When Shepard Smith and Jon Stewart team up to get something done, apparently it happens. The New York Times has the news:
Under the new agreement, the bill provides $4.3 billion over five years for health coverage to the 9/11 workers, instead of the original $7.4 billion over eight years.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand called the deal a “Christmas miracle.”
“Over the last 24 hours, our Republican colleagues have negotiated in good faith to forge a workable final package that will protect the health of the men and women who selflessly answered our nation’s call in her hour of greatest need,” the statement said. “This has been a long process, but we are now on the cusp of the victory these heroes deserve.”
With lawmakers eager to get home for the holidays, the Senate is expected within the hour to take up the bill by unanimous consent, an agreement made between the parties to bypass any potentially time-consuming debate.
This article appears in Dec 16-22, 2010.
Misters Stewart and Smith have helped stimulate events, and for this they should receive credit, but it is the 9/11 workers who benefit. Actually, they are only getting the basic support they deserve for their service to the rest of us. Between the 9/11 tragedies and the workers’ illnesses, no one really “wins.”