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ABC News: Senators urge major changes to asbestos bill
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Senators urge major changes to asbestos bill
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ReutersFeb 9, 2006 — By Susan Cornwell
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of Republican senators on
Thursday proposed completely rewriting an asbestos bill to
allow lawsuits under strict medical criteria rather than create
a $140 billion fund to pay victims of the mineral.
The new approach to resolve years of litigation over
lung-scarring diseases and cancer linked to asbestos was
offered by Texas Republican John Cornyn, who said he had 14
Republican co-sponsors and hoped to attract Democrats.
Cornyn's proposal is similar to a bill introduced in the
House that would allow asbestos lawsuits to go forward only if
claimants met certain medical standards.
He introduced the plan
as an amendment to a bill that would halt asbestos lawsuits and
create an industry-financed $140 billion fund to pay claims.
Many critics of the fund are concerned it will run out of
money, leaving taxpayers ...
Read more...