Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers

[spanone]

heartless bastards......who the fuck votes for these people?????



WASHINGTON — Republican senators blocked Democratic legislation on Thursday that sought to provide medical care to rescue workers and residents of New York City who became ill as a result of breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke from ground zero.

The 9/11 health bill, a version of which was approved by the House of Representatives in September, is among a handful of initiatives that Senate Democrats had been hoping to approve this year before the close of the 111th Congress. Supporters believe this is their last real opportunity to have the bill passed.

The Senate action created huge uncertainty over the future of the bill. Its proponents were working on Thursday to have the legislation inserted into a large tax-cut bill that Republicans and Democrats are trying to pass before Congress ends it current session later this month.

But whether that happens is in part up to Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader. The bill’s backers are counting on Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, a top Reid deputy and a supporter of the bill, to persuade Mr. Reid to go along with that idea.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/10/nyregion/10health.html?_r=1&hp=&pagewanted=print

[Swamp Rat]

1. k&r

[Dappleganger]

2. And President made a deal with THEM.

And said that he believed Boehner has our best interests at heart.

[Rex]

3. It is because their core base agrees with them (scary ain't it).

They believe, like soldiers and marines, that once you are DONE with your 'service' you should just go off and die or at least not make much noise about anything (like shrapnel that can't be removed or a lost limb or two).

Some people will read that and think I am joking, BUT I am NOT. It is true, Repukes earned their nickname for being vile at heart.

[spanone]

4. and how many of their core base are veterans? folks on medicare/medicaid? welfare? social security?

fuck-em-all

[katsy]

5. It's government by blackmail.

Well it's time for the President to get on his knees, again, and appease his new found allies... the republicans.

Good luck with that Mr. President.

[sasha031]

6. they do stand in lock step

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00269

[CBHagman]

7. The filibuster problem again.

All 57 senators in the Democratic/independent bloc supported it. Forty-one Republicans (Sam Brownback didn't vote) said no. :grr:

[wiggs]

8. gop has set up a toll booth on every pathway to progress and to solving

our huge problems. The toll booth proceeds are NOT for the american people or a nod towards getting a plank of the gop platform passed that is in keeping with sound economics and policy. That would be politics as usual...one hand washing the other

Instead the toll booth is strictly for wealthy friends, for themselves, increasing income inequality, and for future donations to the gop.