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9/11 responders bill defeated by Senate GOP filibuster

Washington (CNN) -- Senate Democrats failed Thursday to win a procedural vote to open debate on a bill that would provide medical benefits and compensation for emergency workers who were first on the scene of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The motion for cloture, or to begin debate, needed 60 votes to pass due to a Republican filibuster, but fell short at 57-42 in favor.

While supporters said they would try to bring the bill up again, either on its own or as part of other legislation to be considered, the vote Thursday jeopardized the measure's chances for approval in the final weeks of the current congressional session.

The House previously passed the bill on a mostly partisan 268-160 vote.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg reacted to Thursday's result by calling it "a tragic example of partisan politics trumping patriotism."

"I urge Senate Republicans to reconsider their wrong-headed political strategy and allow the bill to come to the floor for a vote," Bloomberg said in a statement.

Republicans complained that the $7.4 billion price tag was too high, while Democrats said the government had an obligation to help the first responders to the deadliest terrorism attack in U.S. history.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health Bill -- named after a deceased New York Police Department detective who had worked in the toxic plume at ground zero -- seeks to provide free medical coverage for responders and survivors who were exposed to toxins after the attacks.

This is five years old. Bloomberg, while still a dumbass, isn't even the mayor any longer.

Do you have a copy of the bill? I'd like to know what else was in it.

I missed that, as I read it quickly. The article is from 2010.

I can't believe the audacity of...

Hey, isn't that Tulsa's squirrel?

This article is from five years ago.

Is it being passed around some other area you read things?

Seems odd to post it now.

Be careful, some whack job crazy person will start to make fun of you for trying to bring a smile to someone.

That is why I called it your squirrel in honor of the day you got eaten alive.

C'mon, lets grab a drink and go next door, they're having a Dialog.

I think rockk was trying to reference the very recent push of the events going on right now in regards to the 9/11 responders.

With the two magical words he'd longed to hear for nearly 16 months - "not guilty" - O.J. Simpson, American icon branded heartless killer, left court a free man yesterday.

The nation breathlessly watched the trail's final act as the gridiron great triumphantly returned home - and vowed to spend the rest of his life rearing his kids and tracking down their beloved mom's killer.

Meanwhile, the Daily News learned last night that shortly after Simpson's release, he had telephone discussions with his slain ex-wife's parents over the future of his children, Sydney, 9, and Justin, 7.

The children - the youngest victims of the sordid killings - have lived with their maternal grandparents since the June 12, 1994, slayings of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

"My first obligation is to my young children, who will be raised the way Nicole and I had always planned," O.J. said in a statement yesterday.

"When things have settled a bit, I will pursue as my primary goal in life the killer or killers that have slaughtered Nicole and Mr. Goldman. They are out there somewhere."

The dramatic pledge came as a suspense-ridden worldwide audience watched the jury render the stunning and climactic verdict - capping the wildest trial in U.S. history with a final flurry of heart stopping drama.

But the verdict - which ignited a cauldron of emotion in the courtroom and around the country - left the killer's identity a secret that died with the victims' last breaths.

About an hour after the verdict, O.J. returned to his mansion in a prison-owned white Ford Aerostar van, trailed by a police caravan - a scene eerily reminiscent of the June 17, 1994, white Ford Bronco chase that ended with the athlete's arrest.

Yesterday, O.J. bounded out of the prison vehicle and into the arms of his childhood buddy and Bronco getaway driver, Al Cowlings. The two hugged for 30 seconds before heading into the mansion, walking arm over arm, brushing away tears.

O.J. was followed home by family members, who arrived in stretch limos. A white Rolls Royce carried his frail mother, Eunice. Relatives danced and hugged in the front yard, and O.J.'s sister Shirley Simpson Baker cried, "He's home! He's home!"

Family and friends partied into the night. But sources said O.J., in his mansion for the first time in months, was disoriented - and was disturbed by the helicopters that were buzzing overhead.

The verdict from the jury of nine blacks, two whites and one Hispanic ended the Trial of the Century at 1:07 p.m. (EDT) - unleashing pentup emotions from both sides.

Hearing the words "not guilty," the gridiron great smiled and cried in the same instant, his body crunching as he mouthed "thank you" and waved to the jurors who set him free after nine months of testimony and less than four hours of deliberations.

Lead defense lawyer Johnnie Cochran clutched O.J.'s shoulder as the football star turned to his family and pumped his fist in the air.

The verdict, which ended the most explosive murder case in modern times, ignited emotions in the victims' families. Goldman's sister Kim, who doubled over as her cries pierced the courtroom, muttered, "That piece of s---."


Goldman's father, Fred, muttered angrily as he left the courtroom, "Murderer."

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/o-simpson-ruled-not-guilty-1995-article-1.2378191

why would you need to allocate 7 billion dollars to people just because they did they job they were paid to do? I mean last I checked most firemen and police officers have full healthcare coverage in new york. Am I misinformed?

I know it's a tragedy and all but 7 billion? Have they lost their mind?!

Yea

Here's what happened since 5 years ago.

Jon Stewart staged a powerful 'Daily Show' return to support 9/11 first responders

...back in 2010, Stewart gathered a panel of first responders to talk about their experiences in hopes of drumming up for support for the act.

President Obama signed the act into law in early 2011.

As part of his return, Stewart staged a reunion of that panel of four first responders. Only one man was present.

Kenny Specht, the founder of the New York City Firefighter Brotherhood Foundation, who was on that original panel, explained that two of the empty chairs belonged to people with illnesses, whose conditions he could not legally comment on. The other belonged to John Devlin, who has since died.

"When we did the show five-and-a-half years ago, four men sat here. [Now] it's just you and I," Specht said to Stewart.

The stark moment came after a video package in which Stewart stepped into correspondent shoes and took his efforts straight to the Capitol, where he attempted to meet with senators whose support was needed. Or, in his words, "shame" them.

His attempt to get meetings resulted in mostly the receipt of press managers' business cards.

He did, however, get time with Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio). As reported last week, hours after their meeting Portman became the 67th senator to back the bill. A good representative.

"What message does it send to our first responders if once we're done as a nation with them helping us that we forget about them? That's unacceptable," Stewart said.

Stewart asked viewers to mobilize and tweet with #WorstResponders to show their support for the bill.

___________________________________________________________________________

At least one of the posters on this thread described conservatives as people who honor police, firemen and anybody who serves the country.

Supposedly that was an important difference conservatives and non-conservatives.

I'm seeing a lot of honor posted here.

9/11 First Responders to Sen. McConnell: Stop Blocking Bill

Frustrated first responders to the Sept. 11 terror attacks who have long-sought reauthorization of a program aimed at helping provide them with health care camped outside of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's office on Wednesday to demand a vote on the measure.

The move came after Senate Democrats accused McConnell of single-handedly blocking the legislation from being included in the long-term highway bill, which was unveiled Tuesday and is expected to pass as soon as this week.

"It's absolutely disgusting that we have to keep on coming back down here and to keep on begging, it's like we're beggars," Anthony Flammia, a retired New York City Police Officer and 9/11 responder said outside McConnell's office. Flammia and a group of over two dozen 9/11 first responders met with a top staffer for Senator McConnell today to ask why the bill was left out of the highway legislation.

"He knew the popularity of the bill and when he didn't get his way this is the one he pulled off the bill," 9/11 first responder Kenny Specht told reporters of McConnell, "That says something about the type of man we're dealing with here. He held us hostage and it's not right, it's not right."

The bill, called the James L. Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, would reauthorize an expiring health care program for 9/11 first responders permanently, while at the same time reauthorize a victims compensation fund for five years, aides say.

The bill has been spearheaded by a bipartisan group from the New York congressional delegation, which has said renewing the programs is "a real life or death issue."

"These guys and women put their lived on the line literally on the line and now they are suffering from it and the thought that the government is hesitating to keep its commitment to them it is distressing and disturbing to a lot of them - it's very disappointing because these are true patriots," Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. told NBC News in an interview.

But aides familiar with the negotiations say that Sen. McConnell asked that the highway bill also lift the U.S. ban on oil exports, and when that was not agreed to he stopped the Zadroga Act from being included in the five-year highway legislation.

"I believe that Senator McConnell was using this as a negotiating position—give us something, we'll give you help for the 9/11 rescue workers," Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters on Tuesday, "And in the end he was the one, Senator (Charles) Schumer and (Kirsten) Gillibrand ticked off every box of every potential opponent, Democrat, Republican, House and Senate, and it all came down to one box at the bottom: Mitch McConnell. He stopped it."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., says an agreement on the Zadroga Act has been "done for weeks," and that he was "surprised" when he was told it would not be included in the highway bill.

Related: 9/11 first responders fight for support

"It was done, it's been done for weeks," Reid told reporters, "It was supposed to be in the highway bill, quite frankly I was surprised yesterday when I was told by Senator McConnell that it wasn't going to be in the highway bill, I was really quite surprised."

"It's not in the bill and I'm disappointed," Reid said, "It's something that these people deserve. And I was told, well, we're going to do it on the omnibus, and now I was told later in the day that they want to do it on the tax extenders."

But Senator McConnell's office denies the Majority Leader is blocking anything, saying "There's still no final bill to object to," and claiming that Sen. Durbin is "misinformed."

"The questions of duration and pay-fors are still being worked out," McConnell spokesman Don Stewart told NBC News on Tuesday, "But members on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the building are working on wrapping that up."

Wednesday's meeting between a top staff member for Sen. McConnell and a group of 9/11 first responders comes as pressure continues to grow to pass the legislation before the year's end. The group of first responders on Capitol Hill plans to continue to meet with congressional offices today and tomorrow, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka released a statement on Tuesday calling on Congress to pass the bill as soon as possible.

Related: Jon Stewart to Congress: Don't Forget 9/11 First Responders

"It is despicable and negligent for Senator McConnell to play politics with the lives and health of some of America's bravest men and women," Trumka said, "Senator McConnell should not stand in the way of a permanent and fully funded James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act."

Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Thune, R-S.D., said the exclusion of the Zadroga Act from the highway bill was not as a result of "any specific individual that was blocking," but instead said "there were a lot of attempts to add some of these extraneous items to (the highway bill), but I think for the most part conferees try to keep it as much as possible confined to transportation priorities."

"The 9/11 responders issue will be addressed, everybody knows that, it will have a lot of bipartisan support," Thune said.

All indications are that congressional leadership is close to reaching an agreement to get the legislation passed before the end of the year, with House Judiciary Committee chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., saying in a statement that "most of the major issues have been resolved."

"We are continuing our talks with all stakeholders in order to have a final bill completed by the end of the year," Goodlatte said.

And House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., announced Wednesday a plan to permanently extend the health care component of the program, paid for by using a number of cuts and reforms to Medicaid which total more than $4 billion.

"Let's end the uncertainty by permanently and responsibly extending this critical program," Upton said, "Our solution puts heroes ahead of spending on millionaires. The choice is that simple — it's time for Congress to get the job done."

The bill has the support of former 'Daily Show' host Jon Stewart, who was on Capitol Hill in September lobbying members of Congress to reauthorize the programs for 9/11 first responders.

"It's the least we can do. it's literally the least that we can do," Stewart said at the time of the Zadroga Act, "That they don't have to be insecure about the medicine they are going to need to treat illnesses that have been scientifically shown - doctors here - and studies have shown links to 9/11."

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., told NBC News on Tuesday that the bill is still a priority.

"We have not decided what vehicle it will be or what funding level but it is something we do intend to get done by the end of the year," Ryan said.

There are two components to the legislation. One is to fully fund the healthcare of those workers who served on "The Pile" at Ground Zero. The other is a continuation of the 9/11 victims compensation fund.

A possible compromise would to fully fund the health care and then sunset the compensation fund at some point, which could assuage the concerns of some conservatives worried about the creation of a new entitlement program.

Hey swish!

I'm wondering why you're the only one aware of how people who served this country are at this moment getting screwed by those who claim to honor people who served this country?

Is it because you're one of those who served our country?

At least King and Razor suggested they might not be aware. Got give then respect for that.

People only understand death tolls, unfortunately. Very few people in this world actually grasp the concept of aftermath.

What razor said is troubling, because by his own logic, that means soldiers shouldn't get any va disability for... Ya know, doing their jobs.

If you got hurt during work? Hey, you knew risk, right?

The 9/11 responders deserves every bit of benefits they can get. They didn't HAVE to volunteer. They didn't HAVE to go into rubble after ruble and pull people out, dead or alive. They didn't HAVE to risk major respatory problems and put out as many fires as possible.

They could've chose to run like everybody else. And they wouldn't had got fired for it. But to respond to the most tragic incident in the history of this country? We as citizens, and them as politicians have an obligation to take care of these guys. Especially the families of people who died.

And as far as overall and served this country?

Bernie sanders said it best: if you can afford to take care of those who served our country when they get home, don't send them to war in the first place.

What else was attached to that bill? Im all in favor or taking care of cops, firefighters, and vets. Usually when something like this gets shot down there is a bunch of junk that isnt related attached on to it.

"But aides familiar with the negotiations say that Sen. McConnell asked that the highway bill also lift the U.S. ban on oil exports, and when that was not agreed to he stopped the Zadroga Act from being included in the five-year highway legislation".

We have disability for the disabled.

I already preach my views that EVERYONE should have free healthcare. Not just the vets. I don't want less. I want more.

Those that were there were fully insured already by the state of new york.

I am fully aware of aftermath and they don't need no 7 billion dollars for it. It's just ridiculous for that large a sum of money. I guarantee you that someone was due to get some huge kick back out of that and it wasn't the victims.

thats my problem with our government.

everybody is always trying to attach something to a bill, instead of making it individual issues.

i understand we gotta streamline the process, but honestly, they get paid 6 figures, they can do stuff on an individual basis.

maybe so, but if the families of the victims lost and responders lost get taken care of, fine.

i'd take that money right from the defense budget and fund the victims.

I agree 100%. The fact that everyone gets to staple their BS to the back of a bill is crazy. Then they try to quilt folks about it because they didnt vote for it.

I'd be fine with making the owners of the towers pay it out since they took out a massive insurance policy before it was hit. I mean a MASSIVE policy. They actually made so much money on those towers falling its ridiculous. Let the one who make billions of dollars from it pay the bills.

i didn't know they took it out before it was hit.

sounds fishy that they would do that.

cover up?

I don't know if it was or not but they sure made mint on it and they got it within weeks of the attack.

Coincidentally try to find video of a plane hitting the pentagon. I've never found anything. Nothing of wreckage either. The odd thing is that what got hit was the accounting departing in the middle of an investigation into a missing 2 billion dollars in funding.

I don't know about conspiracies or what not but I think something fishy certainly happened on that day.

Geez. Still on this, huh? Have you every looked up the pattern of light posts taken down near the Pentagon? A missile isn't wide enough to take out those lights. The security cameras saved still pictures, not video. If it was a missile, why was there no outward explosion? Aluminum melts under intense heat, and the majority of a plane is aluminum. There was landing gear and chunks of plane all over the Pentagon grounds. Broaden your search.

I haven't read the whole thread but this issue is exactly what I hate about politics. They wanted to put this in the highway transportation bill? Why would they want to do that? Let the thing stand on it's own and vote on it.

So there is also an oil export ban in the highway transportation bill that McConnell wants lifted so there are 3 things at work here which, from my POV, have NOTHING to do with each other... but none of them can get done because the politicians won't separate them and let them stand on their own merits, they want to use them for political bargaining power... if you want something, I want something in return.

It's a crappy way to run a country (though ours has been run like this forever)...

I don't know if $7 billion is the right number, it may be reasonable, it may be completely out of line but that should be negotiated and discussed on its own merits, not because it has anything to do with the oil export ban or a transportation legislation...

But if there is something our government should do for first responders, then they need to do it.

I have enough proof for myself, I know survivors of the Pentagon attack, some with burns. It was a Plane.

And this is why it should never be approved.

Yes, one party tends to put something in a bill the other party hates, then throws blame for the main bill not passing. It's a damn shame they do this, and both parties do it. Personally, if they can't pass a bill on one page, I don't think they should do it. This is how all the earmarks and kickbacks get into bills.

Razor,

I could be wrong (I'm sure someone will correct if I am ) but there were a number of health issues first responders suffered such as breathing and cancer that were related to the dirt, dust, debris, and other such things. I think a lot of those medical claims had been denied or woefully under covered.

For some reason the situation reminded me of how the Feds refused to recognize for years (not sure they ever did) Gulf War Syndrome, where it was reported many service members became ill after exposure to chemicals and vaccines.

McConnel is a slime bag, but I can't believe how many people are naïve enough to believe that the Dems give a rats arse about first responders. Their "support" only extends to the union dues.

If they got hurt on the job then they should be taken care of through workmens comp or disability. The owner of the building should also be liable for damages that happened to people because of their building.

Just saying call it some other incident other than 9-11 and you would expect things to go through normal channels. Anything not covered by health insurance that was provided by the state should be covered under the liability insurance of the building owners. Yeah they will have to sue for it like everyone else but that's just part of life. There are lots of people doing dangerous work all over the country who don't get treated special either.

I'm hating or anything like that so don't misunderstand me. I just don't think it's logical to make taxpayers pay for something extra for something thing that should already be covered by the insurance on the building.

j/c

Personally, I think it's a travesty that this bill wasn't presented as its own 'stand alone' proposal.
Something this important should NEVER have been tied up in 'bureaucratic red tape' for any reason.

If ever there was a cause that transcended CapHill 'politics as usual,' this should surely be it.

We've tossed about the term "First Responders" since 2001...to the point that the term is now part of the everyday noise that bombards us in our 24/7 news feed... and now I fear that we've allowed ourselves to (partially) forget what our neighbors experienced on that beautiful, cloudless September day.

Remember.

_____________________

Have we- as a society become so hardened, so disconnected from our government, that we tacitly allow it to treat The Bravest Of Us in such a way?
Is 9/11/2001 so long ago that we'll now allow our elected representatives to 'play politics' with what we owe them?


I for one, sees the cynicism in the way this bill was handled... and as an American citizen, let me say this:
It offends me to my core.


The Citizens of America who rushed into dangers that made their neighbors run away deserve the best I can afford them.
I will gladly give them whatever they need, in thanks for the service they have rendered to all of us.
I will incur any cost, bear any financial weight... because those people gave of their lives, their safety, and their long-term physical health, that I might speak to you all on a sports-based internet message board...

...and all I can contribute to them- is money.
Something I can't take with me, once I'm dead.

______________

Speaking only for myself, let me say this: "It's the best way I could ever ask my tax dollars to be spent."

________________________


If the elected officials who work on CapHill can do no better than what they've already done for our friends and neighbors... then I say: "We have the wrong people representing us in Washington DC."


Craft a stand-alone bill.
Slam it through.
Make this happen... for all the Patriotic American Citizens who gave everything of themselves - at at time when when we were happy to welcome anything.


This is stupid, America.
This thing should happen. It's only right.

Make it so.

No one is saying they shouldn't be helped. Just saying there are proper channels for things to be done by. Even if you gave each family that had someone die or became disabled 1 million dollars each it would not come to ANYWHERE near 7 billion dollars.

These were not poor uninsured people either. Most had insurance and were taken care of. There were lots of donations that poured in to help them out too.

There is no reason to shell out 7 billion dollars of taxpayers money when most of that was probably never going to see the victims in the first place due to all the darn earmarks. Don't get hoodwinked just because they try to sneak payouts to special interests by claiming its for 911 victims.

There were not forgotten. They were taken care of years ago for the most part. Although I am sure some fell through the cracks there was no malicious intent to deprive or forget them.

I have no problem with congress combining a couple of bills that they believe will either pass or fail together.

This bill was easily on it's way to passing until Mitch McConnell held it up for BIG OIL.

I think he's from the party who says they hate Washington politics and our heroes should always be honored.

Some believe that big government is bad, but BIG BUSINESS is fine, so declining a government pledge to care for our heroes to provide a political pledge to fund BIG BUSINESS is morally acceptable.

That same party broke the pledge 5 years ago and it seems they are trying to justify reasons for breaking it again today.

The really cool thing about these people is they would rush in again today, whether we help them or not.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that the opposing party actually ahs any love for first responders. They'll be the first to threaten to cut our budgets if their spending bills don't get passed. The only thing they care about is that Union $$$ On top of that, this Admin since day 1 has done nothing but try to fan the flames of division between police and communities. They aren't even subtle about it anymore.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/york-cops-firefighters-massive-911-fraud-indictment/story?id=21445783

This number is low in the grand scheme of things but how many more did this and didnt get caught/yet?

I'm all for helping them but stories like this give me pause on what is the best way to do so.