Poe Castigates Fellow Republican's Malpractice Plan

Although most Republicans favor limiting damages for medical malpractice, it’s not unanimous. GOP Reps. Ted Poe of Texas and Phil Gingrey of Georgia certainly aren’t on the same page, The Hill reports.

Rep. Ted Poe of Texas

At a Judiciary Committee markup Wednesday, Poe blasted a malpractice bill sponsored by Gingrey, saying it would violate the Constitution. The proposal would set a $250,000 ceiling on non-economic medical malpractice damages.

Poe, a member of the House Tea Party Caucus and a former felony court judge, says the bill infringes on states’ rights. He says he’ll vote against the bill if it requires caps for states that don't want them. "I got problems with that," Poe says. "I think it's a violation of the Tenth Amendment."

Gingrey isn’t a member of the committee and wasn’t at the markup session.