Bennett submits funding request

Fleeting funding for asbestos-related agencies in Libby, which supplement health-care costs related to the hazardous fibers, has prompted freshman Rep. Jerry Bennett, (R-HD1) to sponsor an appropriations bill.

Submitted last Friday, House Bill 414 requests $3.25 million for “counties that have experienced a proliferation of tremolite asbestos-related diseases for asbestos-related disease programs that supplement health care plans and provide screenings.”

The amount would be split with $1.75 million for the 2010 fiscal year and the remaining $1.5 million for 2011.

“We can always negotiate … and amend,” said Bennett, adding he has not been able to sit with Gov. Brian Schweitzer and has received no definitive answer on the funding.

Bennett said the bill would be introduced into the House Appropriations Committee. Lincoln County commissioners will be in Helena for meetings on Feb. 12, and Bennett believes the committee will set that date for its first hearing.

Commissioner Marianne Roose said they are waiting on confirmation to meet with the governor, but may have to schedule for another time due to calendar conflicts.

“We are still in dire straights and would be remiss if we didn’t argue this case on behalf of our constituents,” Roose said. 

“We need to create an awareness with him that as a community this is a request of our concerns. Health care is very crucial and the funding is running out,” she said.

In January, Roose submitted a letter to the governor requesting a meeting. Also at that time, petitions carrying the signatures of area residents in support of the need for continued health-care funding were presented. 

Tanis Hernandez, outreach coordinator with the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, said their office submitted nearly 200 signatures alone.

Hernandez said individuals were encouraged to fax their signatures into Gov. Schweitzer to show the broad-based community support.  

Bennett said he spoke with a committee member and reported some initial support for the funding.

Without further funding, the Libby Asbestos Medical Plan and Asbestos-Related Diseases Network, which supplement health-care costs not covered by the W.R. Grace-Libby Medical Plan, will run out of money sometime this year.

The requested appropriation would be transferred from the state general fund to the Department of Public Heath and Human Services.

The money would be used “only for grants to county health boards” reads HB 414.

If the bill were signed into law, the funding would be effective July 1.