Governor Ehrlich VETOES legislation on malpractice reform.

[nickshepDEM]

He says bill 'light' on tort reform, imposes tax that would affect consumers; But Democratic lawmakers confident governor will be overridden tomorrow.

"ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. today vetoed a medical malpractice bill passed by the predominantly Democratic legislature, saying it would do little to restrain spiraling insurance costs for doctors while imposing a tax on HMOs that would be passed on to consumers.

"It's tort reform light and a tax on working families," Ehrlich said. "It's a very small step proceeding in the right direction."

>snip

The bill was endorsed by state associations representing doctors and hospitals, and Democratic leaders plan to try to override the veto when they meet on Tuesday.

"I think it's likely to be overridden. The doctors support it. The hospitals support it," said Sen. Brian Frosh, D-Montgomery. "I don't think there's anybody in the governor's corner any more."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-ehrlich0110,1,2299708.story?coll=bal-local-headlines&ctrack=2&cset=true

[eek MD]

1. sheesh

Didn't he ask for a special session to GET this legislation on his desk in the first place?...or am i wrong on that.....

[nickshepDEM]

2. No your right.

He wasted taxpayer money for a special session which draged the legistlature back prematurley from their Christmas vacation just to Veto the bill they come up with. What a clown.

[shireen]

3. drama queen

That special legislative session called by Ehrlich was just to annoy the Dems, and to make him look good -- like he was taking urgent action -- to people who don't know better.

Hopefully, there will be an over-ride, I think there are enough votes for that.

And I hope the Dems give him hell. If he doesn't get much accomplished, and the Dems are able to over-ride a bunch of his vetoes, he won't look so good. That might give the Dem candidates a better chance to win the next election.

BTW, what's so bad about a 2% tax on HMOs? We're not dealing with little mom-and-pop small businesses here, these are major corporations that can afford to do it, right? Or am I missing something?

I'm not against raising taxes, as long as the money is spent efficiently to benefit all people in our society and the future generation.

[nickshepDEM]

4. I heard there will be enough to overide the veto but...

Why are they going to overide this veto and not overide the Tuition Cap veto? Tuition rates are getting ridiculous.

[DaveinMD]

5. they are going to override

the tuition cap too. They also trying to override the living wage bill veto.

[DaveinMD]

6. I was wrong

they tried to override the living wage bill veto, but came up short. For some reason, they didn't bring up the tuition cap. They must have known they didn't have the votes.