Ehrlich vetoes malpractice measure

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. this morning vetoed a bill designed to control spiraling medical malpractice premiums for doctors, setting up a faceoff tomorrow with Democratic lawmakers who will try to override the governor.

"It is a essentially a tax increase to fund the fees of millionaire trial lawyers," said Henry Fawell, a spokesman for the governor.

The General Assembly - which convenes its regular 90-day session on Wednesday - will return one day early to consider rejecting that veto and any of Mr. Ehrlich's 18 other vetoes of bills the legislature passed during its 2004 regular session.

If Democrats stick together,...