JEFFERSON CITY -
When it comes to standing up for
affordable, accessible health care for Missourians, Bob Holden and Claire
McCaskill are singing from the same song sheet but off-key.  Legislation to
cap out-of-control medical malpractice insurance costs will suffer a veto
from the pen of Holden.  Meanwhile, McCaskill?s waffling rhetoric can?t be
allowed to obscure her identical position on the issue.

"While Bob Holden has
consistently said he?ll veto the bill because plaintiff-friendly attorneys
are filling his pockets with campaign contributions, trial attorney Claire
McCaskill has simply waffled on the issue," said Paul Sloca, communications
director for the Missouri Republican Party. "It?s clear, however, that
McCaskill holds the same position as Holden, proving both are just identical
political twins in a nasty primary spat."

Trial attorneys have
been incredibly generous to the campaigns of Holden and McCaskill. According
to the non-partisan Center for Ethics and the Free Market,
plaintiff-friendly attorneys have contributed more than $464,000 to Holden
and more than $216,000 to McCaskill.

"Holden and McCaskill
are two peas in a pod when it comes to caring more about padding their
campaign accounts than making sure Missourians have access to medical care,"
Sloca said. "What?s truly amazing is that McCaskill is proving to be an even
weaker leader than the governor.  Holden, even though he?s wrong on this
issue, at least makes a clear stand."

The tort reform
legislation passed yesterday caps at $400,000 the non-economic damages
plaintiffs can receive in lawsuits. The caps would help reduce medical
malpractice insurance costs that have been driving thousands of Missouri
physicians out of business and leaving people without access to health care.