Jon Stewart Urges Senate To Quickly Pass 9/11 Healthcare Bill

By Kyle LaFleur

Daily Show host Jon Stewart welcomed four September 11th first responders to his show Thursday night to highlight a healthcare bill that he claimed has gone unnoticed and uncovered by the Senate and main stream media.

The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act would provide medical coverage to those who were the first to aid people at Ground Zero and have suffered health problems related to breathing in toxic fumes. The bill was passed by the House, but has languished in the Senate due partly to the Republican efforts to filibuster any votes that preceeded a vote on President Obama’s tax cut package, which finally passed yesterday.

“Apparently the party that turned 9/11 into a catch phrase is moving suspiciously into a conveniently pre-9/11 mentality when it comes to this bill,” Stewart lamented. 

Stewart also blasted cable and network news outlets for not covering the bill.

“None of the three broadcast networks have mentioned any of this on the evening newscasts for two and a half months.

“Although to be fair, it is not everyday that Beatles songs come to iTunes,” he joked.

Stewart sat down with four first responders who all slammed Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and John Kyl (R-Ariz.) for not coming to their aid.

“We didn’t turn our back on anybody,” said John Devlin, a heavy equipment operating engineer who is suffering from stage four cancer.

“For us to be here now, nine years later still fighting for our health and for our compensation…this isn’t a me-me for any of us. This is about the brothers and sisters that can’t come down here and speak like we can.”

“It just goes to show the disconnect between those we elect to represent us, and those who get out there and do the work,” added New York City Firefighter Kenny Speck.