Deal reached on 9/11 Health Bill UPDATED: Passes Senate on voice vote
Jon Stewart deserves big props for stepping up and making this a national issue since the media gave it a pass at first.
The deal to pass a 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.
The measure could be passed even before the START treaty is ratified.
More to follow...(h/t Greg Sargent)
UPDATE: The bill passes the Senate on a voice vote.
After days of stalemate, the Senate has passed a health bill to aid 9/11 first responders -- without a single "no" vote.
The bill passed by a voice vote or "unanimous consent."
The upper chamber took up the measure after New York Democrats brokered a deal with GOP senators who objected to the legislation's cost and the process by which it was written.
It will now go to the House for final passage. Sources tell NBC News that Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is negotiating with the GOP right now about how quickly the bill can get on the House floor. A final vote is expected in the House late this afternoon or early this evening.
Good news - it should have had support from both sides to begin with but we know the G-nO-P
"I know that there are people who do not love their fellow
man, and I hate people like that! " ~ Tom Lehrer (1928 - )
...please ragequit. You're evil and the US hates you as much as you hate the US, even if they don't realize it.
w00t!
...just before they started the START treaty vote.
So It took a Comedian to show the President and Democrats how that modern bully pulpit thing works?
Hopefully it's a lesson learned. . . but I doubt it. Our White House today is "above the fray" of. . you know. . . being AN EXECUTIVE.
you greedy, selfish bastard. I spit in your ugly face.
Thanks, Dems (and President Obama), for loving the 9/11 Responders. Merry Christmas, guys!
“The greatest evildoers are those who don’t remember because they have never given thought to the matter, and, without remembrance, nothing can hold them back,”
Biden presiding over Senate, being cranky at all the talking. LOL
.......the working people of this country need to come together regarding our benefits being stripped away! It took the 9/11 responders 9 years to get the benefits they deserved. That is incomprehensible. All the flag waving by republicans is just for show. They are going to take away everything working Americans work hard for everyday. Chris Christie blames municipal workers and teachers for his state being unable to pay its' bills. Bill o'Reilly blames lazy 99ers. Vets do not get benefits when the come home from Iraq nor do their families. This lame duck session was very telling about what we can expect from Republicans. Many working class people have to work through the holidays, weekends, nights and overtime. Together workers united can bring about the change we need for our health care, benefits, job security and retirement.
Looks like the GOP scum couldnt handle the pressure from the American people on this one. Thank you Obama, Dem congress, and John Stewart.
The GOP and their FAKE compassion and morals sure shins this week.
i truly think the gop f**ed up on this one. for the past 9 years they have used the 9/11 respnders the same way they have used jesus: political tools to score points. not this time! they were called out and they blinked!
come 2012 these responders will remember which politcal group was with them and which used them to score points.
as for the media, its a damn shame it took jon stewrat chastising them before they even gave this the coverage it deserved. botht eh msm and the gop have fleas. now, if the dems behave this way for the next two years while they are in the minority, they will get things done
This is the kind of thing the Dems should have been doing since the day Obama took office. They should have been mopping the floor with the republicans, FORCING them to face their own evil greed and stupidity. But instead, no. Obama, who was never that liberal to begin with, much less progressive, quickly stepped in line behind his owners on wall street.
Tthen, when faced with the lunacy of a Republican congress o ntheir doorstep, they finally find a few cajones and step up t othe plate and pass some basic and obvious legislation.
Dear Democratic Party Leadership:
Fuck you.
I hope you like living in the wilderness.
You should have been KICKING ASS from the gate. But instead you screwed around, whined a lot, sold the country out to the bankers and the military, and now you're getting kicked out of the house. Good move Ace.
It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it.
-George Carlin
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