While families and small businesses struggle with lagging job creation in Kentucky, Democrat Senate hopeful and trial lawyer Jack Conway (D-KY) was listed as a recipient of a swanky campaign fundraiser hosted by his liberal trial lawyer friends, who met during their convention in Vancouver, Canada yesterday.

Thus far Conway has not disclosed whether he traveled to Canada himself or if he instead employed one of his Democrat party bosses – such as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who made the trip – to pick up his campaign cash and bring it back to America.

In either case, the main event of Conway’s foreign fundraising weekend appears to have been a ritzy reception of the “Committee for a Better Future,” a joint venture of the Democrat party establishment and the Washington, DC-based trial lawyers’ lobbying association, both of which have been under heavy fire in the United States for their out-of-control job-killing agendas. A new study released just last week by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) shows that small businesses – which have created 64 percent of all net new jobs in the United States over the past 15 years – shoulder a tremendous burden of the nation’s tort liability costs.

“Jack Conway owes Kentuckians a straight answer: Did he travel to Canada yesterday to raise money from his fellow liberal trial lawyers, or did he send his bag man Harry Reid to collect his share instead?” asked National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokeswoman Amber Marchand. 

“Conway has promised to rubberstamp President Obama’s failed economic policies in Washington, so it’s not surprising that he is raising money from these liberal special interests,” Marchand continued. “Whether he traveled to Canada himself or sent Harry Reid to do his bidding, it’s clear that Jack Conway is far out-of-touch with mainstream Kentuckians, who will elect fiscally responsible leader Rand Paul to the U.S. Senate this November.”

Background Information:

Senator Bob Menendez On Jack Conway: “Jack Conway Is A Crusading Attorney General Who Has Taken On The Special Interests In Kentucky And Will Shake Up Washington By Doing The Same In The United States Senate.” (DSCC, “Sen. Robert Menendez’ Statement On Jack Conway,” Press Release, 5/18/10)

A Conway Television Ad Claimed That Conway “Stood Up For The People Against Powerful Special Interests.” (“You’re Tearing Me Apart!” The Hotline On Call, 5/11/10)

According To The U.S. Chamber Institute For Legal Reform, Small Businesses Bore 81 Percent Of Business Tort Liability Costs In 2008, And Lawsuits Cost Them $105.4 Billion. “Small businesses are the engine of job growth in this country. They have generated 64 percent of the net new jobs over the past 15 years. Particularly at a time when unemployment rates are high, it is important to understand the burdens small businesses bear, with the objective of creating an environment in which small businesses will thrive. To this end, the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform has commissioned a study of the tort liability costs of small businesses from NERA Economic Consulting (NERA). Their findings are as follows:

• The tort liability price tag for small businesses in America in 2008 was $105.4 billion.
• Small businesses bore 81% of business tort liability costs but took in only 22% of revenue.
• Small businesses paid $35.6 billion of their tort costs out of pocket as opposed to through insurance.” (U.S. Chamber Institute For Legal Reform, “Tort Liability Costs For Small Business,” July 2010)