What about Coburn~~!!!!! I thought his NO vote would sink his career.... I guess he finally learnt to keep his yap SHUT~!

Rick: I agree with you. You have to wonder who would vote against this bill. Taking care of those who's job it is to respond to emergencies is the real American way.

President Obama is keeping his campaign promises...and we are only two years into his term. Just think what he will accomplish in the next 6 years.

Because that's just more political crap that slows stuff down. This billed needed to pass, it passed. Move on.

you guys understand the opposition was not for the headline off this bill, don't you. There is always tons of stuff included that has nothing to do with helping the first responders. Its amazing how the democrats have succeded in gaining the support of those they want to enslaved in mediocrity.

What about Coburn~~!!!!! I thought his NO vote would sink his career.... I guess he finally learnt to keep his yap SHUT~!

Tom Coburn and his pal Jim Inhofe are LOVED here in Oklahoma! They could vote to push a bus full of babies into a wolf den and they'd still get re-elected! And the people here wonder why the rest of the country uses this state as a punch line...

Spoken like a true patriot!!! UGH!!!

You are so right. Thanks for your posting.

6 more years of Obama? Then it will be 1 out of every 2 americans on food stamps. Oh yea.....he's doing a great job. Lets start working on the economy!!!

Russell,

The Bush administration told all of us in falsified EPA reports that the air was clean aand safe. Most of these people are now dying of horrible painfull lung diseases and have lost thier jobs because they are sick. This bill closed a corporate tax loophole and turned that money to fund healthcare for these sick first responders. This isn't extra pay for the first responders, this is a fund that they can submit health claims to. They should have had this as soon as Bush forced the EPA to sign off on the air quality. I know 2 of them and they aren't trying to get more pay, they just don't want to leave thier families with millions of dollars in hiospital bills for doing the job that they would do again if they were able and were called.

The article clearly states it passed WITHOUT ONE NO VOTE.

Russell,

Yes these people had a job that they were paid to do and that they did willingly. Being fire fighters and police officers, they are also covered by health insurance; however, their health insurance providers are claiming that the illnesses should be covered by workmen's compensation. The workmen's compensation providers are disputing the claims that the illnesses are due to exposure to toxins on 9/11.

Thanks to Jon Stewart by the way for putting this issue in the national spotlight.

Russell-2405043

Are you just trying to get a reaction?

Conservatives write it down, anothe r footsie playing session with the leeches.

We knew it was going to take more than one election to get rid of rhe RHINOS and dem lites..

We removed a lot of republican incumbents this year write the name down for 2012,.

The Rhinos, think we will forget by2012.

The reoublicans were handed a large victory in 2010.

They campaigned on repealing the insuranc efarce, cutting spending and opposing Obama, I see we will be losing a lot republicumbents in 2012.

See you at the primaries, RHINOS.

Wade886: Thank you it gives me hope for OK. No hope for AZ. and SC.

To add to what seeremlive stated, this is also a tertiary form of health care, this is a safety net for all the first responders to fall back on for medical bills when all other avenues for health care have been exhausted. And you Russel, are sickening for saying that the people who were willing to risk there lives to save other people, are not deserving of this kind of support. In this country, we support, aid, and cheer our heroes, not tell them "Tough s**t", and the bill is paid for, by closing the aforementioned loopholes for foreign corporations who contract with our government.

The basic this I feel for these first responders is respect for following a moral line when responding to an act of war. Their families should not suffer for their acts of heroism or duty.

Kedbob,

I agree that these first responders should not have to foot their medical bils.

However, if their health insurance and workmans comp did not screw them over, they would not need this bill. Instead of layering another health care promise on these people, how about forcing their insurance and workmans comp to both split the bill? What else are these two entities for, if not to provide for the health of people both on and off the job? By passing this bill, all they are doing is letting who ever runs their workmans comp get away with fraud.

Russell, you're right.... they did their job, they got paid. that should be the end of it. Because it was 9/11 they should get more benefits? Just more tax payers dollars out the door... ugg

It's about time!

I'm glad to see this law finally pass for those first responders who have been so adversely affected by the toxins they were exposed to, above and beyond the call of duty, and who need the costs of their health needs related to the Towers defined and covered.

I deployed there one month after the attack and even then, the pile was still on fire. I, too, was affected, though not for the long term....I think. I still deal with respiratory issues and skin issues from the exposures while on the pile. Will I apply for coverage? At this point, no, my costs are covered, but that is not the case for my brothers and sisters suffering from the afteraffects and the bureaucratic nonsense. Let's not forget the misleading information the EPA put out during that time, too.

As a professional fire officer, I accept the risk of protecting my community. However, the attack on the World Trade Center was a different animal in that it was an act of war and the initial defenders were your civilian first responders. Those defenders now need coverage, much as we do now with the VA providing services to our veterans. It's only fair for those brothers and sisters.

Mob,

You obviously have no idea of what you're speaking...

If like your last president said, that 9/11 was the first act of a war, then these people need to receive healthcare just like every other soldier who is fighting the "terrorism" war. They responded and many died trying to find and save the 1000's of lives lost on 9/11. Now because they are sick you're saying F them? NO sir, F you.

Mob, what a sick, perverted post. You clearly have no concept of what these men and women went through and clearly you don't give a damn. Shame on you.

Hey how about the monies paid to the survivors of 9/11? How are they due any compensation? Oh that's right, most of those people involved in the towers were in the money.

kedbob: most of the victims received compensation while bush was in power as there was a fund set up (forget who paid for it).

More earmarks for repugs

I second that

To govern in a democracy requires compromise. Finally we are getting something done instead of just hearing a lot of political hot air and seeing a lot of political drama. I am definitely politically right of center, but we need to pull together or we will all surely go down together.

Yes, the Republicans are finally scrambling to stop filibustering stuff that has been waiting for months and sometimes years because they won't get to go home for Christmas until they hold the votes. I guess any reason for bipartisanship is better than none, but I would like to see them vote for the good of the country rather than because they want to go home.

Or because they need to repair their image for 2012.

Glad you understood the original poster's point about partisanship.

Heartlight3:

Bulls eye, Bulls eye, and Bulls eye!

Merry Christmas and God Bless!

Guess the Republicans got what they wanted out of the deal -- and realized that voting "NO" would not look very good for them.They might be dumb -- but they are not totally cluessless. Only sometime!

Besides, while a few billion $$$ sounds like a lot of money to "real people with real jobs' -- it is nothing in the scale of government business. Hope it helps those who neede to help most.

Besides, while a few billion $$$ sounds like a lot of money to "real people with real jobs' -- it is nothing in the scale of government business. Hope it helps those who neede to help most.

Yet it's the "real people with real jobs" that pay for this few billion $$$. The thought that it is a few billion is "nothing", no matter the scale, is one of the biggest flaws in the left's thinking. I would agree that the first responders are more deserving of help than most that collect welfare but a few billion $$$ is nothing to write off.

bwahahahahahaha!!

Nancy

most of the people who collect welfare would prefer to be able to afford education or to just have a decent job. People on welfare are created by this lopsided competetive model and are essential in securing the position of the elite wealth.

The issue with the Republicans was not the cost, it was that large corporations in tax havens would have their loopholes closed and have to do THEIR part. With that stipulation gone, they support the bill unanimously. Clearly, the nations wealthiest 2% are even more important to the far right than our 9/11 heroes. Wonder where that leaves the rest of us on their radar.

Nancy's Red Diaper:

What tics me off is you are INCORRECT! The money is available because of a loophole in corporate tax code which was closed; this generated additional revenues and these were allocated to the fund for first response medical payments. The reason you are incorrect is because you evidentially did not check out the FACTS before posting! Below is a REPUBLICAN Publication which spells out, under the paragraph titled COST how this legislation will be paid for. This legislation has NOTHING to do with welfare, unless you meant the well ness of the sick and dying 9/11 first responders.

http://www.gop.gov/bill/111/2/hr847

nancy: So republicans say they won't do anything until an UNFUNDED tax cut of 80 BILLION for the rich is passed but whine and complain about a FUNDED program of 7 BILLION for those that will eventually sacrifice their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Give me a break. From that, it is the GOP that is showing the brain dead thinking.

The work they have done in the past few weeks is certainly not a joke. and Jesus isn't going to fix it, so keep religion out

this is the first good thing they've passed in two years. Jesus might not be planning to fix it, but these yokels can't fix it either. So shut up.

I'm a male also. lol

Zach-274...

Are you God doing godly condemning under the moniker ZACH? If so, happy birthday on the 25th!

they all resigned?

Dang AC. That's the best laugh I've had this week! I wish I could vote for your comment more than once! LOL

Can you say " political football"?

Yes, we are watching so BOTH sides had better compromise and cooperate. Besides they all want to make it home in time for Christmas ASAP which is the primary reason. :)

A safe and Merry Christmas to all.

Yes US we are watching!!!

Merry Christmas to you and your family US.

Tad

ever geta Bible for Christmas? Most fitting gift I can think of. All the rest is....

Navy Vet:

And you can bet the ranch it will pass with flying colors! Why? Because it is GREAT for AMERICA, and the GOP knows that's right! Oh, and they don't want to miss Christmas at HOME!

reality-2829910:

Yes they have paid us back WITH a handsome profit! Your post neglected to state that the article you referred to was DATED SEPTEMBER 16, 2008! In fact EVERYONE, so far, has or is paying back the "bailout" funds with interest (profit). Perhaps you should read the below article which details the payment and interest paid to the government by AIG. NOTE: It is DATED, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010! Also, for your info the feds DID NOT take physical control of AIG, They did take ownership of the vast majority of stock! It turns out it was a GREAT investment. Now we worry, partly with the money LOANED to General Motors and Chrysler. Keep your fingers crossed! Bottom line is ALL funds loaned by Uncle Sam have been repaid, within, and quicker than, the agreed to time frame, WITH INTEREST!

reality:

Sorry, I left off the article on my previous post. It is below.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700069985/AIG-reaches-deal-to-repay-government-bailout-funds.html

You can't "take care of the people" as long as you are allowing one class to rape all the others and they own you (government).

I did not vote for Obama. I did condone the process that elected him. He is my president, evil or no.

As a supporter and some time detractor of President Obama, I would like to congratulate him on his leadership on START, DADT and the 911 responder bill. I'm very pleased they passed, homeruns each of them :}

I would also like to congratulate the Democrats and handful of Republicans for their bipartisan support of the START treaty, Repeal of DADT and the 911 responder bill, as well as those that voted in favor of the Dream act.

The responder bill was a good example of bipartisanship and long overdue.

This is real bipartisan ship at work, for the good of the country, nothing at all like the epic fail of the Democratic leadership and the President's capitulation to the GOP on tax cuts for the rich.

That said, I must admit no one can hit it out of the park every at bat. The biggest home run hitters also tend to have a lot of strikeouts.

"...provide for the common welfare..."

Per above: brink of epic fail.

no plurality, nor majority, nor much of the electorate, favored the top-tier tax cuts. Only those who get them and the republican senators in their pockets favored them. Obama acknowledged the fact that the Senate is corrupt and to get anything done he had to pay bribes, since we have become a banana republic.

Sad Don, but true.

Don-

No plurality, nor majority, nor much of the electorate, favored Obamacare, the closure of Guantanamo, civilian trials for the 9/11 conspirators, or the Justice Department's lawsuit against the state of Arizona.

I think you'll find that they favored extending all...ALL of the Bush-era tax cuts more than any of those.

Don,

Perfect example of spun statistics. While a minority approved the the health care bill, no one separated out the people who were counted in the "disapprove" column because they wanted a stronger single payer system. If those were added to the "approve" statistic, a majority favored.

A majority of people supported the end of the 2% welfare for the rich tax cut. Only a minority favored extending it.

Perhaps you should check someone else than Faux Newz for your stats.

You sound bitter. Need a win?

kedbob,

No thanks, got them.

I agree with you. Where are the unions? How many people are sharing in the billions of dollars? I don't mean any disrespect either but how come we have no visibility into this? And how about the rest of the first responders in the US why don't we pay them too? Whats the distinction? Sorry I just don't get it.

My thoughts exactly. We must realize that part of the first responders (police, firefighters) job description/expectation is HEROIC (among other things lke judgment, law, fitness, stamina, psychology, public relations, etc.). When they do heroic acts, we should recognize them, compensate, and thank them for their chosen profession. The city, state, and federal government that employ them should have provision for their rehabilitation in the event something happened to them while on duty. Say, worker's comp. and insurance?

I wonder what would the process of disbursement of $4B be? Who would get some and who wouldn't? The ordinary Joe who volunteered, is he going to qualify?

How do we draw the line between "plain volunteerism" and "paid volunteerism"? Did we just set a precedent for "paid volunteerism" for ordinary citizen who are not considered paid volunteers like the the first responders? I can see in 10 years or less, a similar bill is going to take shape for the first responders of Katrina, BP Oil Spill. Bring it on, why not?

Dave, the money raised after 9/11 went to the families of the deceased. May they rest in peace. God bless America, it took too long but the senate finally did the right thing, hopefully the house does the same. Russell, yes they had a job to do, and they did it, and a lot died doing it, and more are dying every day, and every day someone else gets diagnosed with an illness, these men and women worked days, some, months in the toxic debris. Russ are you an American? Maybe we should look at our politicians and their salaries and their pensions, and their excellent medical benefits, not a city police or firefighter, or the steel workers and all other responders that day, some didn't work for the city at all, some were just Americans who just wanted to help. God bless them all. Merry Christmas to all.

Scott...Yes these people need help and the bill was the right thing to do. That's why it finally passed. It did take so long because the original bill was brought to a vote that required a 2/3 majority to pass it to ensure the Republicans could not propose any ammendments. There were some major concerns that had to be addressed and I thank the Republicans for doing it. They set limits on how much attorneys could claim from the fund, making sure the attorney's were only paid for work associated with this and not other aspects. They also wanted to make sure there was a solid review process for the claimants to ensure the chance of fraud was minimized. The Dems wante to portray the Republicans as not caring for the first reponders. That is not true at all. They wanted to do the right thing but without wasting money. The Dems wanted too much money and too little controls on the money in the fund. Some of the Republican concerns were justified while some were not. Some of the Democratic proposals were justified, and some were not. But until now, the Dems would not negotiate on the provisions of the bill. They wanted it passed with now ammendments from Republicans.

Scrambolo posted this link above but I'll post it again except with saying to pay attention to what the GOP concerns over the first bill were in the last section.

http://www.gop.gov/bill/111/2/hr847