Many Republicans attribute the rising costs of health care to malpractice suits brought against health care providers for negligent and/or incompetent medical care. In a move to curb the costs of those lawsuits, legislation was drafted that would limit the punitive damages awarded against medical providers and health insurers. Progressives opposed the bill because, in their view, patients' rights to the courts would be subverted. Moreover, Progressives argued that the cap on medical malpractice suits would discourage competent attorneys from taking legal action on behalf of victims. The subject of this vote was a rule governing debate on the underlying legislation. Before a matter can be considered on the House floor, a rule must be adopted to set parameters on debate (rules are drafted by the House Rules Committee, an arm of the majority party leadership). Progressives opposed the rule based on their objections to the underlying legislation but the rule was passed on a vote of 221-197.