John Stewart blasts Rand Paul blocking 9/11 victim funding bill an ‘abomination’ in interview

John Stewart has blasted Senator Rand Paul’s decision to slow down a bill that would guarantee funding for 9/11 first responders as ‘an abomination.’

The former Daily Show host shamed the Kentucky Republican during an interview with Fox News, branding Paul’s decision ‘absolutely outrageous.’

Paul, along with Senator Mike Lee of Utah, objected to fast-tracking the bipartisan bill today that would ensure money would ‘never run out’ for emergency service personnel who risked their lives during the September 11th terrorist attacks.

They objected to New York Senator Karen Gillibrand’s request to pass the bill by unanimous consent.

Jon Stewart (left) and 9/11 first responder John Feal (right) critiqued Senator Paul Rand’s decision to slow down the bill to guarantee them funding until 2092  

Senator Rand Paul (above) objected to the fast-tracking of the 9/11 victim compensation fund

Senator Mike Lee (above) supported Senator Rand Paul objected to the fast-tracking of the 9/11 victim compensation fund

Senator Rand Paul (left) objected to the fast-tracking of the 9/11 victim compensation fund along with Senator Mike Lee (right) 

Stewart has been a massive advocate and campaigner for first responders who were affected by 9/11, many of whom went onto to receive cancer and other serious health problems 

Questioning the bills 70-year time-frame, which would take funding up to 2092, Paul stated that new spending should be offset by corresponding cuts.

Paul went onto add that the government currently faces $22 trillion’s worth of debt, a figure that grows every year. 

The comment elicited anger from Stewart, who accused Paul of trying to ‘balance the budget on the backs of the 9/11 first responder community.’

The victim compensation fund was created after the 2001 terror attacks and currently the program’s $7.4 billion is rapidly diminishing. 

First responders have already been hit heavily by the depleting funds, with administrators cutting benefit payments by up to 70 per cent. 

‘Pardon me if I’m not impressed in any way by Rand Paul’s fiscal responsibility virtue signaling,’ Stewart said. 

The TV presenter went onto critique Paul for supporting Trump and his trillion dollar tax cuts that he claimed added ‘hundreds of billions of dollars in debt’ to the U.S. deficit. 

‘And now he’s going to tell us that a billion dollars a year over 10 years, is just too much for us to handle?’ Stewart said. 

‘You know, there are some things that they have no trouble putting on the credit card, but somehow when it comes to the 9/11 first responder community—the cops, the firefighters, the construction workers, the volunteers, the survivors—all of a sudden we’ve got to go through this.’

Sat next to Stewart in the interview was John Feal, a 9/11 first responder and activist. Feal said that Paul and Lee were ‘bottom-feeders’ who ‘lack humanity’ and ‘lack leadership.’

Stewart (left) and 9/11 first responder Feal (right) have spoken out together against the decision of Senators Paul and Lee

Stewart (left) and 9/11 first responder Feal (right) have spoken out together against the decision of Senators Paul and Lee

Stewart argued that survivors, including Feal, shouldn’t have to ‘drag themselves back to Washington, put their hats in their hands and beg for something that this country should have done 14 years ago.’

Senator Karen Gillibrand (above) has fought back against the objection and said that families are sick of the 'political games'

Senator Karen Gillibrand (above) has fought back against the objection and said that families are sick of the ‘political games’

‘At some point, we have to stand up for the people who have always stood up for us, and at this moment in time maybe cannot stand up for themselves due to their illnesses and their injuries,’ Stewart added. ‘And what Rand Paul did today on the floor of the Senate was outrageous.’

The anticipated bill is expected to cost $10.2 billion over 10 years, including $4 billion in claims that have already been filed.

Senator Gillibrand said families were fed-up with ‘political games,’ relating to the bill being slowed down after easily passing in the House last week. 

Gillibrand went onto add that on the day of the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center in 2001, ‘there was one group of men and women – our heroes, the bravest among us – who ran the opposite way.’

‘They ran toward danger. They raced up towers. They went into harm’s way to answer the call of duty,’ she said.

Stewart made an impassioned speech before a House Judiciary Committee hearing (above) explaining the dire need of many of the responders, victims and their families

Stewart made an impassioned speech before a House Judiciary Committee hearing (above) explaining the dire need of many of the responders, victims and their families

Retired Fire Department Lieutenant and 9/11 responder Michael O'Connelll (left), John Feal, center right, and Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart, speak to Retired New York Police Department detective and 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Capitol Hill

Retired Fire Department Lieutenant and 9/11 responder Michael O’Connelll (left), John Feal, center right, and Former Daily Show Host Jon Stewart, speak to Retired New York Police Department detective and 9/11 responder Luis Alvarez during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on reauthorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund on Capitol Hill

In the months after the attacks, first responders cleaning up the aftermath breathed in toxic air, amid smoke, burning metal, crushed glass, electronics and other hazards.

The incident has led to numerous cancer, respiratory and other diagnoses that prevent many from being able to work.

‘These heroes have since had to quit doing the jobs they love, providing for the families they love because they’re too sick,’ Gillibrand added. 

‘They’ve had to give up their income. They’ve had to give up their dreams and their future. They’ve had to face the terrifying reality that they are actually going to die because of what they did on 9/11 and the months thereafter.’ 

Gillibrand and Senator Chuck Schumer have urged Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to bring the bill before the senate as early as Thursday. 

McConnell has agreed to call the vote before congress goes on August recess. 

Schumer said: ‘The minute this bill hits the floor, it will pass.’ 

Retired New York City firefighter who worked at Ground Zero after 9/11 dies of cancer related to the terror attacks 

A New York City firefighter who was part of the rescue and recovery effort in the days following the September 11th 2001 terror attacks has died from a 9/11-related illness. 

Firefighter Kevin Nolan, 58, is the 199th member of the FDNY to die from a Ground Zero-related sickness.

Nolan, 58, was part of the rescue and recovery efforts that helped with the cleanup of the site.

Firefighter Kevin Nolan, 58, passed away this week from a 9/11-related cancer

Firefighter Kevin Nolan, 58, passed away this week from a 9/11-related cancer

‘It is with Regret we announce the WTC Related Death of Retired Firefighter Kevin J. Nolan Engine Company 79. #343andcounting.’ the FDNY posted on Twitter.  

Nolan began his career at Engine 39 on the Upper East Side in 1989 before moving to the Bronx to Engine Company 79, retiring in 2007 according to the Daily News.

‘Our condolences go out to his family for the loss of this member,’ said Gerard Fitzgerald, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association. ‘He is another lost victim of 911 and he will be missed.’ 

Nolan lived in Rye, about 15 miles north of the city. He is survived by three adult children and his wife.

The firefighters' union announced the death of one of their own on Twitter along with information about the funeral arrangements

The firefighters’ union announced the death of one of their own on Twitter along with information about the funeral arrangements

‘Kevin is the 199th member of the FDNY to die of World Trade Center related illness,’ said Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro. ‘So many years later, we continue to lose those who displayed such incredible bravery on that terrible day, and in the weeks that followed.’ 

Just as word of Nolan’s death got out, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) blocked a bill to expand relief for ailing 9/11 responders and their families, saying it was too costly.  

Paul cited the nation’s ‘massive debt’ as the reason why and claimed any new spending should be offset by other cuts. 

Senate democrats slammed the move as ‘political game playing.’

Fitzgerald said the blocking of the passage of the bill was infuriating.

‘We let their offices know that we have a wake on Friday and a funeral on Saturday. Others of our members are in hospice care, and still others in a terminal stage of cancer. We deal with this all the time. They are playing politics and playing games. It’s a lot of silliness,’ the UFA leader said.

 

 

 

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