The asbestos bill is being debated in the Senate now.

[_dynamicdems]

From: earth.care2.com email

"Do we really want to deny the legal rights of millions of people all so we can give negligent companies a free ride? The F.A.I.R Act may come to a vote any day. Please urge your senators to reject this legislation that re-victimizes those who are already suffering from the devastating financial and health consequences of asbestos poisoning."

This issue is isn't getting much air play, but it is very important. Cornyn speaking now.

[whometense]

1. I heard Leahy speaking for it

the other day. It doesn't seem to be dividing along party lines?

[_dynamicdems]

2. No, it doesn't. There are people on both sides of the aisle both for and

against. I haven't heard JK on this, but I suspect (and hope) he will be against. Does anyone know?

[whometense]

3. Don't know -

I suspect against. I don't think he's much in favor of limiting peoples' independent right to recover damages.

[_dynamicdems]

4. I hope so. The bill has some good parts to it, but the bottom line is not

a good one for the little guy. Sure there have been abuses. As long as there are people there will be those who abuse the system. They could close the loopholes without siding with corporations over the people whose health and lives they knowingly destroy.

Maybe it's not completely Republican, but this bill reeks of neocon Republicanism. Cornyn isn't all that happy with the bill, apparently because of the bureaucracy it will create. It seems that there are still Repugs left who want to adhere to their traditional ideal of small government. Funny isn't it, how many neocons are so gung-ho for huge government? Am I guilty of wishful thinking or are we perhaps seeing some signs of an upcoming fracture in the Republican party?

[Mass]

5. This letter tells what he thinks of the bill

http://www.mesothel.com/pdf/Kerry%20Asbestos%20letter.pdf

That was his position in December anyway.

[beachmom]

7. Great letter, and it contains an interesting point for which I have

knowledge:

about tobacco use AND exposure to asbestos. My sister was an environmental engineer for a company back in the late '80s, and they did a study and found that the combination of being a worker exposed to asbestos AND being a smoker was absolutely deadly. The smokers got cancer at a much higher rate than nonsmoker workers exposed to asbestos. In the letter, JK says that these lung cancer victims are excluded. Well, if that's the case, that's nuts. But Republicans don't give a s*** about people, only corporations. So I'm sure Frist tossed JK's letter in the garbage, so his conscience wouldn't have to get to him (I mean, he's a doctor for crying out loud!).

[TayTay]

8. Yeah, this is what killed my father.

His asbestos exposure was from ships in WWII. He smoked. He died from mesothelioma in 1987.

[_dynamicdems]

9. Thanks for posting this. JK's on top of every issue, isn't he?

The bill has been worked on since then, but JK's right, it isn't ready. You can tell that by the discussion that's going on this week.

[karynnj]

6. Halliburtan may be a major beneficiary

They took over a company that had a huge asbestos liability when a certain Mr. Cheney was CEO. In addition to his evilness, he was a lousy CEO - this was an extremely bad deal because it also gave them the liability.