(Vanity) What's the deal with the GOP blocking the 9/11 First Responders Senate bill?

Fox News on YouTube ^ | Dec 17 2010 | Shepard Smith

[VictoryGal]

I first heard the following on Fox. I am no Shep Smith fan but I was outraged to hear this:

"We can't give health care to Ground Zero first responders who ran right into the fire? Went down there to save people? Do people know what this city was like that day? People were walking over bridges, they were covered in ash, they were running for their lives, they were crying, their family members were dead. And these people ran to Ground Zero to save people's lives. And we're not going to even give them medicine for the illnesses they got down there? It's disgusting, it's a national disgrace, it's a shame and everybody who voted against should have to stand up and account for himself or herself."

Now, I haven't heard anything about this from Rush, or Sean, or Beck, The Great One, etc. So I looked into it and I was expecting the dumb Democraps, in their race to multiculturalize the military and spend our grandchildren into ChiCom servitude, were blocking this important bill to take care of the heroes.

I was SHOCKED to find that it was REPUBLICANS blocking the bill. !!! http://theerant.yuku.com/topic/36730

And I don't know why!

We need to call out jerks on OUR side of the aisle when they disrespect American heroes just as we would for treasonous Dims. I am very disappointed in Rush, etc. for not dealing with this bill -- either fighting for its passage or saying why it is a bad deal.

FRiends, what in the WORLD is going on? My volunteer firefighter friends back in my native Long Island -- solid conservatives all -- are furious. So am I.

[Carley]

Many millions of dollars were donated to the uniformed workers who suffered on 9/11. They were the survivors who helped work on the debris pile.

Initially Mayor Bloomberg resisted the thought of these payouts but soon Shumer and Peter King got on the bandwagon of having the government (the taxpayers) fund the claims.

The numbers have escalated to the point of ridiculousness but it hasn’t stopped Peter King from his never ending demands for more and more and more money for New York.

[goat granny]

Most probably have insurance themselves. They did a great job and many lost their lives, what other crap has the democrats put into such a bill to bad mouth republicans...be skeptical of what you read..

[VictoryGal]

> Please, they all have health care. They all got paid and were lauded.
> These are the same guys that worked three or four days straight and would not allow anyone else from other parts of the country to come and relieve them. All for the overtime and now they want more.

Wow, I can’t believe you said that. Were you THERE? Do you understand what these people did? I can’t believe how blithely some of you are discounting these brave folks. I’d like to see you rush into a crumbling or flaming building to save lives when everyone around you is running away.

I KNOW people who were there that godforsaken day. Do YOU?

[VictoryGal]

I’m willing to read a good analysis of the bill.

Does anyone have a link? The only sites that come up when I search for this are liberal ones. I’d like to get a balanced side of the story.

[waynesa98]

basically the issue revolves around the socalists (read democommies) insertion into the bill of a removal of a tax haven for overseas multinationals, which in the end you significantly increase the cost of large companies, making their products even more expensive in the USA, since we would have caused the price rise.

[raybbr]

Part of the legislation: Do you really think free health care for life should apply to someone who was at ground zero for four hours?

SEC. 3111. IDENTIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE WTC RESPONDERS AND PROVISION OF WTC-RELATED MONITORING SERVICES.

`(a) Eligible WTC Responder Defined-

`(1) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this title, the term `eligible WTC responder' means any of the following individuals, subject to paragraph (5):

`(A) CURRENTLY IDENTIFIED RESPONDER- An individual who has been identified as eligible for medical monitoring under the current consortium arrangements (as defined in section 3108(4)).

`(B) RESPONDER WHO MEETS CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- An individual who meets the current eligibility criteria described in paragraph (2).

`(C) RESPONDER WHO MEETS MODIFIED ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- An individual who--

`(i) performed rescue, recovery, demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services in the New York City disaster area in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, regardless of whether such services were performed by a State or Federal employee or member of the National Guard or otherwise; and

`(ii) meets such eligibility criteria relating to exposure to airborne toxins, other hazards, or adverse conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center as the WTC Program Administrator, after consultation with the WTC Responders Steering Committee and the WTC Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee, determines appropriate.

The WTC Program Administrator shall not modify such eligibility criteria on or after the date that the number of certifications for eligible responders has reached 80 percent of the limit described in paragraph (5) or on or after the date that the number of certifications for eligible community members has reached 80 percent of the limit described in section 3121(a)(5).

`(2) CURRENT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA- The eligibility criteria described in this paragraph for an individual is that the individual is described in either of the following categories:

`(A) FIRE FIGHTERS AND RELATED PERSONNEL- The individual--

`(i) was a member of the Fire Department of the City of New York (whether fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) who participated at least one day in the rescue and recovery effort at any of the former World Trade Center sites (including Ground Zero, Staten Island Landfill, and the NYC Chief Medical Examiner's office) for any time during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002; or

`(ii)(I) is a surviving immediate family member of an individual who was a member of the Fire Department of the City of New York (whether fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) and was killed at the World Trade site on September 11, 2001; and

`(II) received any treatment for a WTC-related mental health condition described in section 3112(a)(1)(B) on or before September 1, 2008.

`(B) LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND WTC RESCUE, RECOVERY, AND CLEAN-UP WORKERS- The individual--

`(i) worked or volunteered on-site in rescue, recovery, debris-cleanup, or related support services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street), the Staten Island Landfill, or the barge loading piers, for--

`(I) at least 4 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 14, 2001;

`(II) at least 24 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2001; or

`(III) at least 80 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;

`(ii)(I) was a member of the Police Department of the City of New York (whether active or retired) or a member of the Port Authority Police of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (whether active or retired) who participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related support services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal Street), including Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill, or the barge loading piers, for at least 4 hours during the period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on September 14, 2001;

`(II) participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related services at Ground Zero, the Staten Island Landfill or the barge loading piers, for at least one day during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;

`(III) participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.) for at least 24 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on September 30, 2001; or

`(IV) participated on-site in rescue, recovery, debris clean-up, or related services in lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.) for at least 80 hours during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;

`(iii) was an employee of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York involved in the examination and handling of human remains from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, or other morgue worker who performed similar post-September 11 functions for such Office staff, during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on July 31, 2002;

`(iv) was a worker in the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation tunnel for at least 24 hours during the period beginning on February 1, 2002, and ending on July 1, 2002; or

`(v) was a vehicle-maintenance worker who was exposed to debris from the former World Trade Center while retrieving, driving, cleaning, repairing, or maintaining vehicles contaminated by airborne toxins from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center during a duration and period described in subparagraph (A).

[goat granny]

Rule #1 If the democrats bring it up, vote it down...

Rule #2 If the democrats don't want it vote it in..

[panthermom]

Sorry but my brother was a first responder, it was highly emotional, he lost many friends that horrible day. In fact he was there when GW came to speak, it was greatly appreciated but at that point those guys still believed there were survivors and because of the security, etc. there was a stoppage. I can remember my brother being so upset.

He and his fellow cops at the 17th precinct where housed right next door to a Fire Station. They followed the truck down, guys that were leaving at shift end volunteered to go, at that point they didn’t realize the extent of what was happening. When they got down town, the fire trucks took one route the cops another. Not one fireman from that house survived. They saw eachother everyday. It was also very personal sifting through the rubble.

[cripplecreek]

Remember the kid the left kept trotting out for Bush appearances? His father was a “first responder” who spent minimal time at ground zero and was a heavy smoker.

The left screamed that nothing was being done for the guy. The fact is that the guy was on a waiting list for a lung transplant meaning nothing short of killing someone and giving him the lung could be done.

[netmilsmom]

I am hero and deserve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_itVyZKmrM&feature=related

[VictoryGal]

> Rule #1 If the democrats bring it up, vote it down...
> Rule #2 If the democrats don’t want it vote it in..

If it’s automatic gainsaying, rather than voting on the merits or drawbacks of a bill... sorry but that is stupid.

Makes it pathetically easy for them to manipulate the GOP. In fact, they may have done that very thing with this bill, which may be a good one, but was voted down simply because the Dims were for it.

I hope that’s not the case.

I still would like a link or two that go into the bill in depth, from a conservative point of view.

[BufordP]

Why I'm against the Zadroga 9/11 health bill: Sen. Mike Enzi explains his concerns with legislation

I also heard Sen Barrasso say to Cavuto this morning that the Dems would not allow debate and amendments.

[panthermom]

You will find that most of the NYPD Fire Department and Police Department live on LI and they are also part of the volunteer Fire Departments where they live.

[sometime lurker]

Here is the link for the bill. I may be wrong, but I believe it's a standalone bill.

Also, it does call for (section 101-6) recouping costs when possible:

Requires payment for such treatment to be reduced or recouped for work-related conditions to the extent that the Administrator determines the payment has been made or can reasonably be expected to be made under a workers compensation law or plan. Makes the WTC Program a secondary payor for individuals with a public or private health plan.

[freedumb2003]

>>Wow, I can’t believe you said that. Were you THERE? Do you understand what these people did? <<

So, you are saying that some did their job and others did not and those that did are special? Or that doing their job was somehow more than was expected?

How does running into the WTC differ from running into a burning building?

You need to divorce your emotion from the content of the debate.

[doosee]

So per this law the truck drivers who hauled debris to the landfill hit the lottery if this bill passes. The BS and money grabs will never stop.

[panthermom]

You could apply for these benefits if you had a Sabrettes stand near Ground Zero.

[sometime lurker]

Only if said truck drivers suffered medical conditions as a result of that hauling. I’ve never dealt with the 9/11 first responders medically, but I’ve seen (and treated) people suffering from COPD, pulmonary fibrosis, and the like. It’s not pretty, and when you run out of health benefits, it gets very ugly indeed. Some of these people will never have what most of us think of as normal health again because they rushed to help. I have no objection to part of my taxes going to take care of first responders and those who sifted through the debris, especially those whose health benefits have run out or their coverage wasn’t first rate.

[panthermom]

You see, Cong. Weiner is a dem so of course he knows all of the right buttons to push and will play on your emotions while backstabbing you.

Like I said, this bill is a mockery to those First Responders, they are using the term knowing it hits a nerve.

[DaisyCutter]

I don't recall the constitution authorizing acts of charity with federal taxpayer dollars.

It's the state of New York's responsibility, not the taxpayers of the other 49 states.