YouTube - ‪Anthony Weiner Rips Apart Republicans on 9/11Health Bill‬‎

For ripping the GOP a new one. As usual, a common sense bill that a normal person would support and vote for, is fought by the GOP. Talking about the bill for the 9/11 responders.

Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-New York) ripped into the GOP July 29 over a bill that would have provided free health care to rescue workers who became ill as a result of the 9/11 World Trade Center collapse.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would have provided more than $7 billion in aid to those rescue workers. However, the Democrats used a procedure that suspended the rules before considering the bill,
but required a 2/3 majority to pass it, as opposed to a simple majority. The maneuver was meant to prevent Republicans from loading the bill with any partisan amendments of their own, which was likely given the popularity of the bill.

Most Republicans were against the bill, with Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas calling it a "slush fund." Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois didn't like that the fund would pay at a higher rate than medicare, and stated, "what this is is enfranchising a bunch of New York City Hospitals."

When it appeared likely that Republicans were going to vote against the bill, in part due to taking offense at the procedure used to pass it, Rep. Weiner took to the stand and admonished Republicans for doing so.

"It's Republicans wrapping their arms around Republicans, rather than doing the right thing on behalf of the heroes," Weiner shouted into the microphone. "It is a shame... a shame... if you believe this is a bad idea to provide health care, then vote no! But don't give me the cowardly view of, oh, if it was a different procedure..."

The bill fell over 20 votes shy of the number needed in order to pass.

On July 30, Weiner appeared on Fox News and showed no regrets over his statements, stating,"You know, this is not something that got rushed through, this is nine years in the making. This is doing the right thing, and we should have passed this bill overwhelmingly without any controversy at all. But unfortunately, the party of 'no' hit a new low last night."


Rep Anthony Weiner Rips Republicans Over Health Care, but It's Not the First Time - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com
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The dems shouldn't have went with the dumbass 2/3 majority to prevent them from adding amendments, but how they could oppose this is beyond me. Stewart busted them for it tonight, also got the dems for the procedure part, but kudos to this guy for standing up to the idiots.