I, I can't tell you exactly what we do on that pain and suffering in the ----
[He then looked off-stage to Kevin Moley, the deputy secretary of the
Department of health, for advice]
Kevin, what do we do on the pain and suffering on our malpractice proposal?
[He listened briefly to Moley's explanation]
So, it doesn't address it specifically.
The state -- the states could in fact -- what we basically do is --
try to do -- is get the states to come up with medical malpractice
legislation. We have, I think it's five criteria in our suggested
recommendations. But once they meet the five criteria, then they get a
favorable distribution from us if they meet -- basically forcing the states
to adopt this medical malpractice legislation, and that's the way
that you do it.
-- Vice-President Dan Quayle in Phoenix, Arizona, answering
a question on Bush's malpractice reform bill. One of the
five malpractice measures would actually require states to
place a cap of $250,000 on damages for pain and suffering
to avoid a cutoff of federal financing.
(reported in the NY Times, 10/7/92)
