Sen. Specter says no asbestos vote soon

The latest on the asbestos bill…

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to create a $140 billion asbestos compensation fund is not expected to come up on the Senate floor before the August recess, the legislation’s co-author, Sen. Arlen Specter, said on Wednesday.

“It does not look at this point as if the majority leader is going to find time for it,” Specter said, referring to Sen. Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican. Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, spoke at a news conference that was called to discuss President Bush’s nomination to the Supreme Court, Judge John Roberts.

The Senate’s month-long August recess begins “at the end of next week.”