By AP/KWMU
Jefferson City, Mo. – The Missouri Senate has given final approval to a bill that would impose new restrictions on lawsuits.
Thursday's vote sends the bill to Democratic Governor Bob Holden, who vetoed a similar bill last year. He says he'll also veto this year's version.
The vote on the bill came late Thursday morning -- only after majority Republicans voted three times to shut off debate, and Democrats tried to stall the bill.
Wednesday, a handful of Democrats had adjourned the Senate as a way to delay a vote.
The bill would put restrictions on where lawsuits can be filed, and how much money juries could award for pain and suffering.
It also would limit a plaintiff's ability to recover money from wealthy defendants -- when poorer co-defendants are found to be more at fault but are unable to pay.
But Holden says he wants tighter restrictions on insurance companies' ability to raise premiums.