Signatures Sought for Asbestos Bill

Article Added March 2nd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story

Senate aides have stated that the signatures for 60 senators are being sought in order to bring about another vote for the asbestos bill vetoed last week. The legislation would create a $140 billion fund for asbestos victims and their families.

Co-creators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy have started to circulate a letter this week, requesting support from more than 60 members of the Senate. The vote of 60, or more, would overcome procedural hurdles and bring the legislation back to the Senate floor for debate. The bill is designed to take asbestos claims out of the courts, and to draw compensation from a fund financed by defendant companies and their insurers. The compensation would prohibit those that receive a payout from suing the company individually. The votes were needed earlier this month to clear a budget point of order that was raised on the Senate floor. The member pointed out that the fund may end up costing taxpayers.

The vote ended up as 58 to 41, shelving the purposed bill for the present. The current letter being circulated requests a revote on the budget point of order. It is not yet known how many signatures have been assured. The letter made a plea concerning time, highlighting the fact that thi8s may be the bill’s last chance in the Senate. Other filibusters for the bill were not addressed in the letter. The request for signatures has gone so far as to assure a signature in a public statement, so a reoccurrence of the last vote (which was projected at 60-40) will not happen again.

Article Added March 2nd, 2006 - Print This Story - Bookmark This Story