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American Morning

Interview of Kenneth Feinberg, Special Master of 9-11 Compensation Fund

Aired November 27, 2001 - 08:13   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Of course U.S. involvement in Afghanistan began after the September 11th terrorist attacks. U.S. is still dealing with of course the human aftermath. Now there is a new man heading part of the government's effort. A good choice for a tough job -- that's what they're saying in Washington about the selection of Kenneth Feinberg.

He has been named to oversee the government's 911 compensation fund for all victims and their families. Attorney General John Ashcroft praised Feinberg for his spirit of sacrifice.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

JOHN ASHCROFT, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: I commend Ken Feinberg for his volunteering to serve as special master without compensation. His responsibility will be first and foremost to see that the neediest of those who were injured by the September 11th terrorist attacks receive relief as soon as possible.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

ZAHN: So how quickly will those families get the money? Special Master Ken Feinberg joins us now from Washington to talk about that and other issues. Congratulations. Welcome.

KENNETH FEINBERG, VICTIMS COMPENSATION FUND: Thank you very much.

ZAHN: So Mr. Feinberg, over the course of the last six, seven weeks, we have had dozens of family members on who have lost members of their families or their spouses, sisters, brothers, daughters and sons -- and they have expressed great frustration being able to cut through the red tape to get the kind of financial assistance they need. Why has it been so tough for them to get this help?

FEINBERG: Well I can't speak for the private sources of relief. I can only speak to the new federal program that's been created and the words of the attorney general ring very clear in my ears, which those words are speed, efficiency, getting the money to those families with a minimum amount of red tape, and that's what we plan to do.

ZAHN: So walk us through that challenge. How do you get this money to these families as quickly as you can? What's the biggest ... FEINBERG: Well hopefully ...

ZAHN: ... what's the biggest barrier you'll encounter?

FEINBERG: Well the biggest barrier is determine eligibility. The biggest barrier is getting to those families immediately a claim form that they have to complete and send right back -- a simple claim form that will give us -- that will trigger the process and hopefully once we get back that claim form and eligibility is clear, we will per the attorney general's instructions to me, disseminate money just as fast as we can.

ZAHN: And you are going to have to use your discretion, decide what each family is entitled to. What kind of guidelines will you use as you make that judgment?

FEINBERG: Well the statute creating this fund sets out certain guidelines in terms of computing economic loss and non economic loss. But it is true that statute is ambiguous in a number of respects and confers great discretion on the special master and hopefully what I'm going to try and do after I receive all of the input that I have been receiving and the Justice Department has been receiving, input from various organizations, individuals, as to how this program ought to function. We will propagate guidelines approved by the attorney general and we'll get those guidelines up and running with a view towards immediately getting compensation out to those families.

ZAHN: So if a family comes in and they fill out these forms, conceivably how quickly can they have a check in their hands?

FEINBERG: Well the attorney general has instructed me to get financial assistance out to those families as soon as possible -- weeks hopefully. We will have that money -- at least a down payment out to those families. Then over the next few weeks, months, et cetera, we will be evaluating those claims and we'll be determining those awards.

ZAHN: And one of the most contiguous issues you face is whether the amount that these victims' families get from the government should be reduced by any funds they might get from pension payments, insurance payments and other charities. How do you see that playing out?

FEINBERG: Well ...

ZAHN: Is that appropriate for the amount they get from the government to be reduced because of what else they've received from other sources?

FEINBERG: Excellent question. Now first of all, the statute makes clear that there are certain offsets required by law. You mentioned insurance, pension payments -- I mean the statute lists certain offsets that must be made. But you're absolutely right. This question of charitable offset is a big issue. It's a very contiguous issue. We are now evaluating the submissions -- the written submissions that the department has received from various organizations and individuals.

There are strong arguments to be made on both sides of this. No decision has yet been made as these submissions come in, but you have put your finger on a major issue of contention, which we're just going to have to deal with.

ZAHN: We'd love to have you come back when that issue is resolved and just a quick personal reflection on what it is like to -- I know you've been injected -- interjected into a lot of controversies before, but to come face to face with these family members at such a tragic time of their loss -- lives.

FEINBERG: It is -- it is -- it's very, very difficult. On the one hand, as you correctly point out, the emotion surrounding September 11th , it's so recent, and the emotion is so intense. On the other hand, you take comfort in the fact, as I mentioned yesterday, the tremendous outpouring of private and public generosity here, gives the special master, the department, the attorney general, the administration, great comfort that we'll do the right thing.

ZAHN: Well we wish you tremendous luck as you take on this new job. I guess it's a three-year appointment and we look forward to checking in with you from time to time.

FEINBERG: Anytime. Thank you very much.

ZAHN: Thank you again. Mr. Feinberg -- Kenneth Feinberg, the new special master of the 911 Victim's Compensation Fund -- Kenneth Feinberg.

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