Thursday, October 17th, 2002 — A deal between the White House and members of Congress of both parties on creating a government backstop for insurance companies in the event of another Sept. 11-like attack ran aground on Thursday as a key lawmaker balked at a compromise over lawsuits.
The tentative pact struck between the White House and lawmakers over limits to legal liability was not acceptable to Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican whose task was to negotiate portions of the bill covering legal issues, aides to the lawmaker said.
Congressional sources close to the negotiations had earlier on Thursday expressed confidence a deal had been reached and the White House said the parties were very close.