Frivolous Lawsuits Take a Toll on Economy

Every year, billions of dollars are wasted on frivolous lawsuits, forcing individuals and businesses to spend thousands of dollars on litigation. This ultimately imposes a high cost on job and economic growth because any money that could be spent hiring new employees or investing in new businesses is instead directed toward legal fees. The annual direct cost of American tort litigation exceeds $250 billion. Take for instance the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which in 2004 finally put... Read more

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Champion for Children

I’ve worked to pass legislation to improve the foster care system and encourage the adoption of children in foster care to permanent loving homes, and I’m glad to receive for the third year in a row the Champion for Children Award from the First Focus Campaign for Children, a national bipartisan children’s advocacy organization. Cara Baldari and Kevin Lindsey of the First Focus Campaign for Children... Read more

Scrutiny Needed of Smithfield Sale to Shuanghui

This week, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing to examine the proposed purchase of Smithfield foods by Shuanghui, a Chinese food company. Senators heard both positive and negative testimony about the deal from several different experts. I have reservations about the sale but there are benefits with this proposed purchase. I'll be paying close attention to this deal as it continues to be scrutinized by Congress and the various oversight agencies... Watch here

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Lessons in Obama Health Care Law

The Obama administration’s latest move to push the reset button on the most far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s health care policy in four decades offers a vital teachable moment. For starters, the systemic flaw of the law enacted in 2010 and written to take effect at the end of this year puts one-sixth of the U.S. economy into the hands of Uncle Sam. This means the long arm of federal law will reach further into the back pockets of the taxpaying public, impact medical decisions affecting patients and health care providers and stifle growth and innovation with new taxes and stiff penalties. It grows big government as American taxpayers are told... Read more