What list are Specter and Durbin haggling about on CSPAN right now? nt

[LeftNYC]

[Brotherjohn]

1. Are the NSA spying hearings resuming?? n/t

[LeftNYC]

3. no its on the floor of the Senate...

something about not keeping a list secret. Specter is saying its not secret. Durbin is saying the American people need to see it. Something about a bill Specter is sponsoring.

[Pirate Smile]

2. Asbestos settlement - Companies to pay out to victims of Asbestos.

[LeftNYC]

4. gotcha...thanks...nt

[Pirate Smile]

5. More about this:

Halliburton Has a Friend in Dick Cheney: No Bid Contracts in Iraq and Getting Off the Hook on Asbestos

BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY

There are those infamous "no-bid" contracts for Halliburton in Iraq ), but that's just one example of why the White House will probably end up renaming the Lincoln bedroom the Halliburton bedroom.

As Joe Conason predicted in June of 2002:

"One explanation for Cheney's carefree attitude about asbestos is that he and other corporate leaders expected their lobbyists to convince Congress to take care of the multibillion-dollar problem, perhaps with a bailout or a cap on damages. Halliburton's lobbying expenses and campaign contributions approximately doubled during Cheney's tenure."

Time has proven Joe correct (6/07/03):

Halliburton hold-up

Halliburton, the oil company once headed by US vice-president Dick Cheney, expects to delay the bankruptcies of two units until the third quarter, which could enable the company to pay less than expected to settle asbestos cases under a proposed law.

Of course, Halliburton benefits on Wall Street as a result (7/09/03):

Halliburton shares surge on Senate asbestos plan

A congressional effort that may limit the cost of asbestos litigation gave shares of Halliburton Co. a boost on Wednesday, since such a plan could cut the oil field service firm's current $4.25 billion liability by more than 75 percent, according to a Reuters report.

Shares of the Houston-based company formerly led by Vice President Dick Cheney rose as much as 4.7 percent in morning trade before losing some steam to close up 2.7 percent, or 62 cents, at $23.45 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Reuters also reported that Halliburton got an extra boost from J.P. Morgan analysts, who upgraded the shares to "overweight" from "neutral."

If the plan is approved by Congress, the company, which has agreed to pay $4.25 billion to settle claims, would pay no more than $675 million to a proposed trust fund for victims, New York law firm Caplin & Drysdale said in a report to the Senate Judiciary committee, Reuters said, quoting a Financial Times report.

The committee, led by Republican Orrin Hatch, wants to overhaul the country's asbestos liability system by moving class-action lawsuits out of the courts. Victims instead would submit claims to a $108 billion trust fund set up by businesses and their insurers, supported by a $45 billion "backstop."

But what about the victims of asbestos and the American taxpayer? This is the way it works under the rule of the Bush Cartel. We get screwed:

"USAction" Says Victims Ignored in Hatch Asbestos Proposal (6/20/03)

"Senator Hatch's bill lets companies like Halliburton, Honeywell and GE will walk away from multi billion dollar asbestos liabilities. They'll only have to pay a fraction of what they owe. Halliburton -- Vice President Cheney's former company -- agreed to a $4.2 billion settlement last December. Yet under this proposal Halliburton would only pay a maximum of $675 million. That would be a $3.5 billion gift to Halliburton from US Senators. Sick and dying asbestos workers and their families are truly missing from this proposal. Victims exposed after 1982 don't get any compensation at all, yet every day workers are still being exposed," Blum said.

Of course, all of this is just the tip of the iceberg about Halliburton. Read Joe Conason's, 2002 column closely (above):


http://www.buzzflash.com/contributors/03/08/17_halliburton.html

[LeftNYC]

6. WOW! Nice info...Is there anything Haliburton doesnt have their

paws in?