The vote count still isn't anywhere near there for the doctors, at least not if they need to overcome a Democratic filibuster, according to a report last month in the New York Times:
In the Senate this year, only one Democrat, Zell Miller of Georgia, favored limits on lawsuits, and he did not run for re-election. Three Republicans opposed limits: Michael D. Crapo of Idaho, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Richard C. Shelby of Alabama, who were courtroom lawyers before they entered politics.Of four incoming GOP senators who replace Democrats, one is Florida's Martinez, whose background is in trial lawyering. Last year, malpractice limits won only 48 or 49 votes in the 100-member body, and 60 votes are needed to overcome a filibuster.



