GREENVILLE - Now that the nauseous political smoke has cleared from the protracted legislative debate over tort reform, we have more of the same mean-spirited agendas, which do not serve the public good.
After nearly three weeks of a special legislative session called on Sept. 5 by Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in an attempt to broker some semblance of relief for a state that has been simply overwhelmed by the onslaught of civil litigation and shameless venue-shopping, the political colloquy in Jackson has been nothing short of an abysmal failure.
Of course, the political spinmeisters have been hard at work attempting to place a "happy" face on this contentious issue, in which the future of this state hangs in the balance. What our lawmakers finally do about tort reform will have an ancillary effect on Mississippi. In other words, we will pay if an agreement is reached, and will pay even more if there is no accord. Some choice.
Our so-called legislative leaders - at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars to taxpayers - have done nothing but posture, offering not a shred of a plausible remedy that will rescue this state from the clutches of a civil justice system that is poised to destroy what is left of Mississippi's decaying health and medical care infrastructure.
This is a time for true legislative leaders to step to the front, but the Magnolia crew in Jackson appears to be content to maintain the political status quo - do nothing and complain of the impasse.
Rep. Percy Watson, D-Hattiesburg, the so-called lead House negotiator, has been little more than an impediment to reaching a deal on tort reform. Yet he blames the unwillingness of the Senate to compromise.
Watson, a lawyer, has already acknowledged that the House and Senate still had major political differences on issues such as capping pain-and-suffering awards in malpractice lawsuits. The House has proposed a $1 million cap and the Senate countered with a proposal of $700,000.
The two chambers also differ on the division of financial responsibility among two or more defendants in a malpractice suit and on whether drug company representatives should be sued in state courts. Nevertheless, what it boils down to is doing the right thing for the people of Mississippi, something our state lawmakers show no inclination of embrace.
You feel a sense of empathy for Musgrove, who wants to do the right thing but is shackled by a convoluted Mississippi Constitution that renders a governor a little more than a figurehead when it comes to key legislative matters. The Legislature rules the roost in this state.
In spite of the political odds, Musgrove has been hurling his high-and-tight fastball in the effort to break through the legislative logjam on tort reform.
"We still must not let political agendas and special interests stand in our way," Musgrove said. "This issue is too important. The Mississippi House and Senate may recess, but the health care crisis facing our state will not."
If the Legislature could not get it done in the first 19 days of a special session - one of their many political failings over the past 24 months (remember the lack of an accord on the state flag, congressional redistricting, Medicaid, balancing the budget, etc.) - what makes you think our state lawmakers will reach an agreement on tort reform? Don't bet the house, because the view is that we are going to get more political posturing and little else.
Perhaps there is one state lawmaker who has seen this so-called special legislative session and the inaction of his colleagues for the shell game that it is. Sen. John White, D-Booneville, said last week he's quitting the office he has held for 19 years because he's unhappy with legislative leaders. His resignation takes effect Saturday.
Meanwhile, we all have heard the horror stories of physicians leaving Magnolia - especially in the economically challenged Mississippi Delta - because it does not make sense to do business in a state where you can be sued on a whim.
Why?
Because our state lawmakers have shamelessly placed the capricious bent of the trial lawyers, the politically connected, and powerful special interest groups - accentuated by the sheer largesse of campaign contributions - over the welfare of the populace who placed them in office.
