Bush Turns His Back On 9/11 Workers Again

He may not have had to do it himself, but the Department of Health and Human Services walked away from a commitment to men and women that risked their lives on September 11th. As long as its a federal agency, it is inherently a part of the Bush Administration. HHS no longer wants to pay to monitor workers who live outside the five boroughs, many who have sought drier climates due to their devastated respiratory systems.

From ABC7:

New York's congressional delegation and some ailing workers stood outside the World Trade Center site Saturday to protest this week's decision to not fund screening of workers outside New York City.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services filed paperwork this week canceling plans to pay a company to medically screen those who got sick after working in the toxic rubble of the trade center.

The government said the program could cost far more money than Congress has provided. U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., on Saturday said of the explanation: "That takes a lot of chutzpah."

It takes more than chutzpah, it requires a callousness of the heart and soul that is unimaginable here in New York. Who in their right mind would not want to give anything to those that worked on the pile, whether they were searching for survivors or cleaning up the wreckage. Obviously Bush and his underlings are not in their right minds.

Judgment Day A Comin For Christine Whitman

As one ex-Bushie admits his guilt today, another is getting set to defend herself from prosecution over September 11th. Christine Whitmann headed the EPA when those two planes took out the World Trade Center towers. She was influential in getting people to come back to Lower Manhattan while the air was still filled with a toxic stew of chemicals that have killed or injured an unknown amount of people either working or living in the area. Obviously, some people are mad at her for her role in opening up Lower Manhattan...but only a judge can decide if she can be sued for her crimes.

From WNYC:

NEW YORK, NY December 10, 2007 —Today, a federal appeals court will hear arguments on whether the federal government and former Environmental Protection Agency head Christine Todd Whitman can be sued for statements about conditions after 9/11. WNYC’s Fred Mogul has more.

A group of 8 lower Manhattan residents, office workers and students are suing Whitman and the EPA over what they allege was misleading encouragement to reoccupy the area in the weeks following 9/11. Government attorneys say Whitman cannot be held liable and filed a motion to dismiss.

A lower court judge rejected that argument last year. In saying the case should go forward, Judge Deborah Batts said Whitman’s actions had been “conscience-shocking." A different federal judge in a similar-but-unrelated lawsuit ruled otherwise and granted Whitman immunity. Those plaintiffs, mainly Ground Zero workers, are also in the process of appealing.

Conscience-shocking doesn't even begin to describe her actions. Giving the all clear when she knew the air was not safe to breathe should be considered a crime against humanity, or at least New Yorkers. It is like telling someone to walk into a gas chamber so they can smell some roses. Clearly, Whitman should be able to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law...those victims deserve justice.

The Senate Throws Some Change At 9/11 Workers

Fifty-five million dollars is a lot to the average person but not much at all when we are talking about helping the brave men and women that worked on the pile after September 11th. The Senate voted to add that sum to the $50 million already appropriated. Sure, its great to have any money at all, but is that the way we should treat our heroes?

From The Daily News:

The measure encourages the development of long-term solutions to screen and treat everyone affected by the post-9/11 risks.

Health problems suffered by the thousands who were affected range from asthma to posttraumatic stress.

"The message of this vote is clear," said Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.). "America is here for you in your time of need."

That message sounds very un-clear to me. When we are talking about settling lawsuits in the billion dollar range, $55 or $105 million just isn't that much. That billion dollar lawsuit wouldn't even cover all the costs that these heroes-turned-victims endure on a monthly basis. With a war that will cost at least $2.4 TRILLION dollars, why can we not spare the one or two billion that these people need to get by?

And another thing, will George Bush even sign that bill for $55 million?