By John McCarthy
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - House and Senate lawmakers failed to work out differences late Wednesday on bills that would limit asbestos lawsuits, stalling any deal for at least two weeks.

Part of the deal that survived restored a provision that would protect companies that bought businesses that once produced asbestos.

That provision was moved to a bill protecting health workers at free clinics from lawsuits. The House passed that bill Wednesday night, sending it back to the Senate.

But Senate President Doug White said he was interested in moving a larger bill that would limit liability in most lawsuits. That bill stalled when the Senate made wholesale changes and sent it back to the House. The Senate version was held on the House calendar Tuesday and Wednesday.

House Speaker Larry Householder and White discussed a compromise designed to move the asbestos bill, but the deal fell apart when White said he didn't have enough votes to pass the amended health-workers bill in the Senate.

Householder said he would hold the asbestos bill until the Senate decides what to do. Both chambers hold just one more week of sessions before beginning summer break.

The asbestos bill would limit the ability of Ohioans exposed to the substance to sue for damages if they haven't yet shown signs of illness.

The bill uses medical criteria based on American Bar Association guidelines to rank people exposed to asbestos based on the severity of their illness.

People suffering from the worst asbestos-related illnesses could proceed with lawsuits; those exposed but not showing signs of illness would have the lawsuits dismissed but could refile them if they show signs of disease.