Why Are Republicans Holding Up the First Responders Bill?

I hear ya, but I've never seen a rightwing cause that someone here on A2K wouldn't defend, and I wanted to see one of them defend this one.

The answer is obvious, they ain't left wing.

WASHINGTON — New York's two senators said Monday that the votes are there for Congress to approve a scaled-back bill providing extra benefits to emergency workers who responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center.

But one of them, Charles Schumer, expressed concern that opponents might use a filibuster to kill the bill as Congress tries to complete its business for the year this week.

"If no one does undue delay — just stands up and delays and delays and delays — we will get this done," the New York Democrat said on ABC's "Good Morning America." "And that's my plea to my colleagues in both the House and Senate, please don't delay this bill. Let it come to a vote and we will win."

Republicans have raised concerns about the bill's cost and how to pay for it.

Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, also a Democrat, said they'd picked up support by trimming the bill's price tag from $7.4 billion to $6.2 billion in response to Republican concerns. The House and Senate would both need to approve the bill before lawmakers adjourn for the year, or supporters will have to start anew in the next year's Congress, when the GOP will control the House and have greater strength in the Senate. Source

Republicans have raised concerns about the bill's cost and how to pay for it.

Deal reached on 9/11 health bill

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell and Carrie Dann
A deal has been reached to pave the way for Senate passage of a health bill to aid 9/11 first responders, according to a source close to the negotiations.

Some GOP senators, led by Tom Coburn, R-Okla., had been blocking quick passage of the bill over objections about its cost and the process by which the legislation passed through Congress.

But after negotiations led by New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, the impasse appears to have been broken, possibly setting up the last legislative action of the 111th Congress this afternoon.

It's now expected that no objections will be raised that could slow down or kill passage.

The bill must be approved by the House (which has remained in session in hopes of the chance to approve the measure) before going to the president for signing.

** UPDATE ** House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said on MSNBC that he has spoken to Schumer about the deal. "I'm told, yes, there is an agreement," he said. Source

Last week Jon Stewart devoted every episode of the Daily Show to putting a spotlight on the 9-11 responders bill. The bill, officially called the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act, helps to provide medical coverage to the first responders to the 9-11 terror attacks. Many of the workers inhaled toxic dust which resulted in debilitating diseases. When the same workers lost their jobs they also lost their health insurance. Even those covered by a policy often find themselves excluded by insurance company rules. The bill has over 50 votes for final passage in the Senate, but it has been held up by Republican filibuster there. In his segments last week Stewart challenged the media to put more attention on the issue and the Republicans who are holding up the bill. This week, Shepherd Smith of Fox News has taken the torch from Stewart on the issue.

Over the past few days Smith has been challenging Republicans to explain their opposition to what is relatively popular bill. When Smith could not find a Republican senator to come on his show he publicly named every Senator who said "no" to his interview request and then named those who simply ignored the interview request.

Smith has also challenged the Republican rationale for filibustering the bill. At first Republicans said that the tax deal had to be passed before they would allow a vote on the 9-11 bill. As objectionable as it may seem to hold 9-11 workers hostage to tax cuts for the rich, the Congress relented to the demands of the GOP and passed an extension of tax cuts for the rich. Then the Republicans objected to the method of paying for the $7.4 billion bill by closing a corporate tax loophole. Democrats subsequently lowered the cost of the bill to $6.2 billion and changed the way it was paid for. Still Republicans said they would filibuster the bill. Now Republicans have essentially claimed more debate is needed on the bill. As Smith noted, the previous Republican filibuster actually kept the bill from being debated, and hearings have been held on the bill.

Smith's devotion has gone so far that even Rachel Maddow is praising him for his actions. As Maddow explains in the video segment to the left, she is unlikely to influence Republicans with her show but Shepherd Smith could have an effect from his Fox News platform. Source

Many of the workers inhaled toxic dust which resulted in debilitating diseases.