Gillibrand, Schumer: We'll Pass New 9/11 Health Bill

Smile, Jon Stewart: the fight for a 9/11 health care bill may not be over, despite Republicans having blocked it weeks ago. New York’s senators have edited their bill to provide care for first responders, and they hold that the new version will "pay for itself," Reuters reports. “We believe we are on a path to victory by the end of this week,” said Sen. Charles Schumer.

Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say the new measure would initially cost $6.2 billion, and would eventually produce a $57 million surplus over 10 years; the blocked plan cost $7.4 billion. Schumer said that the House should continue its session until the bill is passed, Politico notes. But would the White House back it? Sen. Dick Durbin’s not sure: “I can’t tell you where the White House stands,” he told Fox News yesterday. "I hope they support it." The White House assures Politico it does in fact support the bill.
(More 9/11 health bill stories.)