House Speaker John Boehner visited the National September 11 Memorial & Museum last month when he was in New York on a fundraising trip. Here's
what he had to say about the visit.
"So you hear what they're telling you, but you are also reliving what happened. Your heart breaks for the families. The resolve pushes its way through. You stop to collect your thoughts. You are right back there." He concluded, "I'm glad I had the chance to go. God bless America."
Apparently Boehner's heart only breaks for the families of the people who died in the World Trade Center that day, because
he's got nuthin' for the first responders who are living today with the aftermath of their heroic actions.
The Speaker remains publicly opposed to the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which helps those first responders get healthcare. Due to a compromise to ease passage in 2011, the act will start to expire this year if Congress does not extend it.
Through the bill, about 33,000 people, and counting, receive treatment for a least one health issue, ranging from asthma to terminal cancer, linked to exposure to toxins around Ground Zero.
Boehner voted against the bill in 2010. He has not changed his view, spokesman Michael Steel said last week.
Granted, Boehner doesn't generally believe in the government helping regular folks out with health care, but you'd think he could make an exception for the men and women who actually ran into the inferno that day. Clearly, you'd be giving him too much credit.
