Washington, D.C. – The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) today encouraged members of the Senate to vote YES on Sen. Arlen Specter’s (R-Pa.) motion to waive the budgetary point of order now facing the Fairness in Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act and allow the legislation to be decided based on its merits.

“The point of order should not be used to stifle debate on an important bill,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Certain members of the Senate are abusing a procedural motion to stop the Senate from voting on the FAIR Act.”

The current system of adjudicating asbestos claims is overwhelming the courts.  More than 730,000 individuals have brought forward claims, and an estimated 300,000 claims are currently pending.

“The current asbestos claim system is broken, harming small businesses, the economy, and true victims.  We call on all members of the Senate to look to the needs of genuine victims, rather than to special interests like trial lawyers who are trying to sink this bill.  The FAIR Act should be allowed to proceed and receive a full floor debate and vote,” Schatz concluded.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.