Saturday, December 18, 2010

After the photo op (how the GOP turned their backs on 9/11 first responders)

The story in the House of the bill to care for 9/11 first responders is well told by the folks at Crooks and Liars in "Republicans to 9/11 Responders: Die, and Die Quickly". They include a list of the mostly Republican set of House members who voted against it. There's also a good video of Rep Weiner standing up for what's right, not just in supporting the bill but also in how things should be done.

"If you believe that it's right, you vote yes. You don't hide behind procedure and give cover to your pals." -- Rep. Anthony Weiner

Here's are the Republican Senators who effectively stood against the 9/11 first responders by filibustering the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010:


NAYs ---42
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brown (R-MA)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Collins (R-ME)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kirk (R-IL)
Kyl (R-AZ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Snowe (R-ME)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Wicker (R-MS)
Not Voting - 1
Brownback (R-KS)

While the majority leader also technically voted against closure, he's the one Senator who had good excuse. With the abuse of the filibuster, it has become common for the majority leader to switch his vote to "no" at the last minute in order to retain the ability to reintroduce the bill later. The rest of them -- all those Republicans -- should have their names inscribed and displayed as the main exhibit in a museum of shame and hypocrisy.

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