Senator resisting cut in asbestos claims fund

	Tweet

U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter indicated on Thursday he is resisting Republican attempts to reduce the size of a proposed $140 billion fund to compensate asbestos victims.

Specter told a news conference he will meet next Tuesday with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and other Republicans to try to resolve differences over his asbestos proposal.

He said some Republicans wanted to reduce the size of the proposed fund, but noted the parties who would be financing it - business and insurers - endorsed the $140 billion amount last year along with the then-Senate leaders, including Frist.

"If manufacturers and insurers are willing to pay that ... It seems to me we ought to be able to move ahead,” Specter said. He said some other Republican concerns about his proposal were legitimate and he was looking for ways to compromise, but did not elaborate

Asbestos was used widely for fireproofing and insulation until the 1970s. Scientists say its inhaled fibers are linked to cancer and other diseases. Hundreds of thousands of injury claims have been filed in U.S. courts, and dozens of companies have filed for bankruptcy as a result.

Under Specter’s plan, asbestos claims would be taken out of the courts and paid from the $140 billion fund instead.

Specter said he would like his committee to vote on the bill as soon as next Thursday, but did not know whether he had the votes for it to pass the panel. 

RELATED STORIES:
Whooping cough outbreaks reported in US hospitals   Influenza monitoring by the US military   N.J. gov. urges Bush to end stem-cell restrictions   MRSA superbug spreading in the community   Cuba sends doctors to help Guyana flood relief   WHO likely to give H1N1 jab guidance on Monday   Republicans to meet on key senator’s asbestos bid   Harmful errors still common in U.S. hospitals: study   Britain’s Brown unveils $10 bln plan to beat AIDS   American families grapple with decisions on death   Sudan tells U.N. to back up its Darfur death toll   FDA delays response to prescription drug lawsuit

Comments

[ + Post Your Own ]

Now you're in the public comment zone. What follows is not Armenian Medical Network's stuff; it comes from other people and we don't vouch for it. A reminder: By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

There are no comments for this entry yet. [ + Comment here + ]