Two weeks ago, Senate Republicans unanimously filibustered a bill to provide health benefits to the firefighters, police officers, and construction workers who were the first responders to the terror attacks on 9/11 and contracted illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals during their work. Republicans have been callously blocking the bill, saying it has a lower priority than extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, that they don't want to "hurry," and telling the responders — some of whom have already died from their illnesses — "I can't help you."
This weekend, New York Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D) Chuck Schumer (D) announced they had modified the bill, reducing its overall pricetag and changing the way it is paid for, and thus gained some GOP support. But Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ), the number two Senate Republican, is still not pleased. Appearing on Fox News today, Kyl pretended he had "no idea" what was in the bill, and even wondered if these heroes needed the help:
HOST: Will you change your vote to a yes on the bill, knowing those changes?
KYL: This has been a moving target since day one. … This is something that they came up with to just put directly on the floor of the Senate, without any hearings, without any opportunities to figure out what it should be like. [...]
I have no idea how this thing would work. So they reduced it from $7 billion to $6 billion — I have no idea whether $6 billion is a reasonable figure. … But the question is who's responsible? Who's at fault? Do they have the money? Is the insurance adequate to cover it? Wasn't the previous settlement adequate? Why would they need $6 billion?
rest at http://thinkprogress.org/2010/12/20/kyl-911-why/
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