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Why So Much Money?
by James Glaser December 10, 2010 
The headline reads, "Republicans Block U.S. Health Aid for 9/11 Workers." The total cost of this "Aid" looks to be $7.4 billion dollars, and I have to ask, why so much? According to the New York Times, $3.2 billion would be used in the next eight years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. The city of New York would kick in an additional 10% for those health care costs. The other $4.2 billion would be used to pay compensation for those injured. 10,000 workers have already been paid compensation by the city of New York, but they could claim more from this new pie. I hate to sound harsh, but we are supposed to be at war, and these workers were in that war right at the beginning. I don't know why we can't have these people treated at our VA facilities, just like everyone else who has been injured in this war. And why can't any compensation be in line with what our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Air Men are paid for their injuries. Somehow the number of people making claims on this money has grown to 60,000. I'm sorry, but I'm not buying it, that 60,000 people were injured doing the rescue work on 9/11. Now if a policeman or fireman was hurt or got sick from their work that day, or if people working on the clean up of the site were hurt after that day, they can claim workman's compensation just like any other worker in America. The police and fire workers were doing their job that day. Yes, many were heroes and did incredible feats, but that is what they trained for their whole life. Our military people in uniform are heroes, too and they don't get any big cash bonus because they lost their arm or leg, or arms and leg, or their eyes, or their brain, or their life. There is a set amount depending what their injury was, and believe me, they do not get rich no matter how badly they suffered or how badly they will continue to suffer. America is supposed to be at war, and I see people trying to get "extra" money out of our government, because they got hurt on the job. I feel bad for them, but I don't think they deserve more money and certainly no more help than our troops do. The Republicans are going to look like the bad guys here, but I believe the only thing they are asking is that we not borrow the money for this fund. If the Democrats really wanted to spend these billions, they should have done it sometime while they had control of the House, Senate, and White House. If they really thought this was important, they wouldn't have waited until they were voted out of the majority by the American people, and then are forced to try and pass this bill, with all the other things they promised in a lame duck session. |
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