House Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic plan to provide billions of dollars for medical treatment to rescue workers and residents of New York City who suffered illnesses from the toxic dust and debris at ground zero.
A majority of the lawmakers in the chamber supported the bill, but the 255-to-159 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin needed under special rules that were used to bring the measure to the floor. In the end, 243 Democrats and 12 Republicans supported the measure; 155 Republicans and 4 Democrats opposed it.
Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year.
Republican opponents of the legislation expressed concern over the $7.4 billion cost of the program. But Democrats accused Republicans of being callous and vowed to bring the bill back for another vote in the fall.
Until now, the federal government has been appropriating money on an annual basis to monitor the health of people injured at ground zero and to provide them with medical treatment. But the bill’s supporters said there were problems with the year-to-year approach, including that money for the program was subject to the political whims of Congress and the White House.
The bill would have provided $3.2 billion over the next eight years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. New York City would have paid 10 percent of those health costs.
The bill also would have set aside $4.2 billion to reopen the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation for any job and economic losses.
In addition, the bill contained a provision that would have allowed money from the Victim Compensation Fund to be paid out to anyone who receives payment under the pending settlement stemming from lawsuits that 10,000 rescue and cleanup workers filed against the city. At the moment, anyone who receives a settlement from the city could not receive compensation from the fund, according to the bill’s sponsors.
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a Democrat and one of the bill’s chief sponsors, expressed disappointment with the outcome, saying that it was a shame that many who opposed the measure “don’t understand the scope and severity of this health crisis.” But she expressed confidence that the House would pass the bill with a simple majority when Congress returned from its summer recess in September.
Representative Lamar Smith, a Republican from Texas, who opposed the bill, described it as an “irresponsible overreach” and asserted that it did not contain sufficient protections to prevent waste and fraud.
Representative Jerrold Nadler, another Democratic sponsor, called the rejection of the measure “heartless and unpatriotic.”
There are nearly 60,000 people enrolled in a variety of health-monitoring and treatment programs related to the 9/11 attacks, according to the sponsors of the bill. The federal government provides the bulk of the funding for those health programs.
Anthony Weiner from Brooklyn tells it like it is:
[youtube][/youtube]
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:46 am
by ASUG8
Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year.
I think it's comical that the dems can't find their own asses in the dark with a supermajority and have to resort to "special rules" to try to get things passed. Unfortunately, I guess these 9/11 victims will have to resort to the "really awesome super special fantastic healthcare program" that the American public didn't want and the lawmakers won't even use personally.
And is it "Weiner" or "Whiner"? I get confused.....
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:46 am
by Col Hogan
Nice try kyjelly...you blame the GOP for something the Democrats did...
A majority of the lawmakers in the chamber supported the bill, but the 255-to-159 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin needed under special rules that were used to bring the measure to the floor. In the end, 243 Democrats and 12 Republicans supported the measure; 155 Republicans and 4 Democrats opposed it.
Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year.
The Democrats control the vote...the Democrats invoked the special rule, not the Republicans...
SHAME ON THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP...
Another kyjelly LIE!!!!!!!
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:46 am
by Baldy
Skjellyfetti wrote:
Anthony Weiner from Brooklyn tells it like it is:
[youtube][/youtube]
Unhinged Weinersucker.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:48 am
by Pwns
Why is this all-of-the-sudden an issue with the donks? 9/11 was almost nine years ago and folks have been howling about this issue since then and both parties pretty much ignored it. F%^&ing sanctimonious donks.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:52 am
by Skjellyfetti
Col Hogan wrote:Nice try kyjelly...you blame the GOP for something the Democrats did...
A majority of the lawmakers in the chamber supported the bill, but the 255-to-159 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin needed under special rules that were used to bring the measure to the floor. In the end, 243 Democrats and 12 Republicans supported the measure; 155 Republicans and 4 Democrats opposed it.
Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year.
The Democrats control the vote...the Democrats invoked the special rule, not the Republicans...
SHAME ON THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP...
Another kyjelly LIE!!!!!!!
They invoked the rule so they could get it passed because that way it comes to the floor quicker and they can get it passed before summer recess.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:54 am
by Col Hogan
Skjellyfetti wrote:
Col Hogan wrote:Nice try kyjelly...you blame the GOP for something the Democrats did...
The Democrats control the vote...the Democrats invoked the special rule, not the Republicans...
SHAME ON THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP...
Another kyjelly LIE!!!!!!!
They invoked the rule so they could get it passed because that way it comes to the floor quicker and they can get it passed before summer recess.
You love to ignore the article...don't you...
That's not why they invoked the special rule...
Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:03 am
by Skjellyfetti
Many of these people dropped everything to go and help, disregarding their own safety and life situations because they were overwhelmed with empathy. Now they are being shit on by the gop. sad...............
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:13 am
by AZGrizFan
The Donk Mantra:
"We can't be out of money, we still have checks left!"
Isn't there $7.4 billion laying around from unspent stimulus money they could throw at this problem?
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:25 am
by Gil Dobie
Dems and Reps should be ashamed at the shape they are leaving America in for the next generation.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:33 am
by blueballs
$7.4 billion for health benefits and compensation for job loss for an incident that happened nine years ago?????????
Did none of these people have health insurance (you bet your ass they did, they are overwhelmingly union)??? Can they not find another job in NINE YEARS????
Good grief folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $7.4 BILLION dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That ain't chump change... let's assume 10,000 workers aided in the cleanup and we know 3,000+ people perished. If that is the case that is over $560,000 per person for people who have already received massive payouts, insurance benefits, and continued aid.
This is nothing more than a veiled union payoff under the guise of helping 9/11 folks. I call BS.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:35 am
by Pwns
So the donks are writing an excessive, poorly-conceived bill that's a giant giveaway of money we don't have to the donk's buddies at the medical-industrial complex.....and after they mostly ignored the this issue for many years, they have the nerve to claim the republicans are the ones playing heartless politics. Face it, this is just an act of desperation to mitgate the a**-kicking the donks are going to get in the elections in November.
The sooner the radical Nancy Pelosi wing of the democratic party is out of power in congress, the better.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:35 am
by Baldy
blueballs wrote:$7.4 billion for health benefits and compensation for job loss for an incident that happened nine years ago?????????
Did none of these people have health insurance (you bet your ass they did, they are overwhelmingly union)??? Can they not find another job in NINE YEARS????
Good grief folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $7.4 BILLION dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That ain't chump change... let's assume 10,000 workers aided in the cleanup and we know 3,000+ people perished. If that is the case that is over $560,000 per person for people who have already received massive payouts, insurance benefits, and continued aid.
This is nothing more than a veiled union payoff under the guise of helping 9/11 folks. I call BS.
THE voice of reason has spoken.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:39 am
by Skjellyfetti
blueballs wrote:Did none of these people have health insurance (you bet your ass they did, they are overwhelmingly union)???
40% of 9/11 workers lacked health insurance as of a couple of years ago. I wouldn't be surprised if that number's gone up since it was before the economy went to shit: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/ ... ontentBody" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 9:43 am
by AZGrizFan
Baldy wrote:
blueballs wrote:$7.4 billion for health benefits and compensation for job loss for an incident that happened nine years ago?????????
Did none of these people have health insurance (you bet your ass they did, they are overwhelmingly union)??? Can they not find another job in NINE YEARS????
Good grief folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! $7.4 BILLION dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That ain't chump change... let's assume 10,000 workers aided in the cleanup and we know 3,000+ people perished. If that is the case that is over $560,000 per person for people who have already received massive payouts, insurance benefits, and continued aid.
This is nothing more than a veiled union payoff under the guise of helping 9/11 folks. I call BS.
THE voice of reason has spoken.
Don't bring logic into the discussion. It only confuses donks.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:16 pm
by wildkyle
Now the Democrats want to talk about 9-11. They want to forget about it or if they talk about it they say it was our fault that it happened
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 3:35 pm
by kalm
wildkyle wrote:Now the Democrats want to talk about 9-11. They want to forget about it or if they talk about it they say it was our fault that it happened
Were you a member of the Bush administration?
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:08 pm
by citdog
Skjellyfetti wrote:
House Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic plan to provide billions of dollars for medical treatment to rescue workers and residents of New York City who suffered illnesses from the toxic dust and debris at ground zero.
A majority of the lawmakers in the chamber supported the bill, but the 255-to-159 vote fell short of the two-thirds margin needed under special rules that were used to bring the measure to the floor. In the end, 243 Democrats and 12 Republicans supported the measure; 155 Republicans and 4 Democrats opposed it.
Democrats used rules requiring a wider majority for approval to prevent Republicans from offering amendments on the floor that would embarrass Democrats in an election year.
Republican opponents of the legislation expressed concern over the $7.4 billion cost of the program. But Democrats accused Republicans of being callous and vowed to bring the bill back for another vote in the fall.
Until now, the federal government has been appropriating money on an annual basis to monitor the health of people injured at ground zero and to provide them with medical treatment. But the bill’s supporters said there were problems with the year-to-year approach, including that money for the program was subject to the political whims of Congress and the White House.
The bill would have provided $3.2 billion over the next eight years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. New York City would have paid 10 percent of those health costs.
The bill also would have set aside $4.2 billion to reopen the Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund to provide compensation for any job and economic losses.
In addition, the bill contained a provision that would have allowed money from the Victim Compensation Fund to be paid out to anyone who receives payment under the pending settlement stemming from lawsuits that 10,000 rescue and cleanup workers filed against the city. At the moment, anyone who receives a settlement from the city could not receive compensation from the fund, according to the bill’s sponsors.
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, a Democrat and one of the bill’s chief sponsors, expressed disappointment with the outcome, saying that it was a shame that many who opposed the measure “don’t understand the scope and severity of this health crisis.” But she expressed confidence that the House would pass the bill with a simple majority when Congress returned from its summer recess in September.
Representative Lamar Smith, a Republican from Texas, who opposed the bill, described it as an “irresponsible overreach” and asserted that it did not contain sufficient protections to prevent waste and fraud.
Representative Jerrold Nadler, another Democratic sponsor, called the rejection of the measure “heartless and unpatriotic.”
There are nearly 60,000 people enrolled in a variety of health-monitoring and treatment programs related to the 9/11 attacks, according to the sponsors of the bill. The federal government provides the bulk of the funding for those health programs.
Anthony Weiner from Brooklyn tells it like it is:
[youtube][/youtube]
Where is Preston Brooks when he is needed so BADLY????
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 4:29 pm
by tampa_griz
Skjellyfetti wrote:**** cocksuckers.
Anthony Weiner from Brooklyn tells it like it is:
Ironic name-calling since it is you that like the Weiner.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:13 pm
by JohnStOnge
I don't think this is really at issue in this case but without even looking at details I would be willing to bet that an awful lot of people claiming that they are suffering from the effects of things like "toxic dust" aren't really suffering from such effects. I think that anytime something like this happens you can count on a bunch of people having something go wrong with them and assuming that it must've been the "toxic dust" (in this case). And there is absolutely no way to legitimately infer that "toxic dust" caused any adverse health effects since there is no way a controlled experiment could be involved.
Plus you inevitably have some people who are intentionally trying to take advantage of the situation.
Unpopular to say but, in this culture, you can pretty much count on having the effects of a high profile incident exaggerated. As bad as the World Trade Center attacks were in reality, I have no doubt that the effects have been and are being exaggerated. It's just the way we are.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:23 pm
by BlueHen86
kalm wrote:
wildkyle wrote:Now the Democrats want to talk about 9-11. They want to forget about it or if they talk about it they say it was our fault that it happened
Were you a member of the Bush administration?
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:23 pm
by BlueHen86
Gil Dobie wrote:Dems and Reps should be ashamed at the shape they are leaving America in for the next generation.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 5:39 pm
by Ursus A. Horribilis
Funny how this Wiener is now wrapping himself in the American/9/11 flag so tightly. It is so great to see the Dems doing exactly what they rightly criticized a lot of Republicans for doing.
What a fucking toolbag that guy is.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:09 pm
by Ivytalk
Weiner is Jellybelly. Jellybelly is Weiner.
Re: Republicans block bill to aid 9/11 victims:
Posted: Fri Jul 30, 2010 7:30 pm
by Skjellyfetti
Ursus A. Horribilis wrote:Funny how this Wiener is now wrapping himself in the American/9/11 flag so tightly. It is so great to see the Dems doing exactly what they rightly criticized a lot of Republicans for doing.
What a **** toolbag that guy is.
Dude's been in Congress since before 9/11 and represents Brooklyn. Do I really need to link all of his speeches, bill he's sponsored, etc. that deal with 9/11 over the last 10 years? This didn't come out of nowhere.