The previously unpublicized amendments that were tacked onto the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 are beginning to see the light of day and most of the first responders and other victims aren't too happy.
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) apparently added a last minute amendment requiring anyone eligible to receive benefits from the bill to undergo a FBI background check against the "terrorism watch list". It is truly a sad day when the same people that Republicans supposedly praised as recently as 2008 in their Republican Platform did nothing but filibuster and obstruct their healthcare at every turn. Now we find out the people they campaigned on as heroes will be treated as criminals before they can receive any health benefits from the bill.
“This is absurd,” said Glen Kline, a former NYPD emergency services officer. “It’s silly. It’s stupid. It’s asinine.”
“It’s comical at best, and I think it’s an insult to everyone who worked on The Pile and is sick and suffering from 9/11,” said John Feal, a former construction worker who lost half a foot at Ground Zero and runs the advocacy group Fealgood Foundation.
I find this disgusting and the Republicans who are in office have no right to be considered leaders.