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Report: Momentum Building For Lame-Duck Session Passing Of 9/11 First Responders Bill

» 56 comments

Though Senator Jon Kyl remains skeptical, the Associated Press is reporting that legislators are optimistic that a bill designed to offer increased health care for 9/11 First Responders has enough support to pass before the lame-duck session ends. In a post on the Daily Kos, NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand suggested that the GOP had been shamed into support by cutting commentary from Jon Stewart and Shepard Smith.

The AP reports:

Backers of a bill in Congress to help people who became sick after working in the World Trade Center dust created by the Sept. 11 attacks said Sunday they’re optimistic the Senate will approve the measure before the lame-duck session ends.

“We are on the verge of a Christmas miracle,” said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

Gillibrand and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are offering a less-costly alternative to the original bill to aid 9/11 responders and survivors, saying that they believe it will gain needed support from the GOP. They said the Senate was expected to consider the new bill once they finish dealing with the U.S.-Russia treaty on nuclear weapons.

“Barring a setback, we believe we are on the path to victory by the end of the week,” Schumer said.

To raise pressure for the bill, a group of 9/11 responders plans to gather outside the White House on Tuesday to urge President Obama to get involved in the fight to pass it.

In a post published this weekend on the left-of-center website, Senator Gilibrand (D-NY) championed increased media coverage of the First Responder’s bill, particularly citing The Daily Show episode dedicated to this issue that aired last Thursday, and a Shep Smith commentary that aired the following day. Gilibrand wrote:

The media is more interested in this bill than they’ve ever been before, thanks in large part to Jon Stewart’s devoting an entire episode of The Daily Show to the bill last week. If you haven’t yet, you must see his interview with several of the 9/11 first responders, who are ill and need care.

I was thrilled that Jon put Governor Mike Huckabee on the spot and secured his support for the bill, which followed on the heels of Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s endorsement of the legislation. Bipartisan support for the bill is growing by the day.

The bill has since been covered on ABC Nightly News and has gotten some excellent coverage on Fox News. I appeared on Fox the other day to discuss my efforts to pass this bill and then was very moved to see Shepard Smith express his own deep frustration with our inability to deliver health care for these heroes.

The 9/11 First Responders bill is named for James Zadroga, a police detective who died at age 34. His supporters say he died from respiratory disease contracted at ground zero, but New York City’s medical examiner said Zadroga’s lung condition was caused by prescription drug abuse.

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  • Atticus Draco

    Colby you’re such a left leaning hack

    9/11 Bill ‘Christmas Miracle’ Seen
    Supporters of the bill believe that the smaller price tag—the overall cost was cut to $6.2 billion from $7.4 billion—combined with a different method of paying for the legislation, will be enough to win yes votes from Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Mark Kirk of Illinois and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, according to people familiar with the discussions. Three other Republicans are also considered possible supporters of the altered version of the bill.

    Source WSJ

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  • Yargburger

    How does what he wrote contradict your quote? One: He is reporting on a Senator’s suggestion that the increasing momentum is due to increased media coverage by the Daily Show and Fox News. Now other media outlets are reporting on the bill’s movement.

    Two: There was little momentum before the media shined the light on this bill, as per usual. I doubt that the negotiations on the bill would have been as successful without it. Perhaps without it, recent supporters would have thought 6.2 billion was still too expensive.

  • The Real Royal King

    This would be very good news. If we factor out the Tea Partiers, the Southern Evangelicals and those who shamelessly pander to them like Bitch McConnell and Jim Demented, there are still some Republicans in our country who are fine people, with both sense and compassion. Those of us interested in building a fair, compassionate, safe America need to concentrate on the good ones and let the other swim in their own cesspools. They are truly the People Who Have Walked in Darkness and Eschew the Great Light. Grumps McCain might be factored out as well. It’s not so much he’s indecent as it is he’s just so cranky and so erratic.

  • Atticus Draco

    Yargburger said:
    How does what he wrote contradict your quote? One: He is reporting on a Senator’s suggestion that the increasing momentum is due to increased media coverage by the Daily Show and Fox News. Now other media outlets are reporting on the bill’s movement.

    Two: There was little momentum before the media shined the light on this bill, as per usual. I doubt that the negotiations on the bill would have been as successful without it. Perhaps without it, recent supporters would have thought 6.2 billion was still too expensive.

    He is saying that the Republicans were shamed into this
    which is alright FALSE
    THEY ARE ACTUALLY VETTING THE DAMN BILL!!

  • Atticus Draco

    Atticus Draco said:
    He is saying that the Republicans were shamed into this
    which is alright FALSE
    THEY ARE ACTUALLY VETTING THE DAMN BILL!!

    AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE NOT DONE YET BTW!
    They’re still negotiating the dang thing
    this is far from over!
    (unfortunately,, it’s gonna be done behind closed doors,, WHICH I DONT APPROVE!)

  • Just4thefax

    Fact: Hahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahah…..In a post on the Daily Kos…Hahahahahahahahahah!!!!!

  • Atticus Draco

    If ANYTHING,, if TRUTH BE known,,
    It’s the democrats that LOOK SHAMEFUL in this deal
    YOU KNOW,, THEY STILL HAVE THE MAJORITIES!
    THEY CANT GET SOMETHING AS A “NO BRAINER” AS THIS THROUGH THE DAMN CONGRESS!!

  • timzank

    The Real Royal King said:
    This would be very good news. If we factor out the Tea Partiers, the Southern Evangelicals and those who shamelessly pander to them like Bitch McConnell and Jim Demented, there are still some Republicans in our country who are fine people, with both sense and compassion. Those of us interested in building a fair, compassionate, safe America need to concentrate on the good ones and let the other swim in their own cesspools. They are truly the People Who Have Walked in Darkness and Eschew the Great Light. Grumps McCain might be factored out as well. It’s not so much he’s indecent as it is he’s just so cranky and so erratic.

    Original co-author is REPUBLICAN Peter KIng. King had enough Republican votes originally to pass it. Why did the Dems change the procedural plateau to a super majority the day before the vote when they had more than enough votes???????

  • The Lantern of Truth

    The Real Royal King said:
    Bitch McConnell and Jim Demented

    The Real Royal King said:
    a fair, compassionate, safe America

    As a pretend good Catholic , who hates so much with great passion , I spoke to the Lord yesterday . I said , Lord , give me some new catty names for Republicans , for they are unbelievers in your fellow Lord Obama . He told me I could keep using the name Boner , until I came upon a better one , and keep demonizing the children of the Palins , as it is doing Lord Obama ‘ s work . Amen .

  • The Real Royal King

    Atticus Draco said:
    t’s the democrats that LOOK SHAMEFUL in this deal

    If you’re just dealing with appearances, no, that is not true. The 9/11 First Responders are the great heroes of our time, and many of them lack insurance coverage for their various serious injuries. The image of the Republicans is one of someone holding a gun to Lassie’s head and shooting her just after she alerted Gramps Miller Timmy had fallen into the well. Of course, that’s image, and we ought to be concerned with substance. The substance is: these men and women were there for us, and we are abandoning them.

  • The Real Royal King

    timzank said:
    Original co-author is REPUBLICAN Peter KIng. King had enough Republican votes originally to pass it. Why did the Dems change the procedural plateau to a super majority the day before the vote when they had more than enough votes???????

    By all means, let’s ignore the substance and wrap ourselves in procedural apologies. Let’s not work to do the right thing for these good people.

  • The Real Royal King

    The Lantern of Truth said:
    As a pretend good Catholic , who hates so much with great passion , I spoke to the Lord yesterday . I said , Lord , give me some new catty names for Republicans , for they are unbelievers in your fellow Lord Obama . He told me I could keep using the name Boner , until I came upon a better one , and keep demonizing the children of the Palins , as it is doing Lord Obama ‘ s work . Amen .

    I’ll make a deal with you, Kumquat. I’ll tend to matters of my vocation and my salvation, and you do something about your ignorance and your sloppy ethics.

  • BFD

    It’ll be interesting to see how Bill O’Reilly somehow takes credit for these developments.

  • Atticus Draco

    BFD said:
    It’ll be interesting to see how Bill O’Reilly somehow takes credit for these developments.

    i dont think he has mentioned it,,
    maybe back in the summer he did
    and if he mentioned it recently,, it was only a blip

  • ChiliPeppersFan

    Atticus Draco said:
    If ANYTHING,, if TRUTH BE known,,
    It’s the democrats that LOOK SHAMEFUL in this deal
    YOU KNOW,, THEY STILL HAVE THE MAJORITIES!
    THEY CANT GET SOMETHING AS A “NO BRAINER” AS THIS THROUGH THE DAMN CONGRESS!!

    yeah they have the majorit, but it is the hypocritical repubs that can cause a filibuster on this bill…where the hell have you been this past year?
    and i may ask, why the hell do you and the repubs oppose this bill? do you have the much hate for the president that you would put the health of those great americans who responded on 9/11 in jeopardy?
    the repubs may be shamed into voting for this? wow…kyl, who sided with are enemies against the start treay?
    or maybe you can ask vitter and ensign about feeling shame.

  • CosmosDan

    Atticus Draco said:
    If ANYTHING,, if TRUTH BE known,,
    It’s the democrats that LOOK SHAMEFUL in this deal
    YOU KNOW,, THEY STILL HAVE THE MAJORITIES!
    THEY CANT GET SOMETHING AS A “NO BRAINER” AS THIS THROUGH THE DAMN CONGRESS!!

    Please use your inside font.

  • Atticus Draco

    ChiliPeppersFan said:
    yeah they have the majorit, but it is the hypocritical repubs that can cause a filibuster on this bill…where the hell have you been this past year?
    and i may ask, why the hell do you and the repubs oppose this bill? do you have the much hate for the president that you would put the health of those great americans who responded on 9/11 in jeopardy?
    the repubs may be shamed into voting for this? wow…kyl, who sided with are enemies against the start treay?
    or maybe you can ask vitter and ensign about feeling shame.

    quit your demagoguery
    Just like ObamaKare,, the dems tried to ram this down the Republicans,, (and the peoples) throat
    THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO VET,, OR ADD AMENDMENTS TO IT!!
    THE DEMOCRATS DELIBERATELY PLAYED POLITICS WITH THIS DAMN THING!!!
    THOSE DAYS ARE OVER

    SO SAYS THE TEA PARTY!!!

  • Atticus Draco

    Atticus Draco said:
    quit your demagoguery
    Just like ObamaKare,, the dems tried to ram this down the Republicans,, (and the peoples) throat
    THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO VET,, OR ADD AMENDMENTS TO IT!!
    THE DEMOCRATS DELIBERATELY PLAYED POLITICS WITH THIS DAMN THING!!!
    THOSE DAYS ARE OVER

    SO SAYS THE TEA PARTY!!!

    AGAIN,, THEY STILL OWN MAJORITIES!
    IT’S THE MINORITY BRINGING DEMOCRACY TO THIS ISSUE
    THANK GAWD!

  • Pablo

    The Real Rabid Kook said:
    If you’re just dealing with appearances, no, that is not true.

    To hell with the facts, eh Kook?

  • BatBoy

    His supporters say he died from respiratory disease contracted at ground zero, but New York City’s medical examiner said Zadroga’s lung condition was caused by prescription drug abuse.

    It is getting to sound like the 90,000 farmers getting a settlement from the government for discrimitation when there were only 6,000 to begin with.

    Hey…it is a good way to buy votes….IT’s NY for Christ Sake…It is HOW WE DO THINGS OUT HERE!

  • nighean donn

    Lord what fools these Righties be….

  • Atticus Draco

    BatBoy said:
    City’s medical examiner said Zadroga’s lung condition was caused by prescription drug abuse.

    i did not know that!

  • The Real Royal King

    Pablo said:
    To hell with the facts, eh Kook?

    Moron. The only permissible inference of my comment is that the Republicans are trying to reduce this to image, since they so miserably fail on substance. Nothing else is rational. Is English not your first language?

  • Oregon Conservative

    The Real Royal King said:
    …like Bitch McConnell

    Speechless but not surprised.

  • The Real Royal King

    Atticus Draco said:

    BatBoy said:
    City’s medical examiner said Zadroga’s lung condition was caused by prescription drug abuse.

    i did not know that!

    Can we think of any reason the City Medical Examiner might reach such a conclusion? Let’s all put on our thinking caps.

  • The Real Royal King

    Oregon Conservative said:
    Speechless but not surprised.

    … and not unwelcome.

  • cjd ohio 1

    city medical examiner lying king, shit

  • The Real Royal King

    cjd ohio 1 said:
    city medical examiner lying king, shit

    And who ever said the telegram was a lost means of communication?

  • Atticus Draco

    The Real Royal King said:
    Can we think of any reason the City Medical Examiner might reach such a conclusion? Let’s all put on our thinking caps.

    That would be a criminal offense IF what you’re implying were TRUE King
    you understand that right?

  • cjd ohio 1

    a government employee lying, no way king, sorry doesn’t happen

  • Pablo

    The Real Rabid Kook said:
    The only permissible inference of my comment…

    Guess again, Kook. When you leave these little tells lying around, don’t blame me for picking up on them.

  • The Real Royal King

    Atticus Draco said:
    That would be a criminal offense IF what you’re implying were TRUE King
    you understand that right?

    Yes, I do, and I know it happens nonetheless. It is not at all uncommon for the family of a city employee killed in the line of duty or of a criminal suspect to have a private autopsy because the city (or county/parish) is flawed, sometimes due to negligence or error, sometimes otherwise.

  • cjd ohio 1

    shit king, you mean the government can be dishonest, say it isn’t so

  • notsofast

    nighean donn said:
    nighean donn says:
    December 20, 2010 at 9:13 am nighean donn(Quote)
    Thumb up 1 Thumb down 4

    What fools Dims are for packing pork onto this bill. Dims can’t pass a bill without pork- no matter how meritorious the foundation of the bill may be.

  • The Real Royal King

    notsofast said:
    What fools Dims are for packing pork onto this bill. Dims can’t pass a bill without pork- no matter how meritorious the foundation of the bill may be.

    Don’t worry your little head over it love.

    If the Republicans do the right thing and take care of these selfless heroes, America wins.

    If the Republicans play little games over this and slap our selfless heroes in the face, the Republicans lose.

  • ChiliPeppersFan

    BatBoy said:
    His supporters say he died from respiratory disease contracted at ground zero, but New York City’s medical examiner said Zadroga’s lung condition was caused by prescription drug abuse.

    so says the medical examiner who works for the city, a claim that several examiners dispute…including the previous ny medical examiner and the guy who does those cool hbo shows michael baden (who also happens to be a contributor to fox news).
    ya think the guy who still works for the city might have some reason to back that claim up?

  • ChiliPeppersFan

    notsofast said:
    What fools Dims are for packing pork onto this bill. Dims can’t pass a bill without pork- no matter how meritorious the foundation of the bill may be.

    and repubs can’t even vote AGAINST a bill with THEIR OWN pork in it!

  • ChiliPeppersFan

    ChiliPeppersFan said:
    and repubs can’t even vote AGAINST a bill with THEIR OWN pork in it!

    *sounded better before i wrote it but you get my drift.

  • ChiliPeppersFan

    The Real Royal King said:
    Can we think of any reason the City Medical Examiner might reach such a conclusion? Let’s all put on our thinking caps.

    i have to say, i came to the same conclusion before seeing this post…only reading the article in the ny times.
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EFDA1E3CF934A3575AC0A96E9C8B63&ref=jameszadroga

  • Atticus Draco

    ChiliPeppersFan said:
    i have to say, i came to the same conclusion before seeing this post…only reading the article in the ny times.
    http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9400EFDA1E3CF934A3575AC0A96E9C8B63&ref=jameszadroga

    lol,,, C’MON!!
    The article in The New Yorker largely sides with Dr. Hirsch’s findings, suggesting that Detective Zadroga had misused prescription drugs because of an abiding despair about what he had seen at ground zero.

    PLEASE!

  • skyfet

    These folks have no shame, they are shameless. They can ask for $200m worth of pork, but when it comes to doing something worthwhile, they want to stall on it and then kill the bill in the middle of the night.

  • BlackWidow

    Just4thefax said:
    Fact: Hahahahahahahahahaahhahahahahahahah…..In a post on the Daily Kos…Hahahahahahahahahah!!!!!

    I bet you have NEVER visited KOS! One needs to have a brain to read articles on KOS. There is no comparison to your posts here and what people post on that site. You are an idiot.

  • James Nelson

    Atticus Draco said:
    quit your demagogueryJust like ObamaKare,, the dems tried to ram this down the Republicans,, (and the peoples) throatTHEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THE REPUBLICANS TO VET,, OR ADD AMENDMENTS TO IT!!THE DEMOCRATS DELIBERATELY PLAYED POLITICS WITH THIS DAMN THING!!!THOSE DAYS ARE OVER SO SAYS THE TEA PARTY!!!

    Yep, if it is not passed by the time the extreme right wingers take over, it will never get passed. Face it, you and your ilk care more about the tax break for the upper 2% billionaires than you do for the real heroes. By the way, the 1st responders are exceedingly disappointed in the GOP.

    Oh, when you respond, please use upper/lower case as you were taught in school. All upper case typing is very rude.

  • James Nelson

    Atticus Draco said:
    lol,,, C’MON!!The article in The New Yorker largely sides with Dr. Hirsch’s findings, suggesting that Detective Zadroga had misused prescription drugs because of an abiding despair about what he had seen at ground zero. PLEASE!

    Let’s see, if you disagree with what The New Yorker says, you call it a liberal rag. If you agree, it doesn’t matter how the magazine leans, you quote it. Glad to see your all caps are not as prevalent as before.

  • leftofsocialist

    Dear Friends:
    Little Batboy is sometimes impatient and forgets to read to the end of the story. Let’s see if we can help him out.

    BatBoy said:
    His supporters say he died from respiratory disease contracted at ground zero, but New York City’s medical examiner said Zadroga’s lung condition was caused by prescription drug abuse.

    It is getting to sound like the 90,000 farmers getting a settlement from the government for discrimitation when there were only 6,000 to begin with.

    Hey…it is a good way to buy votes….IT’s NY for Christ Sake…It is HOW WE DO THINGS OUT HERE!

    And now in the inimitable words of Paul Harvey THE REST OF THE STORY:
    Looking for a third opinion, Zadroga’s family turned to Dr. Michael Baden, the New York State Police chief forensic pathologist. Baden, who had previously reviewed the case, said he agreed with the New Jersey medical examiner, finding that Zadroga’s lung damage was caused by inhaling Ground Zero poisons.

    “He suffered inflammation of the lungs due to inhaling particulate matter while at the World Trade Center,” Baden said.

    Baden said Zadroga had a type of “black lung” disease typically seen in coal miners and caused by inhaling particulate matter.

    Under a microscope, “You could see glass fibers there,” Baden said. “You don’t get that from injecting drugs.”

    http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/26/2007-10-26_city_says_drug_use_not_dust_killed_911_h-2.html

  • leftofsocialist

    early beloved:

    Timzank apparently thought the following was a contribution to the discussion:
    “Original co-author is REPUBLICAN Peter KIng. King had enough Republican votes originally to pass it. Why did the Dems change the procedural plateau to a super majority the day before the vote when they had more than enough votes???????”

    What difference does it make? If it were wrapped in a red bow instead of a blue one Republicans would have voted for it??? Clearly not, given the recent remarks of J. Kyl.

  • leftofsocialist

    “That’s Dearly”

  • chatmandu002

    No, No, No.

  • The Real Royal King

    chatmandu002 said:
    No, No, No.

    Is that an original thought, or did you simply translate from the German, “Nein! Nein! Nein!”?

  • James Nelson

    chatmandu002 said:
    No, No, No.

    I can only assume that you were giving your opinion of the first responders. I cannot think of a thing to say in response to such heartlessness. Maybe, you’re cold, cold, cold.

  • rshaw

    This bill is a joke .. nothing more than the democrats throwing more tax payer dollars at their union supporters, If i had to guess .. i’d say the SEIU has probably been the driving force behind all this. I’m sure they would love to see 7 billion dollars dumped into New York City hospitols.

  • BushClintonCrimeFamily

    Atticus Draco said:
    If ANYTHING,, if TRUTH BE known,,
    It’s the democrats that LOOK SHAMEFUL in this deal
    YOU KNOW,, THEY STILL HAVE THE MAJORITIES!
    THEY CANT GET SOMETHING AS A “NO BRAINER” AS THIS THROUGH THE DAMN CONGRESS!!

    They can’ty get anything through, because the Repugs have declared they won’t get anything through until they got their way on taxes for the rich. They got their way. Now I guess they’re going to let this bill pass, now that Jon Stewart has trashed them for holding it up.

    Majority does not rule in America, and you know it.

  • James Nelson

    rshaw said:
    This bill is a joke .. nothing more than the democrats throwing more tax payer dollars at their union supporters, If i had to guess .. i’d say the SEIU has probably been the driving force behind all this. I’m sure they would love to see 7 billion dollars dumped into New York City hospitols.

    You ignorant, selfish piece of garbage! A lot of those gave their lives for others. You and you ilk are nothing but a bunch of selfish, hypocritical phony “patriots” who have never done a damned thing for anybody. Garbage.

  • ModerateMan

    First responders already have health care coverage. The 6 billion dollars in this bill are going towards the 50,000+ that cleaned up ground zero. Should we provide healthcare coverage for all mine workers? What about all those people in Los Angeles who breathe all that smog? This is exactly the type of politically correct waste that is sending up into absurd levels of debt.

  • Anonymous

    Why not build them all golden coffins while we’re at it?  These idiots never stop wasting money.

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