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Post article falsely described asbestos bill opponents as "Democratic foes" Media Matters Action Network Media Matters for America Search this site Advanced Search Search Go You are not logged in.

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Post article falsely described asbestos bill opponents as "Democratic foes" Summary: A Washington Post article about the debate over asbestos legislation described support for the bill as bipartisan, but referred only to "Democratic" foes.

In fact, the bill has bipartisan opposition and bipartisan support.

A February 8 Washington Post article characterized a February 7 Senate vote to consider proposed asbestos legislation as "a setback for Democratic foes" of the bill.

In fact, as the Post's coverage has previously noted, there is bipartisan opposition to the asbestos bill, as well as bipartisan support.

The article, by staff writer Shailagh Murray, characterized the opposition as "Democratic foes" even though it noted in the next paragraph that the sole senator to vote against considering the asbestos bill was a Republican, James M.

Inhofe (OK).

Asbestos, a material once commonly used in construction because of its strength and heat resistance, has been linked to serious types of cancer and lung diseases, prompting large lawsuits by workers exposed to asbestos who later got sick.

One company, W.R.

Grace & Co., was...

... ABC News: Senators urge major changes to asbestos bill /* */ ABC News Home February 9, 2006 | Get Your Local News and Weather Search ABC NewsSearch the Web Home U.S.

International Money Technology & Science Health Entertainment Politics ESPN Sports Travel Local News & Weather Video & Audio Good Morning America World News Tonight 20/20 Primetime Nightline World News Now This Week ABC News Home > Politics ABC News Senators urge major changes to asbestos bill Bush Says Cooperation Thwarted 2002 Attack Reid Aided Abramoff Clients, Records Show The Note: "No, You May *Not* Refer Us" 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 ...

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E-Mail This Story Printer-Friendly Format AIG to Pay More Than $1.6 Billion to Settle Probes by SEC, Eliot Spitzer Stocks in U.S.

Gain on Earnings Forecasts; Shares of Best Buy, Aetna Climb Aetna Earnings Rise 41 Percent as Insurer Adds Customers to Medical Plans Bush Administration Has `Concerns' With Asbestos Plan (Update1) Feb.

9 (Bloomberg) - The Bush administration supported a proposed $140 billion fund for victims of asbestos exposure while expressing ``serious concerns'' with unspecified provisions of U.S.

Senate legislation to create the company-financed trust.

The administration said in a statement that the measure lawmakers began debating this week should be amended before it reaches President George W.

Bush to be signed into law.

While Bush previously called for measures to end asbestos lawsuits because they sap economic growth, the statement is the first time the administration has endorsed the trust fund.

The plan, to be financed by companies that made or sold products with asbestos and their insurers, would end suits that have forced almost 80 companies into bankruptcy, includ...