Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers

New York Times ^ | 12/09/10 | Raymond Hernandez

[Enchante]

WASHINGTON — Republican senators blocked Democratic legislation on Thursday that sought to provide medical care to rescue workers and others who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at the site of the World Trade Center attack in 2001.

The 9/11 health bill, a version of which was approved by the House of Representatives in September, was among several initiatives that Senate Democrats had hoped to approve before the close of the 111th Congress.

[Enchante]

anyone know the full story about this bill and the status of the issues?

Some libs I know are going nuts over this, saying it shows the eviiillll heartless conservatives.

I suspect (from much prior experience) that it's a set-up and that the bill either isn't needed (if adequate funding already exists?) or that appropriate measures would pass if the Demagogues did not load it up with pork for their union constituencies.....

..... but I don't know the details of this bill or what's gone on until now.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

Where did this come from? Sounds to me like a union payback...... Didn’t those folks draw a salary for doing their jobs?

[Happy Rain]

The Dems say,let's appropriate a zillion dollars to buy roller skates for small dogs.The GOP opposes,the MSM flashes:

“Republicans Hate Puppies!”

if the GOP gives in:

“Republicans Support Really Really Stupid Bill!”

[ronnie raygun]

Why don’t the Republicans or someone come out and tell us why? My guess is there are things stuffed into this bill that don’t belong there, have nothing to do with this bill and this is the only way these crminals can get it thru. Who are the evil bastards now? WHATS IN THIS BILL?

[1010RD]

You believe the NYT?

I mean Dems controlled the show for two years and they’re just getting to this now?

This is pysops and expect more of it as the Dems and their media capons work to paint the GOP heartless - it’s an old saw and FReepers shouldn’t fall for it.

GIGO.

[Erik Latranyi]

Republicans have prmosied to stop all legislation until the Bush tax rate extension is voted upon.

They are staying united while Reid and Pelosi keep bringing up their pet projects first.

[Wolfie]

Let’s Roll! Just don’t expect any help afterwards.

[Fresh Wind]

Why don’t the Republicans or someone come out and tell us why?

You would think by now that the Republicans would have realized that the MSM isn't ever going to report situations like this honestly. But, no, they continue to let the MSM define them.

[R0CK3T]

NYT: “The Republicans are Terrorists and want to kill you all.”...
in other news: “0bama Nationalizes all industry, wealth, and property to save America”

It is a complete wonder to me why someone in America hasn’t yet taken this factory for propaganda down.

[equaviator]

George Soros was the real mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks and he had a lot of help from liberal Democrats seeking to change the world because they can only be satisfied with life in a world of their own making.

It (9-11) was a pre-emptive strike designed to prevent a rebound of the conservative movement “by any means necessary”.

[n230099]

"I mean Dems controlled the show for two years and they’re just getting to this now?"

There you go.
The compliant media is trotting this stuff
out to hide the chaos and failure that the
knothead in chief is caught up in.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Yellow journalists up to their old tricks.

This is no different than the “NRA supports cop-killer bullets” BS they played back when.

[jacknhoo]

STATEMENT OF REPUBLICAN POLICY
H.R. 847- James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2009

Excerpt:

The bill provides incentives to health care providers to over-utilize services while at the same time providing inflated reimbursement rates. H.R. 847 would reimburse New York area hospitals at a rate that is on average 140 percent of the Medicare reimbursement rate. This provides a perverse incentive for hospitals to use unnecessary services in order to garner higher payments from the federal government. Since ObamaCare slashes over $150 billion in payments to every hospital in the country, it is especially difficult to justify the creation of a new program that provides reimbursement rates so far above the Medicare payment level in the New York City area.

This legislation is paid for with a highly controversial tax increase on companies located in the United States and employing American workers. Specifically, the tax increase targets “insourcing” companies, American subsidiaries of companies headquartered abroad that create and sustain good jobs in the United States. Taxing these employers and these jobs would be dangerous for our already struggling economy, could encourage these companies to move American jobs overseas or to curtail future job-creating investments in America, and could invite retaliation by other countries.

Republicans continue to believe that those who responded to the WTC attack should get the treatment and liability protection they need because they dutifully answered a call for help. In addition, the legislation should include protections to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent properly and effectively. But, H.R. 847 fails to accomplish these goals. Instead, it creates a massive new entitlement program, exposes taxpayers to increased litigation, and is “paid for” with tax increases and potential job losses. As a result, Republicans are opposed to the legislation in its current form.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The Republican Cloakroom
House Republican Leader John Boehner

http://repcloakroom.house.gov/news/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=209259

[catfish1957]

I figure the NYT will fade into oblivion in about 10-15 more years. Slime pieces like this only aaccelerate the inevitable.

[newzjunkey]

Republicans said they won't allow anything to come to a vote until every American's current tax rates are protected from going up in the new year. That's all this was.

It was no comment on the content of the bill. Even Harry Reid voted against cloture on this thing. The Dems and their Media conspirators are spinning this to attack the Republican name.

That's what children do. Adults would take care of the tax issue in line with the deal worked out between the party's leader, Obama aka POTUS, and the Republicans. They would then move on to the other issues like this bill or the DREAM Act or DADT or the budget or some other thing.

If it were about issues Democrats cared about, they had years to pass them. They didn't.

[UCFRoadWarrior]

DREAM ACT Illegal Alien Amnesty better be killed as quick as this...or this real conservative will never vote for the GOP again. Border Security and Illegal Alien deportation needs to be done now

[BilLies]

Thanks, the New York Times manipulates TRUTH AND FULL DISCLOSURE.

[italianquaker]

2 years and the corrupt odumbo administration did nothing, what a disgrace

[Batrachian]

"George Soros was the real mastermind behind the 9-11 attacks..."

You mean the Jews are to blame? I've heard this before, but not from anyone I'd want to invite home for dinner. Your real name isn't Farrakhan, is it?

[LibLieSlayer]

I remember a comprehensive bill passing and tons of money given to take care of these people... this is probably cash for unions but the families had legislation passed before to cover their health care and other needs.

LLS