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Money Behind the Med Mal Debate
Both Sides Combined for $7.7 Million in 2003-2004
On Wednesday, May 25, legislative leaders announced that a compromise
has been reached on medical malpractice. Regulation of malpractice
lawsuits has been a hot issue because the lawyers who bring those
suits and the doctors and hospitals who defend against them give
so much to Illinois politicians: $7.7 million in the 2003-2004
cycle.
Attorneys who specialize in filing personal injury lawsuits, including
medical malpractice, are commonly represented by the Illinois
Trial Lawyers Association. About one-seventh of their political
giving comes through the ITLA. Many lawyers, including the largest
givers, also give directly to candidates. All told, lawyers associated
with ITLA gave $4,310,728 during the 2003-2004 election cycle.
Medical doctors and hospitals are equally active in politics.
Many are members of the associations (two-thirds of the giving
came through either the Illinois State Medical Society or the
Illinois Hospital Association), but, as with the lawyers, many
also give directly to politicians. Doctors and hospitals gave,
directly and through their associations, $3,480,812 during the
2003-2004 cycle.
|
Personal Injury Plaintiffs' Lawyers |
Doctors and Hospitals |
| House Speaker Michael J. Madigan* |
$2,874,500 |
Gov. Rod Blagojevich |
$455,870 |
| Senate President Emil Jones * |
$322,696 |
Supreme Court Candidate Lloyd Karmeier |
$345,100 |
| Gov Rod Blagojevich |
$318,730 |
House Republican Leader Tom Cross* |
$288,720 |
| Attorney General Lisa Madigan |
$168,330 |
Senate President Emil Jones* |
$258,400 |
| Supreme Court Candidate Gordon Maag |
$33,450 |
Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson* |
$256,630 |
| State Rep. Candidate Sharyn Elman |
$30,500 |
House Speaker Michael J. Madigan* |
$144,600 |
| Secretary of State Jesse White |
$28,000 |
Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka |
$77,240 |
| State Rep. Jay Hoffman |
$23,760 |
State Sen. Pamela Althoff |
$56,320 |
| State Rep. Jack Franks |
$16,050 |
State Rep. Elizabeth Coulson |
$37,720 |
| State Rep. Lou Lang |
$16,400 |
State Sen. Brad Burzynski |
$37,100 |
| *Includes giving to party or caucus PACs. |
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Plaintiffs' lawyers have pursued a largely partisan strategy
with their political contributions, giving to 92 of the legislature's
96 Democrats and only 19 of the 80 Republicans. (plaintiff's
lawyers have also given to the Senate's only Independent,
Sen. James Meeks). Medical interests, in contrast, have been far
broader in their giving, appearing in the disclosure reports of
89 Democrats, 79 Republicans and 1 Independent.
Both sides gave most heavily to leadership, though differences are
stark: while the medical interests gave fairly evenly, the plaintiff's
lawyers gave only token amounts to Republican caucus chairs.
Majorities of both chambers have reported contributions from both sides
on this issue, adding to the pressure legislators feel as they pursue
a solution that addresses the needs of their constituents while also addressing
the competing interests of plaintiffs and defendants. |
