Washington–An influential Democratic senator urged the Senate leadership today to delay consideration of asbestos injury fund legislation now planned for early February because the votes for passage may not be there.

The letter by Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Arkansas, seems to articulate the insurance industry consensus that the legislation, S. 852, does not have enough support to win passage.

The industry view is that Senate Majority Leader William Frist, R-Tenn., will bring the bill to the floor for a vote next month–as he has promised to do many times–but that the bill will be rejected.

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