Sen. Feinstein Offers Asbestos Fund Compromise

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Draft legislation that aims to bridge the gap between competing Senate plans for a U.S. asbestos compensation fund is being circulated by California Democrat Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The California Democrat's bill assumes a fund of $140 billion to $144 billion, depending on whether existing compensation trusts are brought into the plan, according to a summary sent to Reuters on Friday.

Pending asbestos injury suits would be taken out of the courts and into the new scheme unless a verdict has already been reached or the victim has entered an enforceable settlement.
...
In July, a federal bankruptcy judge approved a $4.2 billion settlement between two units of energy services company Halliburton that could end the companies' long-running liability over asbestos claims.

Most of the claims regarding exposure to asbestos and silica stem from Halliburton's acquisition of DII, formerly Dresser Industries, which the company bought in the 1990s when it was led by Vice President Dick Cheney.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=5974241&src=rss/ElectionCoverage§ion=news

[Rose Siding]

1. Yoo hoo, Is this a taxpayer bail out for Halliburton?

Does the 144 bil come from the company or the taxpayer?

And as long as Halliburton still has two nickles to rub together, why is the US govt covering their law suits?

[maryallen]

2. And WHY is Di Fi "helping" these crooks?

This is one of the cases that Paul Wellstone was working on before he died. I bet he is rolling over in his grave ...