US Chamber of Commerce Still Opposing 9/11 First Responders Bill

[flpoljunkie]

Despite New Funding Offsets, US Chamber Of Commerce Still Opposing 9/11 First Responders Bill

Last week, ThinkProgress reported that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce had quietly lobbied to help Republicans kill the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010,” a bill to compensate the first responders and emergency workers who suffered illnesses from working at Ground Zero.

The Chamber — a powerful trade association representing the health insurance industry, ExxonMobil, as well as dozens of foreign corporations — opposed the bill because it paid for health care benefits by ending a special tax loophole exploited by foreign corporations with business interests in the United States. The Chamber also demanded that Congress should stop deliberating over benefits for 9/11 heroes, and instead focus on extending “all of the expiring 2001 and 2003″ tax cuts.

Disclosures reveal that the Chamber used part of its multi-million lobbying budget on defeating the bill because of its funding provision. The Republican caucus, which was unified in opposition to the legislation, cited both the priority of the Bush tax cuts for the richest 2 percent and the Chamber’s concerns about closing the tax loophole.

Over the weekend, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) tried to revive the bill by changing the way the compensation fund would be paid for. Instead of ending the foreign corporate tax loophole, Gillibrand proposed a new funding mechanism, including a 2 percent excise fee on certain foreign companies that receive U.S. government contracts. However, the Chamber still believes the bill’s offsets are unacceptable.

Asked for comment by ThinkProgress, Chamber spokesperson Tita Freeman told us that the Chamber takes no position on compensating 9/11 first responders, but absolutely opposes Gillibrand’s new funding mechanism because the Chamber believes it to be “harmful to the business community and the economy.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/21/chamber-911compensation-oppose/

[flpoljunkie]

1. So why aren't Republicans supporting our 9/11 heros now?

I think we know why. Their paymaster, the US Chamber of Commerce, does not like the bill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahc1Wmq1G2M&feature=player_embedded

[eShirl]

2. I'm going to start calling them the U.S. Council of Regents. n/t

[flpoljunkie]

3. Huffpo reporting that Tom Coburn now plans to block the 9/11 bill

Tom Coburn To Block 9/11 Responders Bill
The Huffington Post

Nick Wing First Posted: 12-21-10 12:30 PM
Updated: 12-21-10 04:06 PM

This story has been updated with additional reporting by Ryan Grim

WASHINGTON - Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), a licensed physician long known as the Senate's "Dr. No," plans to block legislation that would provide additional aid to cover the health care costs of 9/11 first responders, one of the senator's aides told The Wall Street Journal Tuesday morning.

John Hart, a spokesman for Coburn, told The Huffington Post that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has not asked for unanimous consent to move forward with the bill. "ou can't hold a bill that hasn't been brought up. Reid hasn't even tried to hotline the bill. This is the same game he's been playing for years going back to the 'Coburn Omnibus' and before," said Hart.

Hart said the responsibility currently lies with Democrats. "Why did Senator Reid fail to bring this bill to the floor this entire Congress? Supporters say the bill has been around for years yet the Majority Leader has prioritized hundreds of other initiatives ahead of this one. For instance, the Senate invested more energy into passing an omnibus bill with 6,700 earmarks than this bill. We're not responsible for the Majority Leader's failure to manage the Senate schedule," said Hart.

A Reid aide noted that the majority leader hasn't asked for unanimous consent because he doesn't have an agreement yet with Republicans that would allow it.

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/21/tom-coburn-911-responders-bill_n_799699.html