What: All Issues : Government Checks on Corporate Power : H.R. 1115. Class Action Lawsuits/Vote to Recommit to Committee a Bill Designed to Curb Class Action Lawsuits (and Opportunities for Justice) by Assigning Original Jurisdiction to Overworked Federal Courts Rather Than State Courts in Those Cases. (2003 house Roll Call 271)
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H.R. 1115. Class Action Lawsuits/Vote to Recommit to Committee a Bill Designed to Curb Class Action Lawsuits (and Opportunities for Justice) by Assigning Original Jurisdiction to Overworked Federal Courts Rather Than State Courts in Those Cases.
house Roll Call 271     Jun 12, 2003
Progressive Position:
Yea
Progressive Result:
Loss
Qualifies as polarizing?
Yes
Is this vote crucial?
No

During debate on GOP-drafted legislation which would transfer class action cases from state courts to the federal bench, Congressman Weiner (D-NY) motioned to recommit the bill to committee with instructions to delete a section in the bill which makes the rules changes to class action lawsuits contained in the bill retroactive. (If successful, a motion to recommit sends the measure back to committee and is usually a deathblow to the legislation.) Progressives supported the motion to recommit; during debate on the legislation, Progressives pointed out that the retroactivity provision would cause judicial delays for pending lawsuits against known corporate criminals such as Enron, Arthur Anderson, and WorldCom. The motion to recommit the bill was defeated by a 185-240 vote margin.
Issue Areas:
GOVERNMENT CHECKS ON CORPORATE POWER — General
JUSTICE FOR ALL: CIVIL AND CRIMINAL — Equal Access to Justice
MAKING GOVERNMENT WORK FOR EVERYONE, NOT JUST THE RICH OR POWERFUL — Consumer Protection

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