Hundreds of people in the small town of Libby, Montana have died over many years by what seems to be asbestos poisoning. The asbestos exposure came from living beside an old mining operation.
Chemical company, W.R. Grace and five of its former executives are being charged with a bunch of felonies in the case. The government says that they knowingly poisoned Libby with byproducts from mining a mineral called vermiculite and then conspired to cover up their wrongdoing. People died from it and many were sickened.Lawyers for the company Grace asked the judge, Donald W. Molloy, to dismiss the case because of a pattern of “repeated and intentional” misconduct by prosecutors that, the defense says, includes allowing perjured testimony.The company lawyer said, “We now know that the government deliberately solicited testimony from key witnesses that its own agents have conceded to be false.”
Judge Molloy does not seem to believe the prosecutors and he voices those opinions in front of the jury. He has said that Robert Locke, a star witness for the government, is probably “a liar.” It is Mr. Locke whose testimony is at issue in the defense’s accusation of suborning perjury…..Not good. He doesn’t think enough evidence for a conspiracy charge has been presented. He has also thrown out a many of the governments submitted exhibits, he said he didn’t trust the prosecution to do the right thing. He has also not allowed lawyers on both side to speak to reporters.
The government is supposed to rest its case next week but before that it must go through a hearing on Monday about the misconduct of the prosecution. Andrew King-Ries, an assistant law professor at the University of Montana said that the Judge’s stated skepticism and the defense team’s assault on the prosecution team’s ethics has made it hard figure out an outcome for the case. Grace agreed last year in a civil settlement to pay $250 million for environmental cleanup in the town. It had to pay $3 billion to asbestos victims. The five former Grace executives, all now retired, face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charges. The company would face fines and other penalties totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
What I Think:
:/ I think Grace needs to pay the people for their problems and get the correct punishment for the people who have died and who are still sick because of them.
<linK>
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Louisiana’s Federal Aid
Before the government spent $787 on the new stimulus bill, there was a trial run in Louisiana giving them $51 billion dollars. Some people are saying that spending a bunch of money on reconstruction in a small area (because of Hurricane Katrina) has good benefits. The records show that the sates average unemployment rate is %5.7, much lower than the national average of %8.1. Louisiana also saw a drop in unemployment in December-January, it also has an increase in non-farming employment.
It seems that the money coming in for reconstruction from Hurricane Katrina and the construction projects that are constantly going on to fix everything is helping their economy. The unemployment goes down and it gives people the jobs and income they desperately need.
A professor of economic of Louisiana State University, Loren Scott,
says, “…tells you that the stimulus can have an effect.”
On the other hand the governor, Bobby Jindal is against the new stimulus bill. He says a stimulus bill will have “dire consequences” for our time and the future of America. He has even said he might reject $98 million of stimulus money. But it seems that the stimulus in Louisiana have been great for it. In 18 months $25 million a week has given to public assistance programs, that in turn helps local governments rebuild important things communities need. Because the governor doesn’t like stimulus’s and because he is treating to reject the new stimulus package it has caused some skepticism on his part.
MY OPINION:
First off, sorry the article was so short but thats the way it is sometimes. I don't think I should draw something out to be long when it can be short and simple. ANYWAY, well I think that a stimulus package is a good thing. I don't understand why that governer is against it so much....well I guess I do kinda get it. It does take a BUNCH of money to do something like that. But it seems to be helping Louisiana a lot, he shouldn't want to stop a good thing. I guees thats my little opinion, lol enjoy the little article.
~link~
It seems that the money coming in for reconstruction from Hurricane Katrina and the construction projects that are constantly going on to fix everything is helping their economy. The unemployment goes down and it gives people the jobs and income they desperately need.
A professor of economic of Louisiana State University, Loren Scott,
says, “…tells you that the stimulus can have an effect.”
On the other hand the governor, Bobby Jindal is against the new stimulus bill. He says a stimulus bill will have “dire consequences” for our time and the future of America. He has even said he might reject $98 million of stimulus money. But it seems that the stimulus in Louisiana have been great for it. In 18 months $25 million a week has given to public assistance programs, that in turn helps local governments rebuild important things communities need. Because the governor doesn’t like stimulus’s and because he is treating to reject the new stimulus package it has caused some skepticism on his part.
MY OPINION:
First off, sorry the article was so short but thats the way it is sometimes. I don't think I should draw something out to be long when it can be short and simple. ANYWAY, well I think that a stimulus package is a good thing. I don't understand why that governer is against it so much....well I guess I do kinda get it. It does take a BUNCH of money to do something like that. But it seems to be helping Louisiana a lot, he shouldn't want to stop a good thing. I guees thats my little opinion, lol enjoy the little article.
~link~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
