October 14, 2002 Letter re: Wayne Hogan for Congress

St. Augustine Record Letter: Hogan will make a fair congressman
Edward A. Slavin, Jr.
St. Augustine
Published Monday, October 14, 2002

Editor: I support St. Johns County resident Wayne Hogan for Congress. He is running against Rep. John Mica, who is running for the first time here in St. Johns County.

Mr. Hogan stands for protecting our beaches, our seniors, our environment and our Florida standard of living. His lifelong career is representing average citizens and vindicating their rights.

Rep. Mica is among the most uncandid and unwise persons to ever serve in Congress. Rep. Mica actually voted to support offshore oil drilling (his brother, former Rep. Dan Mica, is a Big Oil lobbyist). Big Oil already has enough representation in the Capitol. Let the unjust steward, Big Oil's Rep. Mica, be retired. Let's elect a U.S. representative who cares about us.

Americans' God-given constitutional rights to jury trials and fair state court proceedings are under attack. Too many are killed, maimed and injured by the recklessness of rich and powerful corporations. Too often, large organizations violate laws, professional standards and common sense, hurting people with defective vehicles, unsafe surgeries and other "torts" (civil wrongs). To protect our democracy, we must assure that influential wrongdoers are held accountable, whether manufacturers, health care providers, governments or other large organizations. Big Business lobbyists fight justice. They want to deny Americans our constitutional rights to jury trials and a fair redress of grievances.

"Tort reform" is really "tort deform." This unfair legislation is being proposed in Congress that would take away your rights to sue for medical malpractice, "capping" damages. Taking away peoples' state court rights to hold powerful organizations accountable is no "reform." It is oppressive, unfair and immoral. On Sept. 27 Rep. Mica voted for legislation to "cap" medical malpractice verdicts at $250,000 for compensatory damages for pain and suffering.

We don't see habitual wrongdoers "capping" their harmful, fatal and crippling injuries. How odd that those in Congress who claim to trust "states' rights" now want to "federalize" products liability, medical malpractice and tort laws, violating states' rights.

"Capping" the damages state court jurors can award for injuries is both unfair and unconstitutional. Identifying himself as "Dr.," a recent letter writer supports Rep. Mica because he supports "capping medical malpractice suits." That letter-writer actually criticized Mr. Hogan for having "made millions against the tobacco industry." Is that a criticism or a compliment? Does the writer begrudge others an income? Is the writer unfair and unscientific for failing to note that the tobacco case was brought on behalf of the people if Florida (seeking to keep tobacco away from our children and halt the propaganda that makes so many of us slaves to tobacco, the only product that, if used as intended, inevitably causes the death of its users)? "Physician, heal thyself." (Luke 4:23).

Wayne Hogan refuses to take campaign contributions from lobbyists and PACs.

Wayne Hogan will make a fine, fair, honest congressman, protecting all St. Johns Countians.