A Call to Governor Kasich to Stand-up for Ohio Asbestos Cancer Victims
Columbus, December 5, 2012 —The following is a statement from Asbestos Victims Coalition President Anthony Gallucci in response to the Ohio Senate passage of HB 380:
“Asbestos has killed thousands of Ohioans, yet today the Ohio Senate passed a bill that will tip the scales of justice in favor of the corporations that profited from this deadly product and destroyed lives. We urge Governor Kasich to stand-up to the industry that kills his constituents and oppose HB 380.”
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Asbestos Facts:
- Asbestos-related diseases kill at least 10,000 Americans every year.
- Ohio has the eighth highest rate of asbestos deaths in the country.
- At least 1,356 people have died in Ohio from mesothelioma since 1999.
- Experts believe the true death toll is at least five times higher.
- Asbestos-related diseases have a 20 to 50 year latency period, which means many of those exposed decades earlier are dying now.
- Asbestos is still legal in this country.
Controversy Surrounding HB 380:
- The bill was written by lobbyists for the asbestos industry and two corporate front groups working on the industry’s behalf: the American Legislative Exchange Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
- Only the asbestos industry and its corporate front groups support this bill.
- The bill was originally scheduled for a committee vote in May, but was unable to draw enough support. This prompted reshuffling the committee in order to secure a majority vote.
- This same legislation was vetoed in a bipartisan vote in December 2008.
