Government Keeps Asbestos Concerns in Forefront

In early January, President Bush spoke in Clinton Township, Mich., about the need to curb asbestos lawsuits. Bush quoted the U.S. Supreme Court as saying that asbestos is a national problem. “That requires a national solution,” Bush said. Although the president did not define a remedy, he said that Congress needs to consider the issue.

The following week, Senate Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) held a hearing on draft legislation to establish a trust fund to resolve ongoing asbestos litigation. Specter's proposed legislation does not meet the approval of the insurance industry, however. “Despite Senator Specter's considerable efforts, the current discussion draft legislation, while well intentioned, does not accomplish those objectives,” said Ernie Csiszar, president and chief executive officer of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. “As drafted, the bill will not settle the asbestos claims that are clogging our court system, bankrupting businesses, and costing American jobs.”

Many, including the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.), felt that the president failed to go far enough in his call to end asbestos litigation. “I am deeply troubled that the president spoke of ending liability for companies that have used asbestos without addressing the need to ban this deadly substance,” said Murray. “The president can focus all he wants on limiting victims once they're sick, but I believe we must stop people from being victimized by asbestos in the first place.”