Washington, DC, April 29--A parliamentary maneuver by a Democratic senator forced a U.S. Senate committee to postpone action for two weeks on a $140 billion trust fund to compensate asbestos-exposure victims.
Due to the procedural wrangling, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter put off plans to complete work today on the bill and send it to the full Senate. Specter rescheduled the debate for May 12 after the Senate returns from a one-week recess.
The delay will give Specter and Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, the panel's top Democrat and the bill's cosponsor, more time to round up 10 votes among the committee's 18 members. Seven senators have said they would support the bill and an eighth, Alabama Republican Jeff Sessions, suggested this week he would vote for the measure.
"We can't function. Somebody raised an objection, wanting to slow us down," Specter told reporters after adjourning the hearing. Still, "I am optimistic we can get the bill out of committee," the Pennsylvania Republican said.
The legislation would provide victims of cancer and other asbestos-related diseases with up to $1.1 million each and end lawsuit claims against companies that use or produce asbestos. Asbestos was used to make brakes, insulation and building materials.
Wisconsin Democrat Herb Kohl, whose vote was being sought by both sides, is still undecided, Lynn Becker, his spokeswoman, said yesterday. Kohl wasn't present for today's debate. Kansas Republican Sam Brownback said he would decide whether to vote on the bill after he sees the results of the May 12 debate.
Senators offered 83 amendments, and the panel completed work on 18 today. More amendments could surface in the next two weeks, Specter said.
The committee's work was brought to a standstill when an unidentified Democrat invoked a rule that prohibits committees from meeting after the Senate is in session more than two hours. Senators are not required to identify themselves when they invoke the rule. Jim Manley, a spokesman for Democratic leader Harry Reid, said the lawmaker who invoked the rule was protesting the asbestos bill.
The Senate went into recess for two hours to allow the Judiciary Committee to continue meeting. Still, the panel was forced to adjourn when the Senate went back into session.
"We had the honor of being the target," Specter said, adding he took heart that Republican Leader Bill Frist adjourned the Senate for two hours to allow debate to proceed. "That shows this is not an ordinary piece of legislation in the leader's mind," Specter said.
The proposed trust fund would be financed by companies facing asbestos lawsuits and insurers that underwrote liability policies, such as American International Group Inc. and Chubb Corp.
Before adjourning, the committee adopted by voice vote an amendment to give Equitas Ltd. the same protections for possible financial hardships that the bill affords U.S. insurers.
Equitas Ltd., founded in 1996 to take on the non-life liabilities of Lloyd's of London insurance policies underwritten until 1993, warned it might be declared insolvent if forced to donate the full amount it was assigned to give the fund.
The panel also approved giving all insurers a credit against future payments if they have to pay extra in the first five years to make up for foreign companies that renege on contributions. That change "will bring some of the insurance companies on board," Specter said.
Trade associations representing insurers such as Hartford Financial Services Group Inc., CINA Financial Corp. and State Farm have opposed the bill.
Arizona Republican Jon Kyl said the panel should move slowly because "we are using the heavy hand of government to affect people's rights and businesses."
