DENVER -- Congress is currently debating a bill that would pay victims of asbestos poisoning. Some Coloradoans say it unfairly protects negligent corporations from future lawsuits. Others say it would benefit victims who have suffered for years.

Opponents of the bill held a protest at the state capitol on Tuesday, saying it's not the right solution for the thousands who are dying of asbestos poisoning.

Carolyn Benton, of Greeley, lost her husband to asbestos-related cancer.

"After his death, I missed him terribly and still do," Benton said. "My husband was exposed originally when he was in the Navy. He was on the fire watch. And they gave him a bucket of asbestos and he had to use that to put out fires."

Benton and others say the bill is inadequately funded and would slam the courthouse door on a victim's right to sue companies or the government for asbestos poisoning.

"They knew their product was deadly and they did nothing," protestor Dennie Pate said.

But others say the bill is the only way victims will ever get paid. Disabled American Veterans supervisor Rob Lougee doesn't officially endorse it, but he said it appears beneficial.

Lougee said the bill would be good "if it would support veterans benefits of some type -- medical care, compensation -- as a result of their exposure to asbestos."

Commercials for and against the asbestos bill have hit the airwaves.

Sen. Wayne Allard of Colorado said he will support the proposed $140 billion fund.

Sen. Ken Salazar said he's still reviewing the bill and remains undecided.

On Tuesday, Salazar voted to proceed but said he may be fiscally irresponsible and his belief that more pressing matters face the nation.

"I am concerned that this legislation has the potential to bust the federal treasury. In this time of record-breaking deficits, Congress must exercise fiscal responsibility and restraint. Recent reports have revealed that previous federal programs have largely underestimated the number of claims that would be filed and have resulted in an explosion in costs. For example, initial estimates for the Black Lung Program were $3 billion, actual benefits paid through FY 2004 have totaled over $41 billion," Salazar said in a release. "Our commitment to fiscal discipline should not simply be rhetorical. While I believe we need a federal solution to this issue, I will not support a program that has the high potential of bankrupting our government any further."

He also said with the country currently facing an energy crisis, a health care crisis, a national security crisis, a war on Iraq, a war on terror, an effort to rebuild the Gulf Coast states, he said he hopes that these national issues would be a higher priority for Washington.