COLUMBIA--House Republicans ran into a procedural filibuster Tuesday but said nothing would stop them from approving the Senate's version of tort reform this week.

"If we don't have an agreement, we're going to be here a long time and for a lot of days," said Speaker David Wilkins, a Greenville Republican. "It is my intention not to go home until we finish tort reform." The House had planned to take next week off.

The Senate approved a House bill last week that stipulates fault among defendants in non-medical tort cases. The Republican Caucus decided Tuesday morning to go along with the Senate's changes to the House bill, giving the measure enough votes for approval.

But Rep. James Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said the bill has problems. He stacked 11 boxes packed with more than 8,000 amendments in the front of the House chamber, using them as leverage in a deal that would clarify some of the measure's language in a second bill.

Even though supporters used House rules to limit debate on the amendments, Smith could hold up debate for more than a month.

Smith and supporters huddled in groups for hours trying to reach a deal on the second bill but adjourned unsatisfied.

"Obviously, the minority has a certain bit of concern with the bill, and we would try to allay those fears with some perfecting language," said Majority Leader Jim Merrill.

The tense negotiations concerning the tort bill quickly returned the House to its normal manner of business after an unusual show of unanimity on the budget bill earlier in the day.