As in regular legislative sessions of past, a particular pieceof legislation that benefits a very powerful group is being bottledup in committee.

Tort reform legislation is being held hostage for the singlepurpose of stopping public debate on an issue that affects everycitizen in Mississippi.

A Senate tort reform bill died an unnatural death Wednesday atthe hands of House Judiciary A Chairman Ed Blackmon, D-Canton, anda second bill will likely see the same fate. In a legislative rulessleight of hand Thursday evening, that second bill was slipped toBlackmon’s committee where it, too, is expected to never see thelight of day.

In one fell swoop, tort reform legislation may have beeneffectively killed for the current session.

Meanwhile, a group of 13 House members, along with members ofthe business and medical communities, held a news conference inprotest. They wanted to know why House members as a whole could notmake that determination by a floor vote instead of a leaving it toa single committee chairman.

That’s a good question.

Rep. Blackmon, a very, very successful trial lawyer, has his ownspecial interests at heart when he refuses to let the entire Housemake a decision. His efforts will also cost the state dollars itdoes not have. Gov. Haley Barbour has pledged to call a specialsession, multiple if necessary, in order to strengthen legislationpassed in the marathon 2003 special session. That session costtaxpayers over $1.6 million.

Why can’t the entire House vote on tort reform legislation? Whatis the fear?

And why is one individual, who has such a vested interest, inthe position to singularly control such legislation?