Coburn Will Block 9/11 First Responders Bill, Potentially Killing Its Chance Of Passage

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Coburn Will Block 9/11 First Responders Bill, Potentially Killing Its Chance Of Passage

Pressure has been mounting on Republicans to relax their opposition to a bill to would provide health benefits to 9/11 first responders after Senate Republicans unanimously filibustered it earlier this month, but Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) told Politico yesterday that he will likely block the measure yet again. Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said last night that the Senate must act immediately to complete the bill in order to allow enough time for the House to pass the same version before Congress recesses for Christmas. “if you’re going to send us anything that we need to deal with, send it, frankly, by Tuesday,” Hoyer told The Hill.

But appearing on Fox News this morning, Coburn defended his decision to obstruct the bill, saying he is upset with the process, and claiming that the bill was never considered by a congressional committee, and that there was never a hearing on it. Watch it:

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/21/coburn-block-911/

[Hawkeye-X]

1. Republicans own 9/11 and its disaster, permanently

And he needs to be exposed for the hypocrite he is.

Hawkeye-X

[texshelters]

60. Here's the message I sent the Rethug

Senator Coburn:

Thank you so much for beating back those communist 9/11 responders. How dare they ask to be treated for ailments they received helping out the American people. Helping them will increase the deficits, and that is more important than helping one another.

Thanks.

Yours,
Tex Shelters


Peace,
Tex Shelters

[AlbertCat]

63. Helping them will increase the deficits

I know you are being sarcastic in your note to that jerk Coburn, but actually, the bill is paid for.

Just makes Coburn that much worse.

[More_liberal_than_mo]

83. Right!

and that's the reason Colburn is trying to block it. It's paid for with a special tax on U.S. corporations that offshore their HQs in order to avoid U.S. corporate taxes. This at least partially closes the loophole in the U.S. tax code that his corporate masters don't want closed. Colburn is looking out for the corporations that really run this country. We need to keep pounding upon this point to totally embarrass him into supporting this bill.

[Roland99]

2. fucking repukes

[JackintheGreen]

3. It's all lining up

Inhofe and Coburn, in general
that idiotic Sharia law bill (currently blocked by the courts, I know)
earthquakes
high levels of hexavalent chromium
now this

I'm gonna be offered that fucking job in Norman.

[dkf]

4. What is this sharia law bill?

[JackintheGreen]

8. Proposition 755, 70% voter approved in Nov.

A judge, thank heavens, granted a permanent injunction against the prop. before the month was out.

[Tess49]

61. Are you really being considered for a job in Norman? I live

in Norman, and it's a decent place. Fairly liberal, due to OU, and the large numbers of residents who are from other places. If you should take a job here, and need information, let me know.

[JackintheGreen]

71. Actually yeah, sorta...

and its at OU. If it happens I'll be in touch. Thanks.

[Tess49]

84. Great. Just let me know.

[Pathwalker]

5. Isn't he the same POS that's also blocking aid to Haiti?

Asshole.

[rhett o rick]

6. Send Coburn an email wishing him a Merry Christmas. Link in message.

http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactsenatorcoburn?p=ContactForm

[think]

39. Thanks for the link

I sent a very polite message in support of the 9/11 responders.

[alfredo]

47. I questioned his patriotism.

[xxqqqzme]

50. I question his humanity.

Isn't he a physician?

FIRST do no harm!

[alfredo]

53. New York is full of Liberals and immigrants, they aren't

human to him.

[rhett o rick]

66. I also questioned his humanity. Greed is a sickness. The repukes have an epidemic. nm

[classof56]

54. Thanks for the link. I just sent him a message, but not sure if he'll even open it...

since I no longer live in OK. I was born there, but probably that doesn't count. Anyway, I tried. Have a feeling it won't make a bit of difference to him, but hey--I tried.

Peace and blessings.

[rhett o rick]

69. When sending them email, I wont give my right address anyway. Therefore

might as well put a address in and Oklahoma city. Might increase odds it will get read.

[classof56]

73. Hmmm...good point!

Maybe I shoulda used my cousins' address in Tulsa. Nah, probably not. They're very right-wing fundies and I wouldn't want to get them into trouble. Although, when I think about it, why would supporting 911 responders be so unchristian? Ah, well, as Pontius Pilate said, what I have written I have written. If only Coburn would listen...

[rhett o rick]

79. To me the important point is that the staff read the message. That's all I hope for.

It may effect the message the staff gives the Congress-critter, eg "We are getting a lot of emails, favoring support of .....". I dont care if they check addresses. But that would be a lot of work.

I doubt that the emails have much effect, but I feel better and they might.

NGU

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[NoodleyAppendage]

9. Public safety officials should make a point to "slow walk" any assistance to Coburn or his family.

Hypothetically, I would not fault a police or fire person from taking his/her time when responding to an emergency call from Coburn's office or residence. Let's see what he thinks about screwing over 9/11 public safety personnel after some "tough love."

J

[fascisthunter]

10. All those wanting this Passed should go straight to his house

and ask him personally why....

[unblock]

11. why do republicans hate 9/11 heros?

[DBoon]

15. because this will be funded by eliminating a corporate tax loophole

opposed by the Chamber of Commerce

[savalez]

19. why do republicans hate _____________?

[Uncle Joe]

58. Because they're not money and money is their God. n/t

[dennis4868]

12. It's Obama's fault....

:sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

62. No, it's not. But Coburn IS a buddy of Obama's.

Maybe he can talk to him.

[jwirr]

13. And he calls himself a doctor. We can call him the death panel doctor. nt

[nradisic]

14. Let the GOP own this one

What total fucking scumbags....I am speechless. These people are brain damaged...there is no other explanation.

[blackspade]

16. Coburn is sniffing hexavalent chromium again!

What an asshole.
The republican hatred of the 'little' people is showing again!

[Jefferson23]

17. Republicans love money and hate people, that is their bottom line. n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

18. Republicans are total assholes!

All of them!

[FlyByNight]

20. This guy's a physician?

Heal thyself, Tom. Asshole.

:grr:

[CBHagman]

21. Coburn's voice mailbox is full...

...as, after a fashion, he is.

Okay, folks. You know what to do. Be nice to the staff, but don't let him off the hook.

General contact information:

Coburn's e-mail form, for use by Oklahomans:

http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactform

Should you experience any problems with the new procedures, please call Dr. Coburn's office (Washington: 202-224-5754; Tulsa: 918-581-7651; Oklahoma City: 405-231-4941) and the staff will be happy to guide you through the correspondence process.

From the Project Vote Smart website:

http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=22085

Washington, D.C. Address
172 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

District Address
1800 South Baltimore
Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74119
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

District Address
100 North Broadway
Suite 1820
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

[Zoeisright]

36. Anybody can use that contact form - just look up Oklahoma's zip codes.

I wrote telling him that he's a piece of excrement and he have his medical degree revoked.

[COLGATE4]

22. Coburn is a nasty Xian fundie dipshit. Not surprising. He just loves

pissing in the punchbowl. Can you imagine having him attend to your wife (he's an ObGyn)???????

[mbperrin]

23. People like Coburn are what make jokes like this popular-

"Why do Texans love Oklahoma?"

"Cause if Oklahoma didn't suck, Texas would slip off into the Gulf of Mexico."

Apologies to all decent folk everywhere, including some who may be trapped behind the Red River line.

[blondeatlast]

43. LOL! This "decent folk" with roots in OK/KS appreciates that! nt

[SoapBox]

24. CONTACT, CONTACT, CONTACT Dr. Death HERE.

http://coburn.senate.gov/public/

Select "Contact" and call this creep out.

...tell your friends and loved ones to call/mail as well.

[and-justice-for-all]

25. Another republicon prick...

I can not stand that piece of shit, I throw up a little bit everything I see him on the telly.

[DirkGently]

26. Indefensible.

[kag]

27. Jon Stewart dealt with this last night...

...beautifully. He covered the filibuster in his opening, and then had four first responders on, all sick with various crap from breathing in the foul 9/11 air. They were obviously pretty pissed about all this. They're mad at Repubs (duh) for the filibuster in the first place, but also a little peeved at Dems (as am I) for not being more vocal and not pushing harder. Then, he had Huckaby on--there to hype his new book--and basically asked him to go tell his Fox News overlords to cover this story. Huckabee tried to pin it solely on the Dems, but Stewart was having none of it.

Good show. I recommend it.

[CBHagman]

46. Shepherd Smith of Fox News (!) came through too.

Let's be fair here. Shepherd Smith has called out the Republicans for blocking this. See video at link.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/shep-smith-shames-republi_n_799601.html

[bdamomma]

28. repigs in their true form of being totally inhumane

to all people in general. goodwill towards men??? yea sure.

[sulphurdunn]

29. What should really shock you

is knowing that the Democrats could easily knock this out of the park but will probably strike out trying to bunt instead.

[Joey Liberal]

32. Good point. nt

[causamortis]

34. Dems

If nothing else at least we have the piece of mind of knowing we are on the right side of this issue.. Sure we could push it a bit harder and raise hell, but thank god we are on the right side.

[CBHagman]

38. What should shock us is that he can do it.

Senators can single-handedly hold things up, block things for months on end.

I've just gotten off the phone with the staff of my two senators, and one guy told me frankly that they were all just as furious at Coburn as I was but that it was within his power as a senator. I knew that aleady, but it helped to know I had company on the Hill.

You can bet your boots Jon Stewart's going to eviscerate Coburn on his show...

[forty6]

59. Cenk Ugyur said exactly the same thing! Democrats really don't know

when they have been given a golden goose, Tom Coburn's attitude on this is one gift they shouldn't ignore.

[Joey Liberal]

30. Coburn is my Senator

I am ashamed.

[barbtries]

40. give him a call

let him know it.

[blondeatlast]

44. I know the feeling all too well--I'm from Arizona. Keep fighting the good fight,

even though I know it's an uphill struggle.

[CBHagman]

55. I'm sorry for your troubles.

It must be horrible to have Inhofe and Coburn representing you in the Senate. Just typing that makes me want to go wash my hands.

[Joey Liberal]

70. Its hard

Especially having to be around people who think Inhofe and Coburn are great.

[LongTomH]

31. God! I'm so glad I left Oklahoma!

This guy makes me :puke:

[Joey Liberal]

33. I can't wait to leave

Talk about living in the stone-age.......

[sulphurdunn]

42. Don't go! Stay!

Help improve the gene pool!

[NewJeffCT]

35. How come Democrats didn't single-handedly stop some of Bush's egregious bills?

if one senator can stop a bill indefinitely, why didn't Democrats do more of that from 2001 through 2008?

[AlbertCat]

64. why didn't Democrats do more of that from 2001 through 2008?

Because it was "understood" that you didn't flippantly abuse the privilege... like the filibuster.

Only those who didn't take their Senatorial position seriously would do such a thing back then. It's a new GOP precedent! Whoopee!

[NewJeffCT]

67. I know, it was sort of a rhetorical question

The Republics have gone to unprecedented lengths to obstruct even routine things. They know that if the economy sputters & gasps along for 2 more years, it will mostly be blamed on Obama and we'll get President Huckabee or Romney in 2013, and then they'll really go to town privatizing social security & medicare, undoing regulations, etc.

Plus, Democrats don't block everything because they tend not to be dicks.

[defendandprotect]

37. Sen. Tom Coburn is a doctor which makes this even more inane --

being a politician these days seems to be interchangeable with being

a fraud --

[julian09]

48. He doesn't care because NY is a democrat state

Shame politics comes ahead of the general good for the electorate;
he is faithful to his HYPOCRITICAL oath of the republican party.

[Initech]

41. If the pukes don't pass this, they will never get to exploit 9/11 ever again.

I'm with Jon Stewart on this one folks.

[alfredo]

45. Doesn't Coburn realize that some of those first responders

were Republicans? The Republicans have written off New York and any remaining Republicans in New York.

[avebury]

49. Coburn is an idiot

I am so pissed off at him. I called his OKC office and voice my displeasure over Coburn's behavior. I live in Oklahoma and am so tired of the idiots that we vote into office.


Feel free to join in and call one of his offices. Just tell whoever answers that you are a constituent and don't mention where you actually live.


Washington D.C.:
172 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-5754
Fax: [phone]

Tulsa:
1800 South Baltimore
Suite 800
Tulsa, OK 74119
Main: 918-581-7651
Fax: [phone]

Oklahoma City:
100 North Broadway
Suite 1820
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Main: 405-231-4941
Fax: [phone]

[myrna minx]

51. What a despicable man.

:puke:

[avebury]

52. He should lose his medical license

As a doctor he took an oath to do no harm. In blocking the 9-11 First Responders' Bill he should lose his medical license because he is doing harm.

[paparush]

56. Repugs - What? Common people suffering? **Yawn** Let's go yachting instead.

Elected to represent constituents regardless of their social standing? **Yawn** Let's give a little more to the 2%ers.

[Uncle Joe]

57. What an asswipe.

:puke:

Thanks for the thread, kpete.

[DeSwiss]

65. K&R

Fucking piece of excrement.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

68. I must be the only grinch who doesn't like this bill

I think that granting special health care to one elite group of more-deserving folks just adds a nail to the coffin of universal health care.

The good first-responders deserve good health care. As do the rest of us.

My opinion, however, doesn't make Coburn a "good guy".

[tpsbmam]

77. But we're not going to achieve universal health care in the foreseeable future

and in the meantime these people are incredibly sick and dying. They haven't been able to earn incomes and, as one said on Democracy Now, can't afford the gas to get to medical appointments. This bill would set up specific programs to not only help these men and women but also understand the results of the toxic air at the World Trade Center site. They need our help NOW, not down the road. I want universal health as much as anyone but I don't want these men & women used as pawns in the argument. They need this now.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

81. I understand, and I think the 9/11 1st folks deserve health care

I just feel it's a "divide and conquer" technique. Universal health care would help these folks, as would a good public insurance option. If this passes, congress will pat itself on the back and ignore any more improvements to health care.

There are other heroes, quiet heroes. The folks who work demolishing old buildings, breathing the asbestos-laden air from old insulation, to get money to raise families. The folks who work in refineries, who work in concrete factories, steel mills, the ones who slather hot tar on the roof. There isn't a celebrated event to blame for their respiratory ailments. They also wait for help.

Yeah, I guess I hope this passes, but I'm not overly excited by it.

:hi:

[BrklynLiberal]

72. -puke-..I mean REALLY !!! .... -PUKE!-

[orbitalman]

74. The Repuglicans are RUINING our country. n/t

[Golden Raisin]

75. Well, if he's a so-called "christian"

I hope he languishes slowly in eternal Hell and Damnation. The worst thing is, as more time goes by, more people in NYC are going to get seriously sick, and not just the brave first responders. I live here. I saw and smelled the huge toxic cloud as it wafted up the Hudson the next day when the winds changed. It was very dramatic --- you could see it coming up the River. And then came the smell...a stinking witches' brew of chemicals, melted plastics, poisons, toxins and burnt human flesh. I am not young and I never smelled anything like that hideous cloud in my life, and to my dying day I will never forget that smell. So fuck Senator Coburn. I hope his corner of Hell smells like that cancerous cloud.

[Pacifist Patriot]

76. Why does Coburn hate America?

[saigon68]

80. He doesn't like Chuckie Scummer

[vssmith]

78. Maybe Shumer will block any attempt to get tornado aid to OK

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

82. Maybe Shumer should add an amendment

to extend the aid to Oklahoma City first responders.

Let Coburn block that one.

:hi: