Feb 09, 2006 - 14:07:32 CST
WASHINGTON — Dick Hedahl, owner of a Bismarck-based auto parts company, traveled to the nation’s capitol this week to lobby for legislation that would set up a $140 billion fund to pay people sickened by asbestos.At the same time, North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad, the top Democrat on the Senate Budget Committee, says the bill is “seriously flawed” and could cost taxpayers up to $300 billion.
The bill, which the Senate is debating this week, would pay asbestos victims from the privately supported trust fund in exchange for halting all asbestos-related court cases.
Supporters say the proposal would speed relief to people sickened by exposure to asbestos, a fibrous mineral commonly used until the mid-1970s in insulation and fireproofing material. Its tiny fibers can cause cancer and other ailments when inhaled, but the diseases often take decades to develop. Such a fund would keep many businesses sued by asbestos victims afloat, rather than vulnerable to crippling jury awards.
Opponents say the trust fund would be drained by claims and taxpayers would end up footing the bill. Some businesses say claims would then end up back in court and huge jury awards again would threaten businesses.
Hedahl, who spoke at a press conference with many of the bill’s supporters Wednesday, said he is backing the legislation because of his own experience with asbestos-related lawsuits.
He said his company, Hedahls Parts Plus, has been sued 65 times by plaintiffs who likely bought brake parts that included an asbestos lining from his stores. As the middleman in the transactions, he says he is not at fault.
“I am one of the reasons the courts are clogged up with extra defendants,” he said.
He says he was invited to speak at the news conference by the office of the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania.
“It’s a good solution,” Hedahl said of the bill. “It’s not perfect but it’s very good.”
Conrad, however, said Wednesday that he opposes the legislation because it would not aqequately compensate those sickened.
“It offers a false promise to victims of asbestos,” Conrad said. “The last thing we want to do is create a government-managed fund that we know will be insolvent.”
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