It's the Economy, Stupid

from: Doing the math on Obama’s deficits - Washington Post (2/1/2012) 

Obama’s and Bush’s effects on the deficit in one graph  

9/11 First Responders: Zadroga Bill

UPDATE 12/22/10 3:44 PM: Zadroga bill PASSED by unanimous consent!

[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 may be will be coming up for a vote again before this Lame Duck is over. Let's hope so.

[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!)]
Please call/fax/email Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and ask him to bring the Zadroga Bill back for a vote before the lame duck ends DC Phone: 202-224-3542 - Fax: 202-224-7327 (I use http://faxzero.com to fax from the web) -

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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9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster
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I put some other links (including Stewart's interview w/ Huckabee) on the "Lame Duck" omnibus entry.

• "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:
• "You won't find a single New York City firefighter who considers it a sign of disrespect to work in a New York City firehouse on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day." - 9/11 First Responder Kenny Specht
• Media Matters chronicles Fox's whitewashing of GOP's role in killing 9/11 billl
• McCain accuses Democrats of playing politics with 9/11 Responders--Schumer fights back
• Even Fox News is finally, slowly, catching on to the outrage of screwing over these heroes--a word I do not use lightly. Not passing it?: "It's all political"--And goes on to skewer the prioritizing of tax breaks for millionaires. Wow. From Fox! But it's Shep Smith, and he's shown independent thought before. Watch Chris Wallace squirm:

• The Republican Objection to Zadroga has been 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)

I'll add videos here at the end as I find them:


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!

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