Although the prescription drug initiatives in California got most of the heavy media play this week, voters in Washington state also cast their votes in a heated health policy debate. Doctors and local trial lawyer groups spent $18 million on rival malpractice initiatives in an effort to gain the upper hand. Neither measure passed. I-330, the pro-doctor initiative, lost by 10 points. I-336, the lawyer-friendly measure, lost by 18. The defeat of both measures will probably mean state lawmakers will take the issue into their own hands later this year, according to observers.
- see this article from the Seattle Times