U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter indicated on Thursday he is resisting Republican attempts to reduce the size of a proposed $140 billion fund to compensate asbestos victims.

Specter told a news conference he will meet next Tuesday with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and other Republicans to try to resolve differences over his asbestos proposal.

He said some Republicans wanted to reduce the size of the proposed fund, but noted the parties who would be financing it - business and insurers - endorsed the $140 billion amount last year along with the then-Senate leaders, including Frist.

“If manufacturers and insurers are willing to pay that ... It seems to me we ought to be able to move ahead,” Specter said. He said some other Republican concerns about his proposal were legitimate and he was looking for ways to compromise, but did not elaborate

Asbestos was used widely for fireproofing and insulation until the 1970s. Scientists say its inhaled fibers are linked to cancer and other diseases. Hundreds of thousands of injury claims have been filed in U.S. courts, and dozens of companies have filed for bankruptcy as a result.

Under Specter’s plan, asbestos claims would be taken out of the courts and paid from the $140 billion fund instead.

Specter said he would like his committee to vote on the bill as soon as next Thursday, but did not know whether he had the votes for it to pass the panel.