Budget Vote Takes Asbestos Bill Off Senate Floor; Reconsideration Looming

WASHINGTON ---- The U.S. Senate on Tuesday fell two votes short of blocking an effort to derail the $140 billion asbestos trust fund bill that arose out of concerns raised last week that the bill violates Congressional budget rules.

The vote, which followed a motion to waive a budgetary point of order that the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act (FAIR) violates a limitation on federal spending, failed 58-41. Supporters of the bill needed at least 60 votes to overcome the point of order.

Sen. Jon Ensign, R-Nev., brought the procedural objection days into floor consideration of the FAIR Act, …