Md. Assembly Overrides Ehrlich's Veto (malpractice bill passes)

Democrats in the Senate and House of Delegates handed Gov. Robert Ehrlich a setback Tuesday when they voted to override his veto of a medical malpractice bill, but the governor won victories on two other key bills that he had vetoed after the end of the legislative session last spring.

House Democratic leaders got exactly the 85 votes they needed to pass the medical malpractice bill over the governor's objections when nine Democrats deserted to vote with Ehrlich and four other Democrats did not vote.

In the Senate, where 29 votes were needed, the governor's veto was overridden by a 31-15 margin.

Republicans voted as a solid block behind their governor on the three big issues.

Ehrlich said the legislature missed an opportunity to enact real medical malpractice reform and passed a bill that "is incomplete and inadequate." The bill helps trial lawyers and imposes a tax on HMOs that will be passed on to consumers, but will do little to help hold the line on malpractice premiums that have increased 51 percent for 2004 and 2005, Ehrlich said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A1397-2005Jan11.html