Republicans in the Senate Block 9/11 Health and Compensation Act

[memphis]

What part of no bills will get on the floor until the tax cut and government funding bills are passed don't Democrats understand?  

Ahhhhhh, so they're standing on principles, cinyc?   What about the principle that jobless benefits must be PAID FOR.......or is the Bunning spectacle far from their minds?

Hell they had a chance to get the tax deal done, they were the ones who chose to vote no, even at the $ 1 million mark.

So extending tax cuts for those making over $250,000 and hell $1 million is now more important than providing for those who were sickened as a result of their heroism on 9/11.  Its beyond sick.

I don't know that they're against the bill itself but their determined principled stand (which is stalling this bill) is a charade....they have no principles. 

Not only that, but they've blocked it before with OMGZ the socialized healthcare rhetoric. It has nothing to do with taxes. It's all about not wanting to give these people healthcare. How is the GOP anything more than a fringe nutter party?

[memphis]

Nice try, but there is no excuse for holding everything hostage until their little agenda gets passed. It doesn't make Republicans look noble, it just makes them look like the selfish ideologues they really are, but pretend not to be.

"The Republicans are terrorists.  They are holding the Democrats hostage" meme is tiresome.  

There was an election.  As Obama said when he got into office, elections have consequences.  Remember him lecturing Republicans about how "I won?"  Well, he and the Democrats lost in November.  Big time.  

Republicans are using the power granted to the Senate minority to do the work the American people want them to do - get the economy back on track and get the government funded in a proper way, not getting sidetracked with giving away goodies to Democratic special interests as the Democrats had done for the past 2 years, largely against the will of the American people.

In what world is adding $4 trillion in tax cuts to the budget funding the government in a proper way?  The GOP is completely destroying the functionality of the American government to funnel crazy money to those who are already rich beyond imagination. Again, how are they not a fringe nutter party?

[memphis]

In a straight party line vote of 57-42 (Reid voted no for Procedural reasons) the Republicans in the Senate Blocked the 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.  Truly just beyond sickening

That's really the more sad part of the story. That things can be so easily blocked even with 57 votes in favor.

This country is screwed.

When y'all get to be in the minority in 2012 you can control the Senate too.

Don't get me wrong, I think the filibuster on paper is a neat idea that should be kept around for use when really needed. But not for every little thing. Using a Senate procedure to block help for those hurt by 9/11 is about as sleazy as you can get. (And of course, the American people are too stupid to take much notice.)

This is it. 60 vote requirement in the Senate is forever. There's no going back.