Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt’s Efforts Lead to Improved Legal Climate
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt’s success enacting meaningful litigation reform is, as anticipated, having a positive impact on Missouri’s legal climate. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced Missouri has jumped from the 40th spot for best legal climate in the country to the 35th spot.
“As a candidate, I recognized that our existing tort system was strangling our state’s economy and pledged to support litigation reform that would help eliminate injustice in our legal system,” Blunt said. “I am pleased that the meaningful laws I signed last year are improving Missouri’s legal climate and as a result protecting our employers’ right to create jobs without the threat of outrageous, job-killing legal awards hanging over their heads.”
Missouri’s five spot jump is a result of the comprehensive litigation reform enacted under Blunt’s leadership. The reform implemented new limits on joint and several liability, restrictions on venue shopping and new limits on punitive and non-economic damages. The state’s jump in rank is indicative of the many success stories resulting from Blunt’s pro-family, pro-jobs initiatives.
The governor’s Quality Jobs Act continues to attract high quality, family supporting jobs to Missouri. Since it became available in August, 34 companies have taken advantage of the program, promising to create or retain an estimated 7,500 jobs.
In addition Blunt kept his promise to restore fairness to Missouri’s workers’ compensation system, through valuable workers’ compensation reform that protects rights of injured workers without threatening Missouri jobs. Reforms championed by the governor have restored balance to the system and have been cited by companies that have recently chosen to invest or reinvest in Missouri's working families like Chrysler, GM and Express Scripts.
A report issued by the Missouri Department of Economic Development showed that Missouri’s employers and entrepreneurs created more than 32,000 new jobs since Blunt took office.
###