the Trial Lawyers Enrichment Act of 2002. Consider the objections one-by-one:

Enact new liability protection for pharmaceutical companies for the vaccines they make.

In the event of a biological attack, say by smallpox, there will be a mass innoculation program. With every vaccine, there are some people who will have adverse reactions. If you vaccinate some 270 million people, you can expect thousands of people to become very ill and some will die. That's just the nature of the vaccination based on probability and statistics since there's nothing made by man that's perfect. On the other hand, not vaccinating people could result in millions of deaths. Clearly, it seems reasonable that the greatest good for the greatest number of people is to vaccinate everyone. Why should lawyers rack up big fees because no vaccination is perfect?

Gut a Senate amendment that prohibits the government from signing contracts with companies that move their headquarters offshore -- where they don't have to pay U.S. taxes.

According to a news report I saw the other day, only some 14 US companies have moved their headquarters offshore in the last 10 years. It doesn't appear this is a major issue.

Create a homeland security research center program at a U.S. university. Democrats say the legislation is written in such a way as to create the center at Texas A&M University in Texas, home to some powerful GOP lawmakers and President Bush.

Actually, I can see dropping this one. It smells like typical government pork.

Provide liability protection for airport screening companies.

Funny, wasn't airport screening supposted to be done by government employees now? Besides, those screeners aren't any more perfect than anyone else. Why should Americans be suing Americans over foreign attacks?

Provide liability protection for companies that sell anti-terrorism technologies or products.

This one bears close examination. There are several companies selling "anti-terrorism" equipment since 9-11. Some of these companies may be doing nothing more than selling snake oil. I don't see letting companies that sell marginal or useless "anti-terrorism" products off the hook if their stuff turns out to be worthless. On the other hand, the fault for the attacks belong to the terrorists, not the manufacturers.

Erect barriers to the Transportation Security Agency for the issuance of some security rules for travelers.

Insufficient info to comment.

Allow the Department of Homeland Security to hold advisory committee meetings in secret, a move Democrats say is a gift to corporate lobbyists.

No more than any other government committee that meats in secret, such as Hillary's Health Care Task Force back in 1993. Like everything else, most government business should be conducted in the light of day so the citizens can know what's going on. However, there are legitimate times where secrecy is called for. It's a judgment call.