Gov. Kemp pushing lawmakers to pass tort reform plan
Democrats want to know more about plan he’s considering
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp laid out a long list of priorities during his State of the State address on Thursday.
At the top of the list, he wants lawmakers to pass what he calls a “comprehensive and fair tort reform plan.”
He threatened lawmakers with a special session if they don’t.
“Georgia’s economic success is a lot like football,” Kemp said. “To quote Kirby Smart, ‘Humility is only a week away,’ and there are storm clouds on the horizon. As we look ahead, I believe one of the biggest threats to Georgia’s future is our state’s legal environment.”
The danger he points to surrounds what he calls excessive lawsuits and runaway verdicts. He said those suits are driving up insurance costs and driving businesses out of Georgia.
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“It’s abundantly clear that the status quo isn’t working, and a failure to act on meaningful tort reform will continue to put Georgians and their livelihoods in serious jeopardy,” said Kemp.
The governor invoked Waffle House as an example. He reports the Georgia company’s insurance liability has increased more than 200 percent over the last 5 years.
Ben Cowart with the Georgia Retailers Association said Georgia’s current premises liability laws are discouraging investment in the state and hurting job creation.
Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones and House Minority Leader Carolyn Hugley gave the Democratic response to the governor’s address. They feel it’s important they have time to dissect the plan and make sure they don’t take drastic steps that lead to unfair verdicts.
“The governor accomplished his goal today, which was to throw out some of the things that he wants to do, but the substance is yet to come,” said Hugley.
“Republicans and the governor fail to understand how to value people, not just profits,” said Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II. “Georgians want a state where we are the number one state for public education, where we are the number one state for healthcare, the number one state to afford a home, and above all else, the number one state to raise a family. Democrats have that vision because Georgians have that vision.”
Kemp said his office will share more about their comprehensive plan over the next several days.
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