House Passes 9/11 Health Care Bill

On wednesday, the White House approved legislation to provide billions of dollars for medical treatment to rescue workers and residents of New York City. This is for people who suffered from illnesses from breathing in toxic fumes, dust and smoke at ground zero. The one concern of this bill was from the 157 Republicans and three democrats who raised concerns about the $7.4 billion cost of the program. This bill is going to provide $3.2 billion over the next eight years to monitor and treat injuries stemming from exposure to toxic dust and debris at ground zero. Of these expenses, New York City would be paying 10 percent of those health costs. There are nearly 60,000 people enrolled in a variety of health monitoring and treatment related to the 9/11 attacks, according to the sponsors of the bill. The federal government is the one providing most of this money for these health programs. Yes, this bill has been having a lot of discrepancies between parties; but should there be any questions at all? These 9/11 victims did not harm them selves are selectively put themselves in harms way, nor did anyone of them do anything to cause this. This is a major public issue and has been since 9/11. I believe that the government are the ones who should be responsible for these survivors well being, how could they turn there heads on there own no matter money, no matter what party. These 9/11 survivors deserve every bill in there favor and everything they can get to help them with matters regarding to the 9/11 tragedy.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/29/911-health-care-bill-passes/?hp

House G.O.P. Leader Signals He’s Open to Obama Tax Cut

House minority leader John Boehner said he would reluctantly vote in favor of letting the Bush era tax cuts for those who make over $250,000 expire as long as tax cuts for the middle and lower classes stay in place. Though Boehner is willing to cast his vote in favor of Obama’s Tax cut he has vowed to fight to renew the Bush tax cuts for everyone. It seems that the Republicans are not the only ones Nancy Pelosi and President Obama must convince to vote in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy, many Democrats are siding with republicans in opposition to the new bill. Some Democrats, agree with Boehner, who thinks it’s a mistake to raise taxes on anyone considering the economic state of the nation.

Boehner’s view that it is better for the good of the economy to keep taxes low during an economic downturn ties in with the idea of classical liberalisms. According to Birklin classical liberalism emphasizes liberties and private property ownership “as a means by which to improve overall wealth and happiness” (Birklin 19). http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/13/us/politics/13cong.html?_r=1&hp

Kate White

Obama is Against a Compromise on Bush Tax Cuts

President Obama has made it clear that he opposes any compromise that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy beyond this year. In this situation Obama is using his hand in politics to say who gets what, when they get it, and how they get it. Mr. Obama's opposition to ending these tax cuts open up the door for even more attacks from the Republicans. It has been put to question whether or not Obama still holds enough popularity to prevail through this economic recovery and divisions within his party. However, Obama is hoping to present this issue as a choice between supporting the middle class or breaks to the wealthy. Obama's main goal is to help the economy get better by time election day rolls around. He is doing this by putting his agenda together and finding a window of opportunity to increase his popularity.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/us/politics/08obama.html?_r=1&th&emc=th