Sebelius and Baucus rebuffed in Mont. after touting health care coverage for asbestos victims

Sebelius, Baucus rebuked in Mont. over health care

LIBBY, Mont. — Instead of saying thanks, some residents of a Montana town rebuked Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Sen. Max Baucus on Monday for the law that made health coverage for local asbestos victims possible.

The two officials visited to tout new Medicare coverage that could extend to potentially thousands of people in Libby, where years of asbestos pollution from a mine made this the nation’s deadliest Superfund site.

But many of those from the northwestern Montana town of 3,000 appeared to be less concerned about how the new law helps those with asbestos illnesses than with the legislation itself.

Some residents did express gratitude for the new coverage, calling it a major milestone in Libby’s recovery.