Don't piss off Weiner.

[Just Jack]

Anthony Weiner Erupts at Republicans for Rejecting 9/11 Responders Health Bill

 

Most House Republicans on Thursday voted against a bill to provide $7.4 billion in aid to 9/11 first responders who became sick after the attacks. They complained that Democrats opted to bypass voting on amendments, opting instead for a process that sped up the vote but required a two-thirds majority.

Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner blew a fuse on the House floor when he heard his GOP colleagues complaining about procedure yesterday. In a dramatic one-and-a-half minute speech, Weiner hollered that Republicans were being cowardly by opposing the bill based on procedure.

[Wacka]

It's all a political show for him. He has the votes to pass it -has about 240, needs 218. He wants 290. The guy he was yelling at is voting FOR the bill. Hannity had both on today. Weiner (fitting name) would not answer a single question. Just spouted his blather.

[OCinBuffalo]

There's a joke in that title somewhere...

[RkFast]

Going after Pete King on defense/terrorisim/9-11 issues is a loser for Weiner. King is hawkish on these issues to a fault and everyone knows that, which really shines the light on the fact that Weiner's ramblings are PURELY political.

[KD in CA]

Weiner is an idiot.

 

$7.4 BILLION??? How many friggin guys do they think where down there that day? And it's not like there hasn't already been billions thrown at anyone and everyone who could point to lower Manhattan on a map over the past ten years. This is just another excuse for every cop/fireman within a 25 mile radius to retire on a fat disability pension.

 

It's high time the 9-11 lottery was put to rest.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Weiner is an idiot.

 

$7.4 BILLION??? How many friggin guys do they think where down there that day? And it's not like there hasn't already been billions thrown at anyone and everyone who could point to lower Manhattan on a map over the past ten years. This is just another excuse for every cop/fireman within a 25 mile radius to retire on a fat disability pension.

 

It's high time the 9-11 lottery was put to rest.

 

[Nanker]

Weiner is an idiot.

 

$7.4 BILLION??? How many friggin guys do they think where down there that day? And it's not like there hasn't already been billions thrown at anyone and everyone who could point to lower Manhattan on a map over the past ten years. This is just another excuse for every cop/fireman within a 25 mile radius to retire on a fat disability pension.

 

It's high time the 9-11 lottery was put to rest.

And for another azz-sucking-public-money-syphoning-self-aggrandizing political hack to beat his chest on a public stage and proclaim he's protecting the small people.

[el Tigre]

Ha Ha. Weiner erupts. That makes me laugh.

[drnykterstein]

It's all a political show for him. He has the votes to pass it -has about 240, needs 218. He wants 290. The guy he was yelling at is voting FOR the bill. Hannity had both on today. Weiner (fitting name) would not answer a single question. Just spouted his blather.

He did not have the votes to pass it. It did not pass. Republicans would have added a bunch of amendments to it if they did the 50% vote, so Dems were forced to use procedural rules and try for the 2/3 vote. Republicans are playing games, while dems are trying to govern.

[KD in CA]

He did not have the votes to pass it. It did not pass. Republicans would have added a bunch of amendments to it if they did the 50% vote, so Dems were forced to use procedural rules and try for the 2/3 vote. Republicans are playing games, while dems are trying to govern.

 

Boy, that's some quality governing; handing over billions more to union special interests. Meanwhile, a court is trying to broker a deal for the same benefits for less than one billion.

 

Funny, I'm pretty sure you were one of those having a conniption every time Bush used 9-11 as rational for something but now it doesn't bother you a bit.

[drnykterstein]

Boy, that's some quality governing; handing over billions more to union special interests. Meanwhile, a court is trying to broker a deal for the same benefits for less than one billion.

 

Funny, I'm pretty sure you were one of those having a conniption every time Bush used 9-11 as rational for something but now it doesn't bother you a bit.

 

He's trying to give 9/11 first responders free health care for life. Get a grip.

[KD in CA]

He's trying to give 9/11 first responders free health care for life. Get a grip.

 

Why should someone get 'free healthcare for life' for doing their job?

 

And for $7.4 BILLION?? Just how many 'first responders' do you think there were? Learn some math.

[Jim in Anchorage]

He's trying to give 9/11 first responders free health care for life. Get a grip.

Uh I believe union firefighters already do. And a fat pension.

[drnykterstein]

Why should someone get 'free healthcare for life' for doing their job?

 

And for $7.4 BILLION?? Just how many 'first responders' do you think there were? Learn some math.

You are so partisan. Not all of that money that will definitely be spent, it's just money that will be available in case it's needed to cover HC costs. Actual spending may be lower (if you can understand that concept?). The bill gives free heath care to the workers, and compensation for up to 50,000 people if needed. So, that averages out to $148,000 per person.

 

The bill would have provided up to $3.2 billion to cover the medical treatment of people sickened by trade center dust and an additional $4.2 billion for a new fund that would have compensated them for their suffering and lost wages.

 

Uh I believe union firefighters already do. And a fat pension.

Ya that is money that is coming from the City of NY and the State of NY.

 

It's a really good bill. Stop loving the Republican party more than you love America.

[KD in CA]

You are so partisan.

Standard idiot response to absolutely any criticism of any bill, policy, etc. You are a sad little man.

 

You are so partisan. Not all of that money that will definitely be spent, it's just money that will be available in case it's needed to cover HC costs. Actual spending may be lower (if you can understand that concept?). The bill gives free heath care to the workers, and compensation for up to 50,000 people if needed. So, that averages out to $148,000 per person.

Yeah, because there were 50,000 "first responders" at the WTC.

 

It's a really good bill. Stop loving the Republican party more than you love America.

It's not a 'really good bill', it's another scam to buy political influence. Stop loving your own ignorance more than you love America.

[IDBillzFan]

It's a really good bill.

Can you provide us three or four bullet points as to what is in the bill and why it's good? My thanks in advance for supporting your argument.

[DC Tom]

Can you provide us three or four bullet points as to what is in the bill and why it's good? My thanks in advance for supporting your argument.

 

Oh, that's not even fair.

[Dave_In_Norfolk]

Why should someone get 'free healthcare for life' for doing their job?And for $7.4 BILLION?? Just how many 'first responders' do you think there were? Learn some math.

Close the Veterans Administration!!

 

 

Oh, that brings back memories of that horrid year 2003. The Republican House enacts a resolution praises the troops who had just attacked Iraq--and the President who sent them--and then later that same night they vote to cut VA spending. Wow.

[justnzane]

Standard idiot response to absolutely any criticism of any bill, policy, etc. You are a sad little man.

 

 

Yeah, because there were 50,000 "first responders" at the WTC.

 

 

It's not a 'really good bill', it's another scam to buy political influence. Stop loving your own ignorance more than you love America.

 

You do realize that this bill also covers the people the removed the rubble and cleaned up the site. 50,000 is tad high. However, if you read the bill there is a provision in there the amount of money is capped at the lesser of a set amount the escalates from year to year or 90% of the projected health care costs for that given year.

 

The Republicans weren't even complaining about the spending as much as the provision to take away the tax shelters for some companies. This is what sickens me. Your justification is a tad better than what they could muster. Nonetheless, this seems to be the best idea for a bill with 9/11 in mind in quite a long time.

[KD in CA]

You do realize that this bill also covers the people the removed the rubble and cleaned up the site. 50,000 is tad high.

A tad? That's like saying the Bills offense was a tad below par last season.

 

I actually worked 2 blocks from the WTC at the time so I'm very familiar with the clean up process. And where is the mention that most of those guys were likely already covered by some free union medical plan that we are all paying for in the first place? Certainly all the cops and firemen were.

 

However, if you read the bill there is a provision in there the amount of money is capped at the lesser of a set amount the escalates from year to year or 90% of the projected health care costs for that given year.

Maybe I'm jaded by all the stories in the NY papers about 40 year old firemen on full disability retirement who now run marathons and the like. Sorry, but this is another multi billion dollar boondoggle.

 

The Republicans weren't even complaining about the spending as much as the provision to take away the tax shelters for some companies. This is what sickens me. Your justification is a tad better than what they could muster. Nonetheless, this seems to be the best idea for a bill with 9/11 in mind in quite a long time.

Yes I'm sure just like every other piece of legislation in Congress, this bill was loaded with unrelated payoffs/punishments to political allies/enemies. The only difference between 'D' and 'R' is whose getting the payoffs, so don't act surprised when the other side votes it down based on the slimy sidebars designed to screw their supporters.