See EXHIBIT 23. URL internet location: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/print/20050107-8.html
THE WHITEHOUSE. . .
President Participates in Asbestos Litigation Conversation, January 7, 2005.
“We got a problem. The Supreme Court recognized it is a problem . . .it's better that they define it than me. After all, these are all lawyers and judges; I'm not. But when they say -- the Supreme Court says we have a national problem, I think Congress needs to listen. . . I intend to help by keeping this issue on the front burner.” — US President George W. Bush---------------
U.S. President George W. Bush said:
EXCERPTS: “And finally, we're here to talk about asbestos lawsuits.
We got a problem. The Supreme Court recognized it as a problem. They said it is a huge mass of -- huge mass of asbestos cases defies customary judicial administration and calls for national legislation. That's a better -- it's better that they define it than me. After all, these are all lawyers and judges; I'm not. But when they say -- the Supreme Court says we have a national problem, I think Congress needs to listen. And why is it a national problem? Well, first of all, we spend about $80 billion on asbestos litigation, and that could end up being $200 billion over time. Secondly, these asbestos suits have bankrupted a lot of companies, and that affects the workers here in Michigan and around the country. Thirdly, those with no major medal {sic} impairment now make up the vast majority of claims, while those who are truly sick are denied their day in court. . . It's a -- most of the asbestos producers are now bankrupt so that lawyers target companies once considered too small to sue, or once considered to be not really directly involved with the manufacturing of asbestos. Because there's nobody else to sue, they try to drag in people that aren't directly involved with the 