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Reid On Asbestos Victims Reform: Against It Before He Was For It
Minority Leader Harry Reid Claims He Will Consider Backing Litigation Reforms That Set Strict Medical Criteria
February 14, 2006 - Reid Claims He May Support Legislation To Curb “Some” Asbestos Lawsuits – But Not Set Up A Trust Fund For Victims. “The leader of U.S. Senate Democrats said Monday he would consider backing curbs on some asbestos lawsuits if the chamber would scuttle legislation removing all claims from court and paying victims from a $140 billion trust fund. … Reid, from Nevada, said an alternative to the national fund would be to keep asbestos claims in court, but revise the medical criteria so that only claims involving serious disease go forward.” (Susan Cornwell, “Key U.S. Democrat Willing To Curb Asbestos Suits,” Reuters, 2/13/06)
But Days Ago, Reid Voted Against A Measure To Do Just That
As Reuters Notes, Reid “Voted Against Just Such A Medical Criteria Proposal Last Week.” “Most Senate Democrats, including Reid, voted against just such a medical criteria proposal last week, but nearly half the chamber’s Republicans backed the idea. … Reid’s offer to look again at tougher medical guidelines seemed designed to try and tempt Republicans to join forces with him and other Democrats in killing the trust fund bill.” (Susan Cornwell, “Key U.S. Democrat Willing To Curb Asbestos Suits,” Reuters, 2/13/06)
Reid Has Had Trouble Keeping His Stories Straight While Debating The Asbestos Victims Bill
Reid, On February 9: “I’m not too sure the Judiciary Committee should have jurisdiction of this bill.” (Sen. Harry Reid, Congressional Record, 2/9/06)
* Reid In April 2004: “The Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over this legislation … it has to come out of the Judiciary Committee.” (Sen. Harry Reid, Congressional Record, 4/20/04)
Reid, On February 9: “I think there should have been a joint referral to the Environment and Public Works Committee.” (Sen. Harry Reid, Congressional Record, 2/9/06)
* Reid In April 2004: “It cannot come out of the Environment and Public Works Committee.” (Sen. Harry Reid, Congressional Record, 4/20/04)
Major Newspapers Have Given Reid Poor Reviews For His Conduct
The New York Times: Reid’s Threats Are “Shocking … We Can’t Imagine What [He’s] Trying To Achieve.” “[I]t’s shocking to hear Mr. Reid threatening now to block a bipartisan bill that would finally bring justice and compensation to victims of asbestos-related diseases. We can’t imagine what Mr. Reid is trying to achieve, other than showing fealty to the trial lawyers who have been so generous to his party.” (Editorial, “Justice For Asbestos Victims,” The New York Times, 2/7/06)
The Washington Post: “For Mr. Reid To Demean This Effort In Order To Fire Off Campaign Sound Bites Is Reprehensible.” (Editorial, “Forward On Asbestos,” The Washington Post, 2/10/06)
Post Editors Described The Asbestos Bill As “A Triumph Of Good Sense And Bipartisan Cooperation.” “In a triumph of good sense and bipartisan cooperation, the Senate voted on Tuesday to go forward with a bill that would fix the broken asbestos litigation system.” (Editorial, “Forward On Asbestos,” The Washington Post, 2/10/06)
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