Under the bill, House Resolution 847, the funding would provide medical monitoring and treatment for survivors of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the crash site of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. First responders who suffered long-term health effects from being exposed to toxins at the attack sites would also be eligible.

There are 59 senators who support the bill, but under cloture rules, the legislation needs 60 aye votes to pass. And with Republicans taking over the House next year, supporters worry that the bill must pass now or never.
Enzi said in a statement Tuesday that he opposes the legislation because he and other lawmakers haven't received adequate answers to how $475 million in existing 9/11 compensation and relief-program money is being spent.
“Sen. Enzi thinks it is reasonable to find out what happened to the money that has already been allocated before spending more,” spokeswoman Elly Pickett said.
In addition, Enzi said in a statement that he'd like to see how this legislation would be affected by a recent court settlement giving $625 million to 9/11 survivors.
Enzi isn't the only Senate Republican to oppose the legislation. Newly sworn-in U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., has been the only GOP member to come out in favor of the bill. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and at least one anti-tax group have also opposed the bill, saying the taxes imposed on companies would kill American jobs.

“Sen. Enzi is asking for data that he knows doesn't exist,” she said. “Data on individual claims simply isn't available.”

pacino wrote:tonight's daily show was a pretty good assault against the craziness surrounding filibustering the 9/11 first responder's bill. he had some guys on that really explained it for people.

American Christianity has become what Hunter calls a “weak culture” — one that mobilizes but doesn’t convert, alienates rather than seduces, and looks backward toward a lost past instead of forward to a vibrant future....

[T]his month’s ubiquitous carols and crèches notwithstanding, believing Christians are no longer what they once were — an overwhelming majority in a self-consciously Christian nation. The question is whether they can become a creative and attractive minority in a different sort of culture, where they’re competing not only with rival faiths but with a host of pseudo-Christian spiritualities, and where the idea of a single religious truth seems increasingly passé.

jerseyhoya wrote:It encouraged me to go to Wikipedia and read about it for myself.

Here is Wiki breaking it down

I'm writing a paper on redistricting that's due Thursday so this is topical, and not the usual type of procrastination that has nothing to do with my work.

jerseyhoya wrote:It encouraged me to go to Wikipedia and read about it for myself.

Here is Wiki breaking it down

waltershapiroPD
Census question: When was the last time a state north of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Continental Divide gained a House seat? 1960

jerseyhoya wrote:

waltershapiroPD
Census question: When was the last time a state north of the Mason-Dixon line and east of the Continental Divide gained a House seat? 1960

The repeal of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy over the weekend was a major victory for the White House, but it is now imperiling a chief priority: the ratification of the nuclear-arms-reduction pact with Russia known as the New START Treaty. Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) had promised the White House early last week that they would deliver the votes necessary to ratify the START treaty if the administration would pull the repeal of the military's DADT policy off the lame-duck agenda, according to Democratic aides familiar with the pair's offer.

dajafi wrote:It doesn't help that the media itself persists in presenting questions like this as "a win/loss for the president."

Barry Jive wrote:

pacino wrote:tonight's daily show was a pretty good assault against the craziness surrounding filibustering the 9/11 first responder's bill. he had some guys on that really explained it for people.

I'm watching this now. I get it and I agree with them. But they start off the segment with a clip of Mitch McConnell getting choked up because his friend is retiring. Stewart says, in jest, "To be fair, he's been working with him for six years." I mean, come the #$&! on, man. You can't do this sentimental sap and then make fun of your opponent for being sentimental and sappy about something you don't even know about.

I don't post in here often because talking politics bores me pretty quickly, but this is the first time I've ever actually been mad at The Daily Show.