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9/11 First responders speak out on 'Daily Show'

Noncontroversial enough that the two parties can actually agree on something? Now, that is a Christmas miracle.

Here is the sad part

The original bill would have required multinational companies incorporated in tax havens to pay taxes on income earned in the U.S. Bill supporters said that would close a tax loophole, but Republicans have branded it a corporate tax increase.

Typical Republicans orally massaging the posterior of corporate America. One thing you got to give to the GOP is that they certainly know how to please their corporate masters.
 
Here is the sad part



Typical Republicans orally massaging the posterior of corporate America. One thing you got to give to the GOP is that they certainly know how to please their corporate masters.

Ant the Dems were in such complete and utter unity on supporting this that they held steadfast and refused to drop this part of the..... oh wait.... nevermind.
 
Ant the Dems were in such complete and utter unity on supporting this that they held steadfast and refused to drop this part of the..... oh wait.... nevermind.

And boy are we sick of hearing that canard. "If only the Dems held together 100% then they would not need a few paltry GOP votes to succeed"

Yup, lets blame the 90% trying to get something done for holding firm and let off the entire opposition for being united and the Party of No.

Progress WHO - at least you did not defend the GOP for kissing the behinds of corporate America.
 
And boy are we sick of hearing that canard. "If only the Dems held together 100% then they would not need a few paltry GOP votes to succeed"

Yup, lets blame the 90% trying to get something done for holding firm and let off the entire opposition for being united and the Party of No.

Progress WHO - at least you did not defend the GOP for kissing the behinds of corporate America.

As always... point sails majestically over your head, into the ether.
 
And boy are we sick of hearing that canard. "If only the Dems held together 100% then they would not need a few paltry GOP votes to succeed"

Yup, lets blame the 90% trying to get something done for holding firm and let off the entire opposition for being united and the Party of No.

Progress WHO - at least you did not defend the GOP for kissing the behinds of corporate America.

Speaking of kissing corporate American ass, how about that healthcare law?
 
Looks like the misnamed U.S. Chamber of Commerce was behind the effort to kill this bill.

ThinkProgress » ‘U.S.’ Chamber Of Commerce Lobbied To Help GOP Kill Bill To Provide Health Care To 9/11 First Responders

part of the article

While Republicans quietly snuffed out efforts to compensate 9/11 heroes, they were aided by a quiet lobbying campaign by the powerful lobbying front — the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber fought to help kill the 9/11 compensation bill because it was funded by ending a special tax loophole exploited by foreign corporations doing business in the United States.

The “U.S.” part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is a misnomer. As ThinkProgress reported, the Chamber represents dozens of foreign businesses in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, Bahrain, India, Brazil, and other countries. An investigation of the Chamber turned up recent fundraising documents from the Chamber soliciting foreign contributions to the Chamber’s 501(c)(6), the tax entity the Chamber used to run nasty campaign ads against Democrats earlier this year.

In September, the Chamber sent a letter officially opposing the 9/11 first responders bill, called the “James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.” The Chamber warned that ending the tax loophole would “damage U.S. relationships with major trading partners” and “aggravate already unsettled financial markets.” A lobbying disclosure filed with the Senate confirms the Chamber contacted lawmakers to help kill the bill.

In typical fashion, the Chamber has not revealed which of its foreign members had asked them to kill the 9/11 bill. As the Chamber CEO explained to the Washington Monthly’s James Verini, the entire purpose of the Chamber is to provide “deniability” to corporations that want to affect the outcomes of elections or of public policy. In 2009, the Chamber secretly used a $86 million donation from the health insurance industry to fight health reform. At the time, the Chamber lied and claimed to the public that they were simply acting on behalf of the entire “business community.”

Republicans are continuing to protest any renewed attempts to pass the 9/11 first responders bill because of the tax issue raised by the Chamber. Yesterday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) sent out a statement that mirrored the Chamber’s opposition to ending the foreign corporate tax loophole.
 
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Good point. Giving in on the public option issue was a prime example of buttkissing the health insurance corporations.

Oh, you mean the socialist option.
 
Looks like the misnamed U.S. Chamber of Commerce was behind the effort to kill this bill.

ThinkProgress » ‘U.S.’ Chamber Of Commerce Lobbied To Help GOP Kill Bill To Provide Health Care To 9/11 First Responders

part of the article

'behind it'? Like, they were the driving force? You're really not very good at this, are you...

http://www.debatepolitics.com/breaking-news-blogs/88019-9-11-first-responders-speak-out-daily-show-3.html#post1059170895

"We are on the verge of a Christmas miracle," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

Gillibrand and Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are offering a less-costly alternative to the original bill to aid 9/11 responders and survivors, saying that they believe it will gain needed support from the GOP...

Republicans have raised concerns about the original bill's cost and how to pay for it. The new bill's cost is scaled back from $7.4 billion over 10 years to $6.2 billion...

The original bill would have required multinational companies incorporated in tax havens to pay taxes on income earned in the U.S. Bill supporters said that would close a tax loophole, but Republicans have branded it a corporate tax increase.

Instead, the new bill would be paid for with a fee on some foreign firms that get U.S. government procurement contracts. The bill also calls for extending fees on certain firms that rely on H-1B and L-1 visas. It would also extend fees on travelers who don't present visa travel documents at U.S. airports.

Schumer said he believed the new provisions to pay for the bill would be "noncontroversial" with other lawmakers.

To paraphrase an old election slogan...

It's the cost, stupid!
 
Looks like the misnamed U.S. Chamber of Commerce was behind the effort to kill this bill.

ThinkProgress » ‘U.S.’ Chamber Of Commerce Lobbied To Help GOP Kill Bill To Provide Health Care To 9/11 First Responders

part of the article

Hmmm, wonder if Think Progress had the same harsh words for Obama as they had for the Chamber of Commerce and Republican Party? Somehow I doubt it.

NY pols stunned to learn Obama administration opposes funding for 9/11 health bill

The Obama administration stunned New York's delegation Thursday, dropping the bombshell news that it does not support funding the 9/11 health bill.

The state's two senators and 14 House members met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius just hours before President Obama implored in his speech to the nation for Congress to come together and deliver a government that delivers on its promises to the American people.

So the legislators were floored to learn the Democratic administration does not want to deliver for the tens of thousands of people who sacrificed after 9/11, and the untold numbers now getting sick.

Read more: NY pols stunned to learn Obama administration opposes funding for 9/11 health bill
 
haymarket said:
Looks like the misnamed U.S. Chamber of Commerce was behind the effort to kill this bill.

ThinkProgress » ‘U.S.’ Chamber Of Commerce Lobbied To Help GOP Kill Bill To Provide Health Care To 9/11 First Responders

part of the article

Hmmm, wonder if Think Progress had the same harsh words for Obama as they had for the Chamber of Commerce and Republican Party? Somehow I doubt it.


NY pols stunned to learn Obama administration opposes funding for 9/11 health bill

The Obama administration stunned New York's delegation Thursday, dropping the bombshell news that it does not support funding the 9/11 health bill.

The state's two senators and 14 House members met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius just hours before President Obama implored in his speech to the nation for Congress to come together and deliver a government that delivers on its promises to the American people.

So the legislators were floored to learn the Democratic administration does not want to deliver for the tens of thousands of people who sacrificed after 9/11, and the untold numbers now getting sick.
Read more: NY pols stunned to learn Obama administration opposes funding for 9/11 health bill

They were against it, before they were for it.
 
Hmmm, wonder if Think Progress had the same harsh words for Obama as they had for the Chamber of Commerce and Republican Party? Somehow I doubt it.



Read more: NY pols stunned to learn Obama administration opposes funding for 9/11 health bill

Interesting. No actual quote in that link. Here's an official WH statement:

The President looks forward to signing the 9/11 health bill into law, once it passes both houses of Congress, to help the first responders whose health and livelihood were devastated by the events of Sept. 11," a White House statement said.
 
John Maynard Keynes, the influential economist whose ideas are known as Keynesian Economics, sums up how I feel about this

"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"

Changes were made in the proposal changing the bill that is now before the Congress and is still fighting for its life because of Republican opposition.
 
John Maynard Keynes, the influential economist whose ideas are known as Keynesian Economics, sums up how I feel about this

"When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?"

Changes were made in the proposal changing the bill that is now before the Congress and is still fighting for its life because of Republican opposition.

Only one problem with your "facts". Obama flip flopped on the bill BEFORE the changes were made.
 
Interesting. No actual quote in that link. Here's an official WH statement:

Interesting how you completely missed the point.

The White House statement you provided is dated Thursday, 19 Aug 2010, while the original position of the HWite House in the article he posted was dated January 28th 2010.

They were against it, before they were for it. But there was no outcry from Democrats to the opposition of the 9/11 bill at that time, like there is now.

Get it?
 
Only one problem with your "facts". Obama flip flopped on the bill BEFORE the changes were made.

You are wrong. The dollar figures have changed and so has the funding source among other things.

The reality is a simple one: the Republicans are holding this bill up now, today, in the present. The Democrats, including the President, are in support of it. That is the reality no matter how much you want to play 'gotcha' or justify some political angle.
 
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You are wrong. The dollar figures have changed and so has the funding source among other things.

Yes, absolutely right, but Obama reversed his opposition to the bill BEFORE the changes were made.

Didn't you even read my post ???
 
The previous article was from nearly one year ago. Changes have been made in that year. But I could not care less about a bunch of knee-jerk Obama haters trying to play 'gotcha' with this issue. I do not care if he changed his position 1,000 times regardless of the facts. Got that?

All I care about is the bill before the Congress today that is supported by the President and Democrats but is being stopped by Republicans. That trumps everything. I don't give a sack of garden manure about anything but getting this bill passed to help these true American heroes in their need.
 
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