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Key senator drops objection to asbestos debate
Key senator drops objection to asbestos debate Staff and agencies07 February, 2006
By Susan Cornwell 39 minutes ago WASHINGTON - Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid dropped his objections to debating a bill that would halt asbestos lawsuits, a Reid spokesman said on Tuesday, clearing the way for the controversial legislation to move forward in the Senate.
Reid, a Nevada Democrat, decided to vote in favor of the Senate taking up the measure and to encourage other Democrats to do the same when the vote begins at 6 p.m.
ET on Tuesday, said the spokesman, Jim Manley.
Although this appeared to insure a debate on the bill, Reid‘s spokesman stressed that the minority leader was still strongly opposed to the measure - and was "prepared to use all tools available" to defeat it on the Senate floor - including procedural hurdles.
The bill, sponsored by Pennsylvania Republican Arlen Specter and Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, would create a $140 billion trust fund for people suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
The fund would be financed by asbestos defendant companies and their insurers.
In exchange, the companies would no longer have to face asbestos lawsuits in court.
Reid on Monday thundered against the bill on the Senate floor.
Although Senate Republican Leader Bill Frist wanted to start the debate then, Reid forced Tuesday evening‘s vote with his objection to bringing up the measure.
But, Reid and S...