[Update: Mon 12/20, 8PM: I'm hearing that Brown's offices are saying he's still opposed to the bill's funding--(in spite of the changes brokered by the indefatigable Sen. Gillibrand?)--"even though" he "supports" the bill in spirit. Given that he has just voted for a MASSIVE increase in the deficit w/ the tax bill--this reasoning cannot stand. Is Scott Brown really saying that Tax Loopholes for Foreign Corporations are more important than taking care of 9/11 First Responders? Call him. Tell him to stop dawdling: support our heroes now]
[Update: The Zadroga bill is definitely going for another vote, before Congress closes shop] The New York Times is reporting that the Zadroga bill--which provides some financial relief and health coverage to the first responders and rescuers of 9/11/01 (many of whom are getting cancers and other serious/life-ending ailments from the toxic fumes from the fire and pile)--has gotten "new Republican support" and
[UPDATE: it's coming for a vote--switch your calls to SCOTT BROWN:
202-224-4543 ph.; Fax (202) 228-2646 (use free services on the web to fax!)]
In light of these new developments (also covered here by ABC News), I'm posting here in order to collect/organize relevant info/material on the bill, as I find it.
12/22 interview with 9/11 First Responder Kenny Sprecht (NYC Fire Dept):
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| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| 9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster | ||||
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- "How did GOP end up against 9/11 Heroes?" NYT 12/22/10
- The GOP Fight Against 9/11 Heroes, Think Progress, 12/21/10
- Dem lawmakers want Obama to step up on the bully pulpit for 9/11 bill (compares to Jon Stewart), Dec 21 2010
- Shep Smith at Fox has been calling out Republican senators blocking this bill:
- Videos embedded at bottom of this blog post
- Calls them out by name -12/20/10
- Calls out Tom Coburn - 12/21/10
- Tom Coburn (OK-R) opposes bill. Giuliani and Huckabee say it should not be partisan.(Huffpo, 12/20/2010)
- The US Chamber of Commerce (the People who fight to Outsource American jobs, rely on foreign $$, donate to GOP) lobbied hard against the Zadroga bill
- Republican Senators have already complained about working after Christmas day, and will likely revive that complaint if Zadroga is added again to the docket. So, do remember NYC firefighter Kenny Specht said about working on Christmas:
- typical: first it was about "Procedure" (Scott Brown's favorite excuse for Not Doing the Right Thing), then it was "We Care More About Tax Cuts for Millionaires",... Needless to say, I think it's all purely invented reasons that are partisan-driven: to try to keep Dem congress from passing very popular legislation (screwing the actual 9/11 heroes in the process). For a look at the Conservative objections to this bill, read this blog post by a conservative granny.
- Local perspective: Maine firefighter was part of a New England contingent, is lobbying ME senators to pass the bill. (Dec 19)
- Some background info on prior funding for 9/11 related health problems
- Some coverage of the Republican distortions on this (particularly Enzi), including "How the workers are already covered under a lawsuit settlement"
- Washington Monthly editorial, covering some of the criticisms and reaction, to Zadroga; has lots of links
- The Hill's inside the beltway coverage of the bill
- NYPost excoriates the GOP for their vote
- This Arizona Blog has good overview, plus links to relevant material (Dec 2010)
Shep Smith/Fox News calling out Tom Coburn AND doing some political analysis--calls BS on Republicans' claim that it's being "jammed thru"
Shep Smith/Fox News: Calls Out Republican Senators by Name (12/20/2010)
Jon Stewart on Dec 9, 2010: after Republicans blocked the 9/11 Bill in Lame Duck senate... Says NO REPUBLICANS henceforth get to use 9/11 in any of their campaigning, electioneering. Really, watch!
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Lame-as-F@#k Congress | ||||
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I faxed this to Harry Reid the other day:
ReplyDelete"Dear Senator Reid:
The NYT is reporting that the 9/11 Zadroga bill is getting new support from the GOP, which has so shamefully turned its back on these heroes before.
PLEASE bring it back to a vote before Lame Duck is over. People are paying attention to this issue now, after the Daily Show*, and public pressure can make this finally happen for these so deserving men and women who gave so selflessly in 2001 and after.
Thank you,
*PS I think it is a failure of the Democratic party that it took Jon Stewart to bring the public's focus to this issue."
US Chamber of Commerce wrote a blog post--copying it here, in case it suddenly disappears...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.chamberpost.com/2010/12/the-latest-misinformation-campaign-the-911-responders-bill.html
"The Latest Misinformation Campaign: The 9/11 Responders Bill
by Tita Freeman
One of the complaints about the online world is that half-truths can be hatched and spread worldwide in an instant, often posted by someone with a particular agenda - and with no regard to the facts - and then spread, repeated a thousand fold by a complicit or unwitting mob. We have seen too many of these to count, and we dare not link to them so as not to start these misguided brushfires anew.
The latest is a yarn being spun about the 9/11 responders bill by our loyal opposition. (You know who you are...) Although they are out there agitating and saying we've opposed the bill - merely to further their own agenda - the fact is that we have taken no position on the core bill, but have opposed the way its authors are proposing to pay for it. The current version proposes to offset the costs through certain pay fors which are of concern to business. In fact, 10 other broad-based associations sent a letter today articulating this concern. But as for the core bill, we have taken no position.
One more time, for clarity's sake: While we've opposed paying for it with offsets harmful to the business community and the economy, we have not taken a position on the underlying 9/11 responders bill.
Hope this clears it up."