9/11 First Responders Bill Voted Down in the Senate

[klunderbunker]

There was a bill up in the US Senate to allow extra health and I believe (not sure though) financial benefits to the firemen and policemen that responded to the September 11 attacks. It passed in the House, but then a funny thing happened on the way to the President's desk.

The bill is officially known as the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 and is named after a first responder who died from a respiratory disease attributed to his rescue efforts on the morning of the Sept. 11 terror attack. The bill easily passed the House in September with a rare bout of bipartisan support. The bill's backers expected passage in the Senate, as well.

But yesterday, every Republican senator voted against the bill. The action was part of the GOP's obstructionist strategy of not allowing any senate action to proceed until the chamber votes on a bill that will continue to Bush era tax cuts, including those for the very wealthy.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/201012100025

Dude, seriously? In other words what the GOP is saying is that their war against the Democrats and Obama as well as their tax breaks for the very rich are more important than helping people that are sick because they tried to help others during the worst act of terrorism in our country's history. They'll sing from every mountaintop they can about how we're a nation at war and how people against the troops are unpatriotic and how Obama doesn't get the military and all that jazz. Then they do this. That's disgusting. Tax break issues, problems with the other party or whatever: your job as Senators is to help the people in need. This is ridiculous and I can't believe it actually happened.

Saddest thing: the first news outlet to mention this: Jon Stewart.

 

[One Punch Doug Crashin]

That's just disgusting. These guys should be treated as heroes. This is yet another reason why people have no faith in Congress.

 

[Coco]

Could be worse. They could be making the first responders stand before a death panel.

 

[klunderbunker]

I thought we were trying to avoid them dealing with insurance companies?

 

[One Punch Doug Crashin]

In all actuality this is politics as usual. These people think only of themselves. America can rot before partisanship ends.

 

[klunderbunker]

Sad but true. All so that one party can claim a victory over the other. Who cares at what cost/

 

[Pay Per Ghost]

Chances like these don't come so often, where the politicians are handed an opportunity to show that they 'do care' for the people.

This is bad. Like third-world politics bad.

 

[HBK-aholic]

Would someone like to explain to me why they voted Republican? This is just like admitting they don't give a shit about the people.

 

[Vintage Nick]

People voted Republican because the voters were duped by fear-mongering and dirty politics. They screamed and raved about the Democrats and the Obama Administration not doing anything...when they couldn't because the GOP filibustered every damn thing that was put through unless they had their piece of the pie.

This move was utterly disgusting, and I hope that two years from now, people will look back at this in shame and disgust. Those First Response workers should be treated as heroes as mentioned before, and yet the Republicans slap them in the face. It's revolting.

 

[One Punch Doug Crashin]

Everybody should actually stop blaming the Republicans for being obstructionists. If you really think about it the Dems would do the same thing. Hell they practically did do the same thing the last Lame Duck. So please just think about it before you blame one party for being idiots. As I said before this is unfortunately "Politics as usual".

 

[Барбоса]

I mentioned this in the CL but I feel it is relevant here as well...

"Free" America strikes again!

"Free" to treat it's citizens like shit!

 

[Slyfox696]

Wow...this is just infuriating.

The silver lining is now I have something to use to completely tear into my mom's husband. I really like the guy, he's a great guy, but I have to hear all the time about how bad Democrats are, and blah blah blah...it'll be interesting to see how he spins this.

 

[IrishCanadian25]

Would someone like to explain to me why they voted Republican? This is just like admitting they don't give a shit about the people.

I voted Obama, but I labored over the decision.

When I have time to make a proper post, I'll do it over in the CL.

 

[One Punch Doug Crashin]

I voted Obama, but I labored over the decision.

As did I IC. As did I.

 

[Slyfox696]

I chose to not vote for anyone.

And yes, I CHOSE to not vote. I exercised my right to not give my support to either party in the last election.

 

[Барбоса]

I have consciously chosen to never vote.

None of the douchebags that stand for election in Northern Ireland deserve my vote

 

[Gregor_Samsa]

And yes, I CHOSE to not vote. I exercised my right to not give my support to either party in the last election.

Have to agree completely with sly. I jumped on the bandwagon back in 08' and voted for Obama but that's going to be the last time I vote for a public official.

 

[klunderbunker]

Update (Kind of):

Due to all of the filibusters from the GOP, Harry Reid (Democratic leader) is saying the Senate will be working on Christmas Eve and Day. This would be to vote on all the things that have been put off due to the filibusters, including the 9/11 bill. The GOP, naturally, is bitching about it. Good for Reid.

 

[Chardee Macdennis]

This disgusts me to no end. I'm a Republican, and I would love a list of those elected officials that voted this down. The two party system is going to be the downfall of our once great nation. As I said, yes, I'm Republican, and not ashamed to admit it whatsoever. The problem is, there are plenty of issues I disagree with them on as well. Actually, the REAL problem is, if you don't vote for one of the two parties, as others in this thread have actually done, you might as well just stay home. It sickens me that at this day in age, we are forced to vote for the lesser of two evils. Why should it be this way? I know why it IS this way and it's all based on money, promises and back alley deals. If we could ban together and end the possability of becoming a "career" politician, I think that would be a tremendous first step is correcting the corruption that is reversing what's been in motion for a number of years now. The way things are going now, history will recognize the United States of America as the second coming of the Roman Empire, a nation so great, it could only be destroyed from the inside out!

 

[Razor]

They did this a month or so ago. The Democrats wanted to fund the extension of the 9/11 Fund through closing a tax loophole that allowed someone to buy a painting for 20,000 dollars, get it "appraised" for 50,000 dollars, and write it off on their taxes for that 50,000 dollars.

Republicans unanimously voted it down because it would be a raise in taxes. I'm rather certain they filibusted the fuck too.

So no Doug, it's not the Republicans merely doing what the Democrats would do. It's the Republicans throwing a fit because they've realized their economic plan for the past 30 years has utterly failed. That, and the Senate has fallen apart when it comes to actually getting shit done. Pelosi and Reid will do that to you.

 

[klunderbunker]

As much as Pelosi gets blamed, she gets shit done in the House. Also, McConnell is far worse than Reid ever dreamed of being. That guy scares me.

 

[Razor]

Yeah, true. I just plain hate Pelosi. She's drawn lines in the sand against Obama where she shouldn't have. As far as Reid....well, anyone would be better than McConnell. I have a feeling he's going to introduce a motion every month urging the Senate to outlaw *********ion. Then what will I do at 2am?

 

[klunderbunker]

I think Reid means well but he's up against a ridiculous wall in the GOP senators. How can anyone get anything done against that? January 5th could save them but then you have Boehner to worry about.

 

[Slyfox696]

This disgusts me to no end. I'm a Republican, and I would love a list of those elected officials that voted this down.

No problem.

People who voted to deny this in the Senate:

Republicans: All



Finished

 

[Slyfox696]

It's the Republicans throwing a fit because they've realized their economic plan for the past 30 years has utterly failed.

Uhh, not really. It's been a couple years, but the last I checked, the disparity of wealth in this country was greater than it had been at any time in the last 100 years, including the pre-depression years.


I think the Republican economic plan worked exactly the way they wanted it to.