Scott Walker today signed an asbestos liability limits bill opposed by Democrats and, especially, Wisconsin military veterans groups. This ia another of those patented Republican laws that limits what defendants in product liability cases can obtain in a lawsuit, because, hey, too many people are filing frivolous lawsuits against our fine business community! Walker signed the bill in a private session, but that won't prevent the victims of this law from learning of his heartless action. And they'll have special reason to be upset. Because, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the governor's office apparently got right in the grill of activist veterans and told them the signing was going to happen (emphasis added):
... the lobbyist for the Military Order of the Purple Heart of Wisconsin last week urged veterans to call off their strong lobbying efforts seeking a Walker veto of the legislation. The veterans lobbyist cited signals from an aide to the governor that Walker was going to sign it regardless of their input.
Many veterans remain adamantly opposed to the business-backed measure because they have found the majority of plaintiffs in asbestos lawsuits have served in the military. Asbestos, which has long been used for insulation and fireproofing, can cause cancer and respiratory illnesses.
The veterans groups, led by a former deputy secretary of veterans affairs in the Walker administration, had argued that the new state law would delay the outcomes of lawsuits and thus harm plaintiffs who became sick because of asbestos exposure. Indeed, some of them might now die before having their day in court.
Why would Walker and the GOP legislature dare to diss a segment of activist voters who have been a key Republican support group? Go on back up to the excerpt from the Journal Sentinel report and the answer is right there in three words: business-backed measure. Whatever businesses want, Republicans want to give them. So if the new law effectively denies justice to some military veterans and their families here in Wisconsin, the GOP seems to think that's no problem at all.
Republicans have long argued that lawsuits are often inefficient and unfair, and they have a special dark place in their hearts for trial lawyers. Which is why Walker's spokeswoman said of this signing: "Governor Walker signed this law to ensure transparency in the lawsuit process and stop trial lawyers from double dipping." Oh, and if veteran plaintiffs get balled up in red tape because of the new law's many restrictions, well, too bad.
Dear Governor: You may just have taken care of your bizmo pals. But ... you can't handle the truth!