Federal Legislation May Give Up To $13Billion To 9/11 First Responders

9/11 AID MAY $ICK IT TO US

Source: nypost.com

7/31/2008

Federal legislation to help those suffering health problems from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks could cost taxpayers up to $13 billion, The Post has learned.

The bill, which will go before a House hearing today and is strongly backed by Mayor Bloomberg, would reopen the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and would provide funding for medical care for downtown residents and for firefighters, cops, EMTs and construction workers who worked at Ground Zero.

The preliminary estimate of the cost of the measure by the Congressional Budget Office ranged from $8 billion to $13 billion, congressional sources said.

The staggering cost figure hasn't been publicly disclosed yet but was revealed to The Post by sources.

Under the bill, roughly 35,000 people living within 1.5 miles of Ground Zero would be eligible for medical benefits at a projected cost of $3.1 billion. Thousands of first-responders would also receive medical aid at a cost of $2 billion.

As many as 85,000 first-responders could be eligible for medical aid. But the overall cost for their care is less than for residents because most of the first-responders have health insurance that covers a large share of their medical bills, sources said.

The price for reopening the victims' fund was harder to calculate because congressional analysts couldn't predict how many people would apply. They put the cost at anywhere from $3 billion to $8 billion, sources said.

The legislation has the active support of Bloomberg, who last month met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to push for its passage.

If approved, the bill would spare the city from massive liability by letting sick workers, or families of those who died, apply for aid from a reopened and federally financed Victim Compensation Fund.

After the terror attacks, the federal fund paid out $6 billion to families of those who died on 9/11 and another $1 billion to the injured through 2003.

The current bill is far less costly than an earlier version that was estimated at $30 billion.

attitude of the article is appalling

The NY Post is owned by Rupert Murdoch's Newscorp. This is the same company that brings you the propaganda sewer pipe known as Fox News.

Sad

I like how it's some sort of "cost" to the American people to have to help the 9/11 sick. I mean, I'm all for voting "no" (Dr. no) on most spending via the gov't, but I think there are still some things worth voting "yes" too including this.

I guess they would have liked to have had a choice in the matter? Something like a pre-9/11 vote? So, apparently, we need to get together as a country and say whether or not we want people to help BEFORE a crisis. That way, if the answer is "no I don't want to have to help pay for people who get sick while protecting my country" then maybe a lot less people should show up.

Bloomberg...

Is trying to save the cost from the City even though it was the local, state, and federal Governments that caused these problems for them. However, if they pass the legislation, and give them the help they need, then so be it as far as I'm concerned. As far as the NYPost making it seem like it's an unnecessary cost for taxpayers (um... hello? $3Trillion War On Terror?), they are despicable.


Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?

Does this legistation have a name?

I think we should start a massive email, fax and phone campaign in support of this IMMEDIATELY.

If this is all Congress is good for NOW, then let's do our best to make sure it happens, brothers and sisters.

Love is a verb, let's get BUSIER!

Thanks for posting this, Jon.

The truth shall set us free. Love is the only way forward.

John knows...

I'll ask him later. He's down in D.C. at the moment.


Do these people deserve to know how and why their loved ones were murdered? Do we deserve to know how and why 9/11 happened?

Are you freaking kididng me?

"Federal legislation to help those suffering health problems from the World Trade Center terrorist attacks could cost taxpayers up to $13 billion, The Post has learned. "

Cost, cost, cost?
WHO CARES!

Honestly, it never ends with the MSM.
... As if this is some type of burden on so many people to support 9/11 First Responders.
Despicable.

Regards,
Mark in Philly
http://www.FealGoodFoundation.com

Any House legislators

Who vote against this measure, to assist the victims of 9/11, will be duly noted.

It's H.R.6594

I was suprised there is so much $ with this bill. But hopefully it will pass & the money will be shaved down a little & given to only those that need it.