On Thursday night, House Democrat from New York, Rep. Anthony Weiner, was outraged over Republican opposition to a bill that would give medical compensation to 9/11 first responders. This was an outrage that was interrupted by a House Republican, Rep. Peter King, who is also from New York. Weiner yelled for King to be quiet and sit down because he was, apparently, wrong. Something else Weiner does is accuse republicans of wrapping their arms around republicans rather than caring for our heroes. The republicans do have a since of brotherhood and this can be seen in Congress. They do say no often, sometimes just to say no, and they are using pure strategy to wait it out until midterm elections. But, to say that they don't care about our heroes of 9/11 just because they don't support a bill to help them is definitely out-of-bounds.
When you sign up to be a policeman or a firefighter, you are making a commitment to keeping people safe and a pledge to doing whatever it takes to do so, even if that means putting your life on the line. The first responders to 9/11 were brave men and women who happen to now have some medical conditions due to the harshness of their job. Should they receive compensation for doing their job? I don't think so. If they were in a situation where they weren't intended to risk their lives, it would be different. You don’t join the military not knowing that you could get hurt, just like you don't become a policeman or a firefighter not knowing that you would be risking your life every day.
Weiner blew up and should not have. Yes, the Republicans do have problems with saying no to good legislation, but no Weiner, you are wrong.
I think what really burst him to enrage was the fact that House leadership did not allow amendments and republicans hinted that they would say yes to the bill if it could be changed. This would make me upset. If I were representing the heroes in New York and I was told that medical compensation would be passable if it were procedurally different. On the Republicans' side, this was unfair to tease Democrats, specifically Weiner.
Everything about this incident shows how ruthless, aggravated, and confusing our Congress is in their law-making. It is just unfortunate.
1 comment:
While you discuss several issues here, the ruthlessness and confusion of Congress as well as if the first-responders to 9/11 deserve medical compensation, as much as I agree with the former I tend to disagree strongly with the latter issue. Yes, Congress is confusing and there is probably an excess amount of bargaining and as you say "teasing." It is very upsetting that party lines can draw such a rift between Congressmen causing them to focus more on what his or her party wants rather than what is in the public's best interest. Therefore I am very much in agreement with your stance on this point of your post.
However, your choice to take the stand of not being a supporter of giving medical compensation to the first-responders is very upsetting. Yes, you mention that the danger is part of the job and those who signed up should have realized this, as seen with your comparison to the military. But, veterans today receive ample federal aid especially if they are injured in the line of duty. For example, on the website: http://www.veteranprograms.com/ veterans are given access to federal funded counseling, hospitals, and other compensation. Therefore, your argument that those in dangerous professions that serve our country do not deserve medical compensation is questionable seeing as though the United States gives veterans much more than financial support.
In all, no matter your stance on the particular issue of medical compensation for first-responders the chaos and tension rising in Congress is far more upsetting.
Post a Comment