First, the cost is
$7.4 billion to supplement NY workmans compensation and to cover the responders who were not from New York. And yes - this bill is funded by taking the money from elsewhere.
Of course, more important for the GOP to give billions in estate tax breaks to 6600 wealthy families than deal with helping the heroes of 9/11.
Secondly, these heros are dying of rare and severe cancers of the head, neck, nose, throat, and heart and lung disease. As young men. Those are
not "normal occupational injuries" for firefighters, policemen, and ancillary workers (those that spent months at the site digging out the bodies of those who died) NY workman's comp will go beyond broke if they pay this out, so they are fighting WC claims. That isn't supported by the opinions of the doctors treating these men. The 7.4 billion would help cover these men and women's medical bills.
It is appalling and shameful that the Republicans in the Senate have
blocked voting on this bill (they are filibustering it, and won't even allow it on the floor to be discussed, let alone voted upon) just for political purposes.
Instead of the GOP's public false outrage at the manufactured, nonsensical slight against Christianity they have made up, about working Christmas season, they should thank god that first responders don't consider working Christmas Eve and Christmas day a "slight against Christianity". GOP jagoffs. I was a paramedic for 10 years, and not one of these GOP jagoffs deserve the sacrifice any first responder would make for them or their families.
Jon Stewart did his whole show on this last night, including having 4 dying NY first responders on his show. Mike Huckabee was also on to promote his children's Christmas book, and Stewart went after him, too - and Huckabee had no good answers for the GOP obstructionism, either.
www.Comedycentral.com