Republicans Deny Health Care for 9/11 Heroes
Senate Republicans this morning continued their unprecedented obstructionism by using Senate rules to block long-sought and vital health care services for the 9/11 first responders and recovery workers who are suffering alarming rates of health problems, including several deaths of Ground Zero workers.
The 57-42 vote fell three votes short of the 60 needed to end the Republican filibuster on the James Zadroga Health and Compensation Act (H.R. 847). The bill is named after a New York City police officer who died in 2006 from lung ailments tied to his exposure to the toxic mix of chemicals, jet fuel, asbestos, lead, glass fragments and other debris at Ground Zero. The bill would have provided long-term medical care and monitoring for the first responders, recovery workers and others exposed to the Ground Zero.
This morning’s action follows last night’s blockades of a bill to protect the collective bargaining rights of public safety officers and legislation that would have provided a much needed $250 cost of living supplemental payment for Social Security recipients. They have gone two years without a cost of living adjustment.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says these “cheap politic tactics…mark a new low for Senate Republicans.” Read the rest of this entry »
