Mark McCaig recently criticized Texans for Lawsuit Reform on these pages for endorsing Democrats in the recent election. He charges that our bipartisanship runs contrary to conservative values and even calls TLR an “enemy” of conservatives. In fact, TLR supports both Democrats and Republicans, with the goal of electing public officials who believe in a fair, balanced and predictable civil justice system. Oddly, McCaig criticizes TLR for being an “enemy” of conservatism, but we are the organization that most confronts personal injury trial lawyers – the primary financial backers of the most liberal candidates in the nation.

Texas is winning not only the famous Red River rivalry but a much more substantial battle — access to health care. Oklahomans are waiting longer to see a doctor and driving farther to see a medical specialist. At least half of all counties here don't have the facilities to deliver a baby. A recent study estimated that our state will need 30 percent more family practice physicians in the next 15 years in order to care for the growing and aging population. Where will they come from?

If a rose would smell as sweet by any other name, will trial lawyers smell better with a new one? That’s the question posed by the impending self-reinvention of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. After Election Day, the 65,000-member outfit whose lawyers brought us multibillion dollar settlements in cigarette cases, millions of asbestos injury claims and lawsuits over McDonald’s coffee will change its name to the American Association for Justice.