Consumer Group Responds to Governor Schwarzenegger's Incorrect Claims About the Impact of Medical Malpra...( SANTA MONICA Calif. Oct. 29 -- Consu...),Health

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog sent the following letter to Congressional leaders today in response to a letter sent by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in which he incorrectly cited California's draconian limits on the legal rights of injured patients as a successful cost containment tool. Consumer Watchdog is a nonpartisan nonprofit with offices in California and Washington, D.C. The Governor's October 27, 2009 letter is available at www.gov.ca.gov/archive/press-releases/.

October 29, 2009

The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi

Speaker of the House

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Minority Leader

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

The Honorable John A. Boehner

Minority Leader

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Senator Reid, Senator McConnell, Madam Speaker and Mr. Boehner,

Tuesday, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote you regarding his views on health care reform. While Consumer Watchdog has detailed its views on comprehensive federal health reform many times over the past year, we write today in response to a particular element of the debate addressed by Governor Schwarzenegger, in which he incorrectly cited California's draconian limits on the legal rights of injured patients as a successful cost containment tool.

The plight of injured patients and families subject to unjust legal restriction in California has been well documented. Jury-ordered compensation been slashed by a one-size-fits-all damages cap unadjusted for three decades. Too many children, seniors
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