Deal Reached On 9/11 Health Bill

So now we'll get to see how much is spent to help these people.. but how little actually makes it to help these heroes. ~~~~~ As a side note, doesn't Obamacare make this kind of legislation moot? I mean, wouldn't all of these heroes be covered anyway?

I'm glad to see something finally being done regardless of who caused our government to finally take notice. Its good to see that someone even if it is a comedian that finally made our government take notice. Its been far too long since 9/11, this should have been passed years ago. For many first responders its too little too late but at least this will help those who are still alive.

Jon Stewart maybe a comedian that is hosting a spoof news show, but make no mistake, Stewart is as sharp as they come. I would rather hear his opinion on any subject than most from the "serious" media, especially over the opinion from the Faux News Network. I understand that Jon is a liberal, but his political bias doesn't bleed over like in does with the people who handle the "serious" media. As to the 9/11 first responders health care bill, about time in deed. I am disgusted with Senate Republicans like Tom Coburn, who held this bill up. For a wing of the GOP who always wants to impose their Christian religious morality on to everyone, need they miss the part about the Good Samaritan?

Isn't it nice that Senator Schumer can get the Federal Government to take money from the citizens to pay the health costs of people who went into a high risk occupation, just because they got sick by doing their duty. This bill was rammed through congress without the proper legislative procedures, hearings or costing done on it. At the same time a bill was introduced in May 2009, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2254 to correct an injustice that Congress committed in the name of saving money for the tax payer. I am referring to the Agent Orange issue. It was referred to committee (controlled by the Democrats) where it has been and will probably die. The difference is that these men and women would be able receive VA benefits but no more, just as the Firemen, Police and other rescue workers received in Workers comp and other benefits, but no more. These soldiers, sailors, and airmen were sent to Viet Nam to fight for our government and in many cases were forced by law to go there against their will (the draft) by the government. Where is the Moral outrage over this travesty. Of course the Viet Nam was was not popular with the liberals so it is OK to make these men and women follow the the proper procedures and then more will die and save the government money. By what right does the US Congress have the power to give city employees in one city additional compensation for doing their job?

OK, I admit that I read this post to see if you mentioned Sarah Palin in it since you're so obsessed with her. lol

Good for responders who will actually get help that they not only need but earned. It's easy for someone to say--and not saying that people are saying this--that it's someone's "job" to rush into a building since they've signed up for it and thus they don't require extra benefits. Sht. I'll tell you honestly - I probably don't have the peaches to do that, my job or not. I'd sing Johnny Paycheck and stay back. I could sit here and say a buncha yada yada patriotism crap, but I can't say that I'd rush to save lives instead of saving myself. I really can't. I woulda helped that fat man up who fell at Wal Mart, and I might escort an old lady across the street, but I probably really don't have that "hero" gene in me. Anyway... I'm wondering something in general, and I don't care where you (in a general sense) stand "politically." Why does every single issue of such magnitude buckle unequivocally to demagoguery? It is the right thing to do to take care of true American heroes. It is not the right thing to do to put it off extensively and then bring it up with this faux sense of urgency and point the finger back and forth, playing the emotional card, and using it for political benefit! It's disgusting! And I see that even some of the usual holy-rollin', I-approach-things-level-headed-and-logically folk among us are doing it the most. Do they realize? It's not pathetic, in my opinion, for a celebrity in popular culture to basically scare people into making a decision. We utterly worship celebrities. Harry Reid defers to Lady Gaga, I hear. I do find "pathetic" in there, though, but more on the end of everyone else in America still voting these idiots into office simply because they talk a big game and have that world's-most-important R or D attached to their name. Pass healthcare or you want people to die! Block it or the commies are coming! You're racist to ask for proof of citizenship! Ignore every other piece of garbage we shove into bills, read only the text we highlighted, and pass it or else you don't care about anything anywhere but yourself and you'll burn in hell for eternity for being Hitler f'n HITLER! Our ingenious civilization-building ancestors BT (Before Twitter! ) would be amazed people have made it this far without a single shred of common sense.

This topic really angers me. I can't believe it took almost ten years for our government to do something for the first responders and emergency personnel after 9/11. To me it is shameful and a complete disgrace. Yet it will "BAILOUT" large corporations whose executives have in one way or another caused large profit losses through either poor management or downright illegal activities which costs the American people. I'm sure their are many in the public that were there that day either in the building or close by appreciated the first responders and to me it is shameful. What do you think?

I concur with you 100%. I guess it took him to embarass congress to get any results. After all, this issue has been around since 9/11 occured.