Former state Sen. John F. Kennedy (R-Ga.) said he hasn’t made an endorsement for a GOP candidate in the high-stakes Senate race against incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.).
Kennedy, who is running for lieutenant governor in Georgia, said he needs to focus on his own race, though he said Republicans can win the Senate seat.
Kennedy joined Punchbowl News on Wednesday at a Protecting American Consumers Together Summit in Washington, where he spoke on tort reform.
Tort reform. Kennedy said a combination of residents suffering from an increased tort tax and businesses leaving Georgia due to a competitive market led to the enactment last year of legislation — SB 68 — that makes it harder to launch certain lawsuits in the state.
As a result of the law, Kennedy said, major auto insurers are reducing their rates, and insurance companies are reentering the market in Georgia.
“You’re seeing businesses that literally were looking to leave the state of Georgia, not only remain in Georgia, but expand their footprint in Georgia,” Kennedy said.
States’ issue. Kennedy said states need to take the lead on overhauling the laws governing liability rather than waiting for the slower national process.
“I would encourage states to look at it, be thoughtful, put your legislators in the position so that they can articulate to constituents why this is something that’s needed,” Kennedy said.
Fireside chat. Adam Blinick, head of public policy and communications for the U.S and Canada at Uber, continued the conversation by saying there’s a need for other states to follow Georgia’s steps on changes to the ability to bring lawsuits.
“The tax that people are paying as a result of this is hidden and it is completely unnecessary,” Blinick said. “And you absolutely can structure the best of all worlds.”
Blinick said it’s important for corporations to prioritize working on tort reform, while making it clear to lawmakers that this is an affordability and public safety issue.
You can watch the full recording here.
