Following earlier stories that said Senate talks on the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 were at an impasse, it is now being reported that:
The deal to pass athe 9/11 health bill is done, the Daily News has learned.
Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand met with other senators' staff and staff from Rep. Carolyn maloney's offce until well after midnight, cutting a new deal and trimming the package to care for 9/11 responders to $4.3 billion, sources close to the deal said.
They reached final agreement at about 11:30 this morning after the New York Democrats met for an hour with the prime GOP opponents, Sens. Mike Enzi of Wyoming and Tom Coburn of Oklahoma. Majority Leader Harry Reid is said to have joined the talks at the end, and agreed to try for quick passage.
Great news for the 9/11 responders, but the fact is that Senate Republicans held this bill hostage until they secured tax cuts for millionaires. That's something that we should never forget.