Davis’ vote to limit lawsuits requires an explanation
I hoped I would have read about this in the Austin Weekly News, which should let us know what our local politicians are doing in our community. But as usual, it was a major paper that pays attention to real news. In the Feb. 18 issue of the Chicago Tribune there was an interesting article titled, “Congress gives Bush win on class action suit limits.” I was sure that meant the Republicans again pushed through another President Bush initiative. It’s a new law which will discourage multimillion-dollar class action law suits by having federal judges take them away from state courts. This is the exact type of thing most liberal Democrats, or any Democrat for that matter, would vote No on.
That is exactly what Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. did, along with Bobby Rush, Luis Gutierrez, and even Jan Schakowsky. Even the Democrats from Wisconsin: Baldwin, Moore, and Obey and the Democrats from Michigan, Conyers, Dingell, Kildee, and Kilpatrick all voted No. So what was our Cong. Danny Davis’ reason for voting Yes? A yes vote on this bill was a no vote to the people who are taken advantage of by Big Business every day.”
“It’s the final payback to the tobacco industry, to the asbestos industry, to the oil industry, to the chemical industry at the expense of ordinary families,” said Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass).
We shouldn’t be surprised at Bush, but what happened to our Cong. Davis, whom I voted for many times? He is usually looking out for the little guy, and rarely is on the side of Bush and against his own party. He was the only African-American Democrat and minority from Illinois to vote with Bush. I guess he thinks we are not watching, or maybe he’s just been there too long, and it’s time for fresh blood. Or maybe he owes those fat cats! Whatever the reason, his vote was not in our favor, and we won’t forget.
John Russell
Lifelong Austin resident
