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Planet Ark : US Senate to Vote Tuesday in Asbestos Bill Debate
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US Senate to Vote Tuesday in Asbestos Bill Debate
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USA: February 7, 2006
WASHINGTON - The US Senate will vote on Tuesday on whether to consider a bill to halt asbestos lawsuits and pay victims from a $140 billion privately financed fund, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said 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 US companies, including W.R.
Grace & Co.
and USG Corp.
Frist, a Tennessee Republican, said he wanted the Senate to debate the bill, but there had been an objection from the Democrats.
Under Senate rules, such an objection triggers a procedural vote, and at least 60 votes are needed to go ahead with debate.
The vote was set for...
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