The Republicans have set themselves up to look cruel and heartless, while they are actually behind providing special health care benefits to first responders to cover the bad effects of inhaling particles and of being on the site. Each one who I've seen asked the specific question about what they want responds to say that they want to do the compassionate thing for those "heroes".
Yet they sound like they are on the opposite side. They are so intent on doing the process rightly and with the proper economics that they only talk as if they are trying to block the bill, period.
But I note that they are only asking for the opportunity to ask questions and to go through the normal process involved in creating something that works and is cost efficient. Apparently those who have studied it are struck with its inefficiency in providing the benefits. And they are also pointing out that the Democrats are violating their own "pay as you go" policy, as the Dems have not reduced expenses elsewhere but only raised taxes in what they refer to as "closing a tax loophole" (not actually correct, as it passes additional costs on to Americans ultimately, so it is the equivalent of an extra tax and not a spending reduction).
The Republicans are objecting to the tendency of trying to jam through legislation without everybody understanding it, just so the Dems can "get it done." The most prominent example of this was in Nancy Pelosi urging to just pass the big health care bill without reading, one of her most famous statements: “... we have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it."
The Democrats have passed some historic and beneficial bills, but they seems to have gotten so used to ramrodding it that they might have lost the "centering" and proper considering that is required to do a good job (as did the Republicans when they had power).
But now it is time to go back to proper process - and to see that neither party is an ogre, but are just people with a different way of doing things, but with good motivation to do the right thing.
I vote for what is the "proper" "thinking" way. And I urge the Republicans to make it known that they care also.
The Rational Problem Solver
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