In Spite of Republican Opposition: 9/11 Victims Get Support

It's taken nearly a decade, but Congress has finally decided to act as it pertains to the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Many workers who'd been exposed to the dust and debris of the fallen World Trade Center had become ill from the toxic fumes, and Congress did almost nothing to help them.

Most remarkable about the situation was that Republicans have been the key opponents to helping the victims, in spite of the fact that they pride themselves on being exceedingly patriotic. Republicans were first in line to finance the trillion dollar wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and also quick to support tax cuts for the wealthy, which will cost over a trillion dollars before they expire. All the while, Republicans argued that the original 9/11 responders bill of $7.4 billion was too expensive. After extensive compromise with Republicans, the cost of the bill was dropped to $4.3 billion.

Passage of the bill took a great deal of lobbying from New York representatives over the years. It calls for $1.8 billion dollars to treat injuries from toxic dust exposure at ground zero. Currently, there are 60,000 people enrolled in 9/11 treatment programs. In addition, there will be a $2.5 billion dollar compensation fund set aside for 9/11 victims and their families.

Republicans had worked to derail the original bill passed by Congress, eventually caving in to public criticism over their efforts to block the bill. This public relations disaster, in conjunction with their recent branding as the party of the rich, has led to some Republican backpedaling as they try to explain their position.

"Every American recognizes the heroism of the 9/11 first responders," said Republican Senator Tom Coburn. "But it is not compassionate to help one group while robbing future generations of opportunity."

It seems that Senator Coburn and his fellow Republicans are only concerned about robbing future Americans when the beneficiaries of the "robbery" happen to be working class people. It's one thing to argue that the bill costs too much in an absolute sense. It's another to reject the bill over cost concerns and then offer trillions of dollars in free money to people who don't need it.

The Democratic Party has problems of its own, but the Republicans are quick to draw clear lines in the sand. The party represents the wealthy, big business, those who profit from war and those who benefit from racial inequality. Why people outside this group support the Republican Party is clearly beyond me.

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here.