It has all been under the banner of tort reform, or what Mr. Bush said were efforts to rid the legal system of junk lawsuits.

Indeed, at many recent appearances, Mr. Bush has complained about the "skyrocketing" costs of "junk lawsuits" against doctors and hospitals.

In his re-election campaign, Mr. Bush repeatedly decried "junk lawsuits" as the bane of the nation's doctors.

Medical lawsuit reform: We should cap the amount awarded for frivolous junk lawsuits.

He cut welfare rolls in half, reduced junk lawsuits and cut juvenile crime 38 percent.

Where junk lawsuits proliferate in the courts.

During the election campaign he had attacked "junk lawsuits."

He promised to reform the legal system to get rid of junk lawsuits, and he has.

Days after taking office in 1995, he declared a legislative emergency to address the "junk lawsuits that clog our courts."

We will enact common-sense medical liability reforms to lower costs, rein in junk lawsuits and curb defensive medicine.