February 28, 2006
A bill creating a trust fund for the victims of asbestos poisoning stalled last month after many senators believed that it was not in the best interest of the victims.
One senator, Max Baucus, feels that the senators who voted against the bill could not understand the severity of the asbestos disease in Libby. Hundreds of asbestos cases, many of them fatal, have occurred in Libby.
The asbestos health problems are blamed on the mine owned and operated by the W-R Grace Company. The mine, which was operated from 1963 through 1990, dispersed asbestos. Asbestos is a leading cause of respiratory diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Senator Baucus feels that his colleagues are more understanding of the human toll that disasters such as hurricanes can cause because these are things that they can visualize.
The town of Libby, the senator believes, is too small to make a big enough impact in the eyes of the other senators.Contact us for more information on asbestos exposure diseases and your legal rights.
