Once again, the Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA), through its State Party Chair Joseph Wood, demonstrates a disconnect from its own party’s principles. Wood recently took a victory lap after the razor-thin passage of HB1204, a watered-down tort reform bill that cleared the Senate by just one vote—secured only after Sen. Jim Petty (R-Van Buren) flipped his stance on a recount.
Wood misrepresents the RPA Platform by claiming HB1204 aligns with the party’s values. In reality, the platform—amended under former Governor Asa Hutchinson—now prioritizes the interests of insurance companies over taxpayers and injured plaintiffs.
The RPA’s official “Justice Reform” section explicitly advocates for justice for the injured, not protections or financial windfalls for the insurance industry, as HB1204 delivers. True judicial reform would first and foremost ensure medical freedom for all Arkansans, a principle reaffirmed in the RPA Platform on June 8, 2024.
Conduit for Action is deeply disappointed in Republican lawmakers who supported HB1204. Rather than standing up for their constituents against corporate interests, they once again chose to side with special interests—giving insurance companies even greater access to taxpayer dollars at the expense of those who need justice the most.
2024 RPA Platform:
“We believe health care costs can be reduced by tort reform. Medical liability regulations and statutes should be revised by limiting the circumstances under which such cases may be properly pursued and the extent of damage claims involving pain and suffering. As such, we strongly support medical tort liability reform through an amendment to the state constitution. We further support the creation of a legal environment for pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs and lower costs to consumers.”
Here is the out-of-touch and incredibly tone-deaf press release sent by the RPA:
