, Dem. ... Y
`Frivolous' lawsuits
The House on Tuesday passed 232-193 a bill (H.R. 988) intended to discourage ``frivolous'' or poorly grounded lawsuits. The measure includes incentives for settling disputes out-of-court and would require courts to fine the filers of frivolous suits. Supporters said the bill would eliminate baseless suits, which they argue are clogging the court system. Opponents said the bill would let corporations ignore consumer safety, and would discourage citizens with legitimate claims from suing. A ``yes'' vote favors legal reform.
Rep. Rick Boucher, Dem. ... N
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Rep. ... Y
Rep. L.F. Payne, Dem. ... Y
Investor lawsuits
The House on Wednesday approved 325-99 the Securities Litigation Reform Act, a bill aimed at limiting the ability of investors to sue stockbrokers for fraud. The measure would require plaintiffs in fraud suits to prove that the accused misled or gave fraudulent advice. The bill would also require the loser in such suits to pay the opponent's legal fees if a judge ruled the suit poorly grounded in law. Proponents of the bill said it would discourage frivolous lawsuits and encourage parties to settle out of court. Opponents charged the bill is a boon for business at the expense of investors. A ``yes'' vote favors securities litigation reform.
Rep. Rick Boucher, Dem. ... N
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Rep. ... Y
Rep. L.F. Payne, Dem. ... Y
Liability limits
The House on Thursday passed 247-171 an amendment to a bill (H.R. 956) that would limit the maximum award of non-economic ``pain and suffering'' damages on health care liability actions to $250,000. Proponents of the amendment, including many doctors, said it is needed to keep health care costs down and to reform the system. Opponents countered that the measure would punish legitimate victims of medical neglect. A ``yes'' vote favors the $250,000 limit.
Rep. Rick Boucher, Dem. ... ?
Rep. Bob Goodlatte, Rep. ... Y
Rep. L.F. Payne, Dem. ... Y
by CNB