Do you understand why the $5 billion plus bill failed? Do you understand the little trick the Democrats tried to play when passing this bill? Rep. Mike Rogers, (R-Mich) proposed a $150 million annual appropriations to the healthcare program for 9/11 responders. The Democrats didn't like this and didin't want to give the Republicans time to amend the bill to come up with a way to pay for it!!

By pushing the bill in the manner they did, the Democrats made the bill require a 2/3 majority. They bit off their nose to spite their face to keep from having a resonable way to pay for the healthcare.

First understand the motion that killed the bill was a motion to suspend the rules and pass, as amended the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

The vote to suspend and pass was 243 Democrats yeas, Republicans 12 yeas. The nays were 4 Democrats and 155 Republicans voting to suspend the rules and pass the bill as amended. There were 7 Democrats who didn't vote and 11 Republicans who didn't vote.

With the 12 Republicans voting yes, the vote was 522 for and 159 against suspending the rules and voting to pass the bill.


http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/...esponders-bill


http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2010/roll491.xml