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As you know, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported the Asbestos
Trust Fund bill yesterday. This bill is a long way from becoming
law, but we have a lot of work to do. It is unlikely that the bill
will be on the floor in early June; nevertheless we must be
vigilant in keeping pressure on our friends in the Senate.
At this time, the text of the bill as amended is not yet available,
but we will send details as soon as possible.
However, the message remains the same: the bill is under
funded, unworkable, unconstitutional and unfair.
Over the coming week, Senators will be home for the Memorial Day
recess. During this time, we need you make sure that additional
Senators do not sign on as co-sponsors to this bad legislation.
As Senator Kennedy thundered, this is the worst bill he's seen
since he's been in Washington DC over the last 40 years. It
tramples on our civil liberties, rewards bad companies who do
really bad things, and punishes innocent victims.
I know we've asked you to "man the barricades"
before, but I don't know what else to do. My firm and others
send money to our lobbyists but in the end a hard hitting 30 second
TV commercial is not nearly as persuasive as a letter from an
asbestos cancer claimant or loved one, or a face-to-face meeting
with a senator or staffer.
Here's what you can do:
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1.
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Send letters or emails to your Senators - go here to get a
sample letter:
http://www.atla.org/private/asbestos/050527clientletter.pdf
or click
here
If your senator is already against the bill, please contact a
senator who is opposed to the bill (all the Republicans, e.g,
on the senate judiciary committee). If you live in
California, tell Sen. Feinstein what a rotten thing she's
doing backing the mass poisoners. Same goes for those of you
living in Wisconsin (Sen. Kohl caved in and voted the bill
out of ccommittee). Same with Leahy (Vermont).
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2.
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Call Senators Durbin, Kennedy, Feingold and Biden at
202-224-3121 and thank them for taking a strong stand against
the bill. These are our HEROES!
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3.
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Send Letters to the Editors of the major papers in your state.
We are providing sample letters and talking points for you, but
letters should be personal, detailing struggles with asbestos
disease. Send copies of all letters to us. Here is a link to
talking points and sample letters:
http://www.atla.org/private/asbestos/050527editor.pdf
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4.
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Here are some talking points about the bill and why it's
so bad: You can use these points in your letters, phone
calls, and interviews.
Talking points:
http://www.atla.org/private/asbestos/050527specter.pdf
Background paper:
http://www.atla.org/private/asbestos/050527illness.pdf
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5.
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We will soon be scheduling an asbestos victims' Lobby Day
in Washington DC. This was a great success last year. I look
forward to going to our nation's capitol with many of you.
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6.
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Many of my clients have advised they want to meet with their
senator and/or senate staffers. Now is a good time to do that
during the Memorial Day recess (May 27 - June 6). Contact
information for Senators' Capitol Hill and district offices
can be found at
http://action.peopleoverprofits.org/legDirectory/ If you
follow through on this, please let us know so we can pass on
your "intelligence" to our advocates in DC.
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As usual, there's no time like the present to make a better
tomorrow.
Roll Labor!
Roger Worthington
5/29/05
*** POSTED MAY 29, 2005 ***
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