Senate Democrats win fight over medical malpractice awards

[Nambe]

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

WASHINGTON (July 9, 8:23 a.m. ADT) - Senate Democrats won their fight Wednesday to bottle up legislation limiting damage awards in medical malpractice cases, all but dooming a measure that President Bush made a priority.

The vote was 49-48, 11 short of the 60 needed to overcome the Democratic-led filibuster.

GOP aides said in advance that Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., was prepared to pull the bill from the floor if it failed the test vote, but said the issue would return, either in Congress or the 2004 elections. ---

[kanrok]

1. Douchebags

Couldn't even muster 50 votes on this pig. I love this country!
:bounce:

[Mel]

2. Thank Senator Durbin

for this he lead the good fight on this one! He did a fine job I've been watching him this week on the Senate floor everday fighting the good fight on this one.

here's his email if anyone wants to thank him.
[e-mail]

[jos]

3. Great!

:bounce:

[dfong63]

4. bravo again

and, may those who voted to cap malpractice awards, become the victims of botched surgery themselves.

[moondust]

5. Outstanding!!

A terrible piece of one-size-fits-all legislation/partisan attack on the Democratic base bites the dust!!

Dick Durbin is terrific!!!

[NewJerseyDem]

6. Bad Politics

This will probably backfire in 2004. The Republicans knew the bill couldn't get passed but they put it up for a vote so that they could say that the Democrats obstructed the bill and that Democrats are just protecting trial lawyers. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham even admitted that that was the Republican plan. So, politically this is a bad move by the Democrats even if it was a good policy move, which I'm not so sure about.

[ButterflyBlood]

10. Graham actually voted to sustain the filibuster

weird. I already thought it was odd that he would vote like that since he's such an utter scumbag.

and this isn't about protecting trial lawyers, but victims of malpractice. Very easy to spin it.

[CBHagman]

7. The president of the AMA is...

...at the National Press Club pushing this issue right now. Naturally, he lauds Tommy Thompson, Frist et al. This is going to be ugly.

[CheshireCat]

8. Best news I've heard all day!

I hope they can keep this sorry legislation from coming to a vote at all.

I am a doctor's daughter. I worked in my father's office during my high school years. Even though I have witnessed many ridiculous malpractice suits, I still recognize what a scummy piece of legislation the cap on awards is. People MUST have a means of addressing bad medical care.

Malpractice insurance rates should be reigned in with government regulation of the insurance industry. All insurance rates are ridiculously high.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

9. Democrats were right...

to block this bill. It is a peice of Bushcrap!!!
In 04' the Dems need to make this an issue and go after Bush for this. In 2005, we can finnally have a real reform bill passed, one that is fair and just!!!