The House was finally able to overcome Republican obstruction yesterday and passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, 268-160. Three Blue Dogs (Berry, Bright, and Cooper) joined 157 Republicans in voting against the heroes who were the first responders in the World Trade Center attacks.
A bill to give up to $7.4 billion to workers sickened during the cleanup of World Trade Center site after the Sept. 11 attacks passed in the House on Wednesday after a passionate floor debate in which supporters said they were standing up for heroes.
"To the living victims of 9/11, we have good news: Help is on the way," said Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-N.Y., a lead advocate for the bill....
Republican critics branded the bill as a big-government program that would boost taxes and kill jobs.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, called it a "new entitlement program that we simply cannot afford."
Texas Republican Lamar Smith complained the measure "creates a huge slush fund open to abuse, fraud and waste."
The bill would provide free health care and compensation to rescue and recovery workers who fell ill after working in the trade center ruins.
Entitlement program slush fund. There's definitely no compassion in conservatism. Prospects for the bill passing the Senate are unclear at the moment, with a huge backlog of legislation waiting for the lame-duck session, including what could be an extremely ugly budget fight.