The News Bank has this article from the Dayton Daily News (originally published June 22, 2003):
Gov. Bob Taft and state Sen. Steve Stivers, R-Columbus, chose May 1 to unveil legislation that would radically change Ohio's system of civil justice and dictate how law is practiced in this state.
The first day of May had been set aside years before by President Dwight Eisenhower as "Law Day" - a time to celebrate the country's judicial institutions and equal justice under the law. But Gov. Taft and Sen. Stivers had other ideas on how to observe the day. They announced their legislative proposal - Senate Bill 80 - benignly describing it as a series of balanced reforms that would make Ohio more attractive to new and existing businesses. In fact, they launched a one-sided, cynical assault on the independence of the state's courts and the integrity of its legal profession - one that puts profit ahead of consumer protections and judicial independence....
....Sen. Stivers, the bill's sponsor, has no formal legal training and was a high-powered lobbyist for a bank. He's been an Ohio senator only since December, when he received one crucial vote - that of his pal, Senate President Doug White, who picked him to fill a vacancy created by a retiring senator.....
Known as Senate Bill 80, the bill tried to protect businesses and industry from lawsuits even if they had been negligent. Check out the entire article to see what Taft and Stivers had planned for the legal system in Ohio.
According to a website called thislawhurts.com Stivers' legislation was considered very controversial and dangerous to consumers. The original bill is posted here.
Is this bill an indication of the type of legislation that Republican Steve Stivers would vote for in the U.S. House of Representatives? Is Stivers more interested in protecting businesses and corporations instead of the consumer? Would Stivers sponsor a bill like this today? Is his recent rejection of a cap on interest rates on payday loans a predictor of his pro-business stance?