Senate Blocks 9/11 Health Bill

[jenmito]

The U.S. Senate has blocked a bill that would provide money for medical aid to ailing World Trade Center workers, dealing a blow to those sickened in service to the country.

Senate Republicans today voted against moving the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to formal debate until the Bush tax breaks are extended for millionaires and billionaires.

The $7.4 billion bill would provide 10 years of medical monitoring and treatment to emergency responders and cleanup workers sickened at Ground Zero following the 9/11 attacks. It would also re-open a compensation fund for 9/11 victims.

Backers of the legislation see this lame-duck session of Congress as possibly its last chance. The bill has passed the House.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/Senate-Set-to-Vote-on-911-Health-Bill--111515329.html

And you want the Senate to keep wasting time on a futile attempt to get a better bill than what Obama proposed? Don't forget-they already took 2 votes on a better bill and failed both times!

[dennis4868]

1. Another reason to HATE Obama

:sarcasm:

[jenmito]

3. Sadly, you're right...

Despite the sarcasm thingy.

[dennis4868]

9. I know....

someone needs to explain to me what people want Obama to do given that THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT - THE REPUBS WILL AND HAVE FILLUBUSTER ANY TAX CUT THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE THEIR BASE......it does not matter if Obama fights (whatever the hell that means), waits, or points a gun to their heads - they are not going to give in on this even if hell freezes over. So, Obama being the adult in the room, knows that if he "fights" then on January 1, 2011 there will be a tax increase on the middle class, the lower class tax rate jumps 50%, and no unemployment benefits. So whats the guy suppose to to do if his intentions are too look out for the little guy. He HAS TO COMPROMISE...he's not going to get a better deal than he was given by the repubs (the things he got in return will stimulate the economy (but not by that much - 2 million jobs - but still it is something). So he makes the compromise and somehow the tax cuts on the wealthy are his fault?

[BlueJac]

2. wait them out..

let them expire.

[jenmito]

5. And fail to get anything done? And let people go without their unemployment benefits,

first responder benefits, DADT repeal, etc.???

[phleshdef]

17. Thats right, be patient. Maybe the bullet speeding toward your head will change its mind.

[jenmito]

19. Exactly. It's irrational. n/t

[katsy]

4. I don't want the Democrats to give an inch.

Let's take the fight to the voters with a swift kick to their arses that they need to get out and vote in their own best interests.

Blackmail is not good governance. And in way of a disclaimer: I can use this taxcut badly. But forget the crumbs already. We need someone to make a principled stand.

[jenmito]

6. That "purity" stuff is a loss for EVERYBODY. Get real. n/t

[Bluerthanblue]

7. +1

:shrug:

[young but wise]

8. +2

[wiggs]

13. Didn't Obama just say that the tax deal was unique and he would fight on other

issues harder?

Dems and public have already given inches and feet. Miles, if you count the last 30 years. I'm with you, don't want them to give ANOTHER inch. And I might say that it's not a dem thing...I don't want the American people and our leaders to give another inch to the lying obstructionist all-powerful gop/corporate alliance that has gotten nearly everything it wants for the last 30 years at the expense of the other 98% of us. The alliance that has effectively and brilliantly convinced average americans to join the gop and tea party thinking that liberals and dems are the problem without even considering facts or the issues.

[wiggs]

10. Part of the problem is the headline. It's not the senate that blocked it. It is

the republicans.

And the article should mention ALL the bills the republicans have blocked. It is important context...the major story is obstructionism, blackmail, stated goals of dooming the president, hostage-taking, that the MOST important thing to the gop is tax cuts for millionaires, blockage of START treaty, a real analysis of the stimulative power of tax cuts for wealthy, etc.

An even-handed political analysis of the story (trying to provide equal positive and negative to each party) is PRECISELY the wrong approach to journalism in this and many other cases. There is a right and wrong approach here but this lame excuse for an article makes it seem reasonable for gop to block work done for the people including legislation, appointees, proper public discourse, etc..

The lack of independent journalism and analysis is helping cause dysfunctional legislative and political behavior.

[Supersedeas]

21. the Republicans and the lack of sustained PUBLIC focus on their obstruction

Oh, okay...they win...so let's sneak behind closed doors and cut a deal for everything that the want and then a little more than they want in Estate Tax benefits.

[no_hypocrisy]

11. Why do Republicans hate heroes?

[AlinPA]

12. The republicans are in total control of the Senate. They can get anything they want with 41 votes.

[Beacool]

14. May those who opposed this bill suffer the same illnesses as the first responders.

Absolutely shameful!!! These people worked for weeks at Ground Zero breathing the polluted air. Air that I could literally smell for weeks across the river in my NJ town. Many of these responders are very ill and some have already died. It is indecent not to take care of them.

x(

[jenmito]

15. For once...

I agree with you!

[Beacool]

16. Whoa, I have to record this day on my calendar.

Jenmito and I finally agree on something!!!

It's a holiday miracle!!!

:D





:hi:

[jenmito]

18. I already did.

That MUST be it!

:hi: for maybe the first and last time. :)

[jenmito]

20. kick

[PVnRT]

22. More hostage-taking

And more reason that simply standing up to the GOP might have been the better strategy. They're determined to grind everything to a halt anyway, and they're still doing it despite this "compromise." If the Democratic party actually had anyone who knew how to spin a message, this would just be strengthening their argument about the Republicans playing games with the unemployed and 9/11 rescue workers to score more money for the obscenely wealthy.