Anybody else listening to Sen. Durbin talking on C-Span2?

[Mind_your_head]

I don't understand exactly what they're talking about (I've been interrupted by phone calls, etc.)

Something about:
Trust fund for victims being created by a private company and will disallow millions of Americans their day in court? Spector had said just prior to Durbin that it may be illegal to reveal 'something'?????? (what was that 'something'?)

TIA

[Atman]

1. The Halliburton asbestos bailout.

It is a big, big deal for Dick "Dick" Cheney.

[Rose Siding]

2. Sounds like Durbin is talking about asbestos

[flyarm]

3. I DO NOT GET SPECTOR..WHAT DO THEY HAVE ON HIM??

here is spector being the neo con water boy..he used to have guts..now he is *es monica..i don't get it,..her is a senior man who has just gone through cancer...and he is selling out cancer victims..wtf is going on with him??

is he caught up in the gannon shit or what?? what do they have on spector???????

he is totally selling out the people of asbestos poisoning..

this isn't a dem and repub thing..this is a bailout for cheney and the neo con boys..and haliburton...wtf?????????

fly

[bleedingheart]

5. many in PA feel that since John Heinz died...(1991)

that Specter has gotten worse....

[jean]

6. He has kids, in-laws, grandkids, staffers. It doesn't have to be 'on him'

[in_cog_ni_to]

4. Yes. IF the companies who will be sued by employees

because of their exposure to asbestos, have to pay individual settlements, that would equal MILLIONS more than what the rat bastards are trying to let the companies put in a trust fund for those law suits. The poor SICK people are getting SCREWED by this and my wonderful Senator is trying his best to help them.:)


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Asbestos: The Substance That Spells Disaster
Touted as a miracle substance to an unsuspecting public, asbestos has been used in thousands of products and in numerous workplaces. Although the harm caused by asbestos is not apparent at first, asbestos exposure can lead to serious, debilitating, and often fatal diseases. These include mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, and asbestosis. Usually, a period of 10 to 40 years or more passes before the asbestos victim exhibits the first asbestos disease symptoms. In the workplace, there is no “safe” level of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure Risk High in Many Occupations
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on edit. I forgot to say THIS...Yesterday Durbin exposed the fact that his staff went to Specter's office to see the LIST OF COMPANIES who will be contributing to this "trust fund" and said it was a SECRET LIST and his staffers were told they were NOT ALLOWED to make copies or write down or expose who was on the SECRET LIST. Specter got pissed off that Durbin kept referring to it as a SECRET LIST and said he would go back and contact the companies and ask if their names could be made public. :) I haven't heard whether he actually did that or not, but I somehow doubt they will give their blessings. IF their names are exposed they will have a HUGE backlash over this. All this is is another corporate bailout. These companies will be free from future lawsuits if they contribute to this trust fund. ALL claims are paid from the fund..$25,000-$1.1 Million over a 4 year period. Can you imagine? You're dying because of your company's negligence and they're going to pay you $25,000? THIS IS SICK. The repukes have NO COMPASSION for anyone! THEN, Tom Coburn, A DOCTOR!!!!!!, got on the floor to SUPPORT THIS SHIT. I cannot believe Leahy is a co-sponsor????? :wtf: Is he REALLY? WTF is he thinking???:grr:

[Atman]

7. My answer got cut off before...failure of this bill could bankrupt Cheney

I had to take off before I finished my previous post...I didn't mean to send it, but what the hey.

Anyway, as I understand it, the law establishes that any CEO who acquires another company can be held PERSONALLY LIABLE for the difference in that companies stock price before and after the aquisition if it is found that he knew it would impact shareholders. Halliburton stock was in the absolute toilet as a result of their purchase of the asbestos company. They bought all the debt/risk, too, of course. Shareholders could have sued him PERSONALLY for every penny they lost up until a certain date. That is also a large part of the reason for Halliburton getting so many no-bid contracts. It made stock sore. It let Cheney off the hook. But he could have stood to be wiped out. Now, if this bill doesn't pass, and Halliburton stock takes a hit because of it, falling below the levels it reached because of the asbestos buyout, Cheney's back in hot water. I don't necessarily see that happening. But I also don't see Cheney ALLOWING it to happen. This bailout will pass. Cheney has too much riding on it.