GHOST WRITERS ROIL ASBESTOS TALK
June 6, 2005 08:03

It's one of Washington's dirty secrets that lobbyists
routinely draft legislation. But enviros are crying
foul after a judge brokering an asbestos-liability
deal enlisted business to write part of a proposed
law. Third Circuit Court Judge Edward Becker asked
biz execs to draft a key provision in order to speed
progress on a deal. Richard Wiles of the Environmental
Working Group says sick and dying asbestos victims
have issues with the bill, too, and deserve a crack
at it. Don't bother telling that to the judge: "Look
at the health and safety provisions. They were written
by labor," Becker says. "Business complained about
them, but they're in the bill." Indeed, he says,
"there are a lot of individual companies whose ox is
gored" by the proposed deal.

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Business Week, 06/06/2005