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Asbestos Bailout Bill Rejected

April 22, 2004
David S. Casey, Jr.
ATLA President

The United States Senate today said a resounding no to proceeding to the asbestos bailout bill, S.2290, failing by ten votes to invoke cloture and end a filibuster against considering the bill.

Needing 60 votes, proponents were able to muster only 50, falling short of even a bare Senate majority.

All Democrats present and voting, except for Senator Zell Miller (GA), opposed proceeding to the bill.  All 49 Republicans who were present and voting supported proceeding to the bill.

Three Senators, Republicans Ben Campbell (CO) and Arlen Specter (PA), and Democrat John Kerry (MA) were absent.

You can reach Senate offices through the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121; additional information on how to contact your Senator can be found at:

http://action.peopleoverprofits.org/legDirectory/

Today's vote is a significant victory for the hundreds of thousands of victims of asbestos poisoning, and for their families, but this fight is not over.

Beginning immediately, Senators will begin a new round of negotiations in an effort to develop Asbestos Trust Fund legislation.  ATLA remains unwavering in its commitment to oppose any bill that does not place the interests of victims over the selfish financial interests of the asbestos companies and their insurers.

The bill rejected by the Senate today fails every test of fundamental fairness.  The victims of asbestos poisoning would have been forced to give up their legal rights and funneled into a proposed administrative system that was woefully under-funded; even pending cases and existing settlements would have been extinguished under the bill.  In addition, restrictive eligibility criteria in the bill would have left tens of thousands of victims, perhaps many more, without any compensation whatsoever.

Thank you for all your help in this fight; ATLA will continue to stand up for the rights of your clients, but we will undoubtedly need to request your help again.  When trial lawyers speak up for the rights of ordinary Americans, there is no more powerful voice.

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