Representative
Doug Wiles Letter To House and Senate Leadership Regarding Joint/Select
Committee on Medical Malpractice
Source:
The Office of Representative Doug Wiles
June 25, 2003
Dear
Speaker Byrd and President King:
It
has become painfully obvious that Governor Jeb Bush is going to continue to call the Legislature back in session all
summer long to debate the Medical Malpractice issue, even if there is no
agreement between the House and Senate on how we should best address the
growing needs of patients and their doctors. As we stand here on the
eighty-fifth day of the 2003 Session, the Governor’s political
brinksmanship will only ensure that our state’s pressing health care
needs will go unresolved.
With
that being said, I once again renew my call for the creation of a Joint
House/Senate Select Committee on Medical Malpractice and that this
committee be given the authority to begin meeting, gathering
information, taking testimony, and developing consensus on this critical
issue. I would also propose that this committee be given the authority
to require paid interests to testify under oath and be subject to the
subpoena of records, as suggested by Senator Geller. It is about time
that we force paid lobbyists to shoot straight with this Legislature.
With
the creation of this committee, we can set forth a workable timeframe to
ensure that we come to some solution by the end of the summer. In my
opinion, this proposal is more likely to bring effective closure to this
contentious issue than wasting millions on unnecessary and costly
special sessions; sessions, which I fear, are only good for tax-payer
funded member fundraising. It will also ensure that negotiations between
members will take place in the open and allow the public to have input
into this process.
Florida
House Democrats recognize that patient health care is being compromised
by insurance companies that are stiffing doctors with unreasonable
medical malpractice premiums. This is a real problem begging a real
solution, not more political posturing. It is critical that we roll-up
our sleeves, work together and get this issue resolved. I look forward
to working with you.
Sincerely,
DOUG WILES
House Democratic Leader
Cc:
Governor Jeb Bush
Sen. Dennis Jones, Senate Republican Leader
Sen. Ron Klein, Senate Democratic Leader
Rep. Marco Rubio, House Republican Leader
