Clinton's push for WTC worker help thwarted

[cal04]

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is calling for $1.9 billion in new medical aid for Ground Zero workers, saying it's needed because former Environmental Protection Administration chief Christie Todd Whitman failed to alert workers to health risks.

Clinton had hoped to get a Senate floor vote Wednesday on an amendment creating a five-year health screening and treatment program for World Trade Center workers sickened by toxic smoke and dust.

But she was thwarted by the Senate's GOP majority, who referred the measure to committee, where it will take months to be voted on -- if ever.

(snip)
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who chairs the Homeland Security committee, said she was concerned that Clinton's amendment "limits the nearly $2 billion in funding to only in New York, that just doesn't seem fair to me."



http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-ushill0914,0,2029423.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[BattyDem]

1. "limits the nearly $2 billion in funding to only in New York"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Ground Zero in New York? :shrug:

:eyes:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

3. Well, there were workers from other states there.

I know people in NJ that were there daily cleaning up. However, as long as Clinton ammends the bill of cover all WTC cleanup workers, then I'm all for it. It is necessary.

[BattyDem]

6. Oh ok ... I misunderstood

It said "Ground Zero" workers, so I thought that meant anyone who worked at Ground Zero, regardless of where they live.

I thought Collins was angry simply because NY was getting $2 Billion from Homeland Security and she wanted her state to get a slice of the pie. Sort of like the way Chertoff wants the states to get a "fair share" of Homeland Security dollars - even though certains states are much more likely to be targeted.

If it's only NY Ground Zero workers who will get the help, then Collins was right to block it - but not for months. She should have simply offered an amendment that made it clear that ALL Ground Zero workers would get the help. Who could argue with that?

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

8. Well, I read the article and Clinton said she was willing to change it

to include all 9-11 cleanup workers, but she felt Ground Zero workers needed more funding, because they were exposed to toxins that workers at the other clean-up sites weren't.

So basically, Collins shouldn't have blocked it, since Hillary stated she's willing to change the original proposal.

[BattyDem]

10. Thanks for the info. I just read the article ...

I should have read it before, LOL! :silly: I didn't read it at first because I'm tired. :blush:

So it looks like Collins is playing politics after all. The GOP love to use 9/11 workers and the troops for photo ops - but they just can't bring themselves to do a damn thing to help either group! There is no reason the bill should be held up for months! :mad:

[rodeodance]

5. I had assumed the bill would cover alll workers even those outside of

NY or state of NY, but I am not sure. Still that could have been settled with a quick amendment right there on the floor if Congress really cared. but they do not.

[BattyDem]

7. I thought the same thing you did

ALL Ground Zero workers, no matter where they are from. But if Hillary only wants to cover NY Ground Zero workers, then it definitely needs to be amended - but it should NOT be held up for months.

[Ilsa]

2. Someone needs to send Collins a MAP! (Duh) nt

[lonestarnot]

4. And a one way plane ticket to Afghanistan!

[eccles12]

9. And you mean this is not being smeared all over FOX News?

And the Dems are not making a swiftboat ad about it?