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ABC News: Senate to vote Tuesday on asbestos debate
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Senate to vote Tuesday on asbestos debate
Senators Question Gonzales on NSA Wiretaps
Bush Budget Plan a Headache for Congress
Podcast: The AfterNote
ReutersFeb 6, 2006 — By Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate set a vote for Tuesday on
whether to consider a bill to halt asbestos lawsuits as
senators hurled verbal brickbats over the legislation and the
intense lobbying it has engendered.
"I can't stand this legislation," fumed Senate Minority
Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat who opposed Senate
Majority Leader Bill Frist's attempt to bring the bill up for
debate on Monday.
Asbestos fibers are linked to lung-scarring diseases,
including cancer.
Hundreds of thousands of injury claims have
clogged courtroom dockets and helped push into bankruptcy
proceedings more than 70 U.S.
companies, including W.R.
Grace &
Co.
and USG Corp..
Reid called the plan to create a $140 billion fund to
compensate victims of asbestos-related diseases a "terrible"
proposal.
He said the bill was on the Senate floor only because
lobbyists representing some...
Read more...