Congress Rejects Aid For Sick 9/11 Responders

[kpete]

Congress Rejects Aid For Sick 9/11 Responders: Puts Financial Safety Over Human Safety

Yesterday, Republican Senators blocked Senator Clinton's proposal to fund almost 2 billion for medical treatment for sick 9/11 responders. As reported in NYC’s Daily News:

Senate leaders invoked parliamentary rules, saying Sen. Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) amendment to a measure funding port security was not "germane." – NY Daily News

As I have repeatedly explained this past week (1,2,3), the federal government’s response to the environmental effect of the WTC Ground Zero site almost precisely follow the profits over safety business model sometimes adopted by corporations.

This recent denial of comprehensive funding by the Senate further supports this characterization of the governmental response. In the wake of 9/11, federal officials downplayed and affirmatively misrepresented the danger of exposure to the WTC Ground Zero site.

more at:
http://www.tortdeform.com/archives/2006/09/congress_rejects_aid_for_sick.html

[BlueManDude]

1. The GOP uses NYC one day a year for a photo op...

then shits on it the other 364.

[Generator]

2. Perfectly summed up

Just like their love of the troops.

[BlueManDude]

3. 9/11 is Christmas Day for Republicans. n/t

[AlwaysQuestion]

6. This is NOT the America I once knew

I saw an episode of CBC's "Passionate Eye" last night (may have been a repeat--I haven't checked) covering this very topic. It was heart wrenching to view those 911 selfless responders work on site initially trying to save people, then looking for bodies and later cleaning up after the dreadful tragedy. Few were given the safety tools to do the job with the result that many of them today are sick with cancer, while others have already died. And many of them have simply lost their jobs because they can no longer physically do what is required of them. It showed one young father who's hanging on for dear life because he is the single parent of a wee 5-year old boy. It was just so terribly sad. Yes, we do live in a disposable society. Lose your usefulness (never mind that you put your life in grave jeopardy to help others) and your life is no longer valued.

It also showed the politicians "flying in" for their photo-ops whilst mouthing platitudes, then disappearing from sight.

Never mind whether or not the U.S. is fast losing its democratic status, what happened to respect for human life (vis-a-vis anti-abortion for instance). The current administration is completely out of control and totally non-representative of the vast majority of Americans. What is money if it can't be used to value life. Shame on Bushco; shame on the city of New York; and shame on those who today decided with their votes that the kind, caring workers at the 911 site are not worthy to receive essential monies from the public purses.

And to think that most of those cowardly-dregs-of-society senators profess to be believers of God. What an ugly joke!! The U.S.A. is currently run by a heinous lot of thugs and is not the country I once knew and loved.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Do I smell another ad for Gen. Clark's group in the making?

[partylessinOhio]

5. This bullsh!t has to stop!

Where is your outrage, Amerika?

You won't stand up and demand funding for the victims of 9-11, the BushWAR and Katrina. You greedy @^$$#^#'s!

[muesa]

7. The "Security Moms"

and "Security Dads" and "Security Grand Parents" -- the real ones -- the ones who stayed with the Salvation Army and the Red Cross and Ham Radio and Citizens Corps-Community Emergency Response Training and Volunteer Fire Departments AFTER THE MASSIVE INFLOW AND OUTFLOW OF 9/11 "SPONTANEOUS VOLUNTEERS" AND KATRINA "SPONTANEOUS VOLUNTEERS" --- do remember- and we do stand up and demand funding for the 911 responders and the Iraqi and Afghanistan War veterans, and the traumatic brain injured veterans and the Katrina victims.

We serve - and we remember --->

[partylessinOhio]

9. I know you do and all those victims are thankful.

The greedy ones that I referred to are the ones who want tax cuts and are not contributing their fair share to keep this country running and to provide humanitarian needs for it's citizens.

They are greedy people who only care about themselves and have no compassion for those less fortunate. They always have an excuse for why it is the victim's fault.

They won't stand up and demand funding for 9-11, the BushWAR and the Katrina victims because it would mean their tax cuts must be rolled back. Those tax cuts are the reason our government does not have enough funds to provide services and fund an endless war.

[halobeam]

8. This is far more than greedy and political. It's inhumane.

I am ashamed of the abuses our country has committed on the world and that includes our own people. How can this be perceived as anything but the ruthless, callous, and dare I say one of the most unpatriotic decisions in favoring WHOM ??? OVER the people???? I seriously am saddened. I think I have officially passed the anger stage.

Do you know who is taking action about this? I am available to stand up for the wonderful, selfish human beings that LIVE by "when the going gets tough, the tough get going"! May I be clear that I used the term "tough" as in fighting the REAL fight.... for humanity first.

[marions ghost]

10. I am amazed

at the figure of 2 billion being asked for by Sen.Clinton. I was unaware that the medical problems sustained by responders was on this scale. :wow: And they will get nothing? Or is there any other bill or effort that might get through?