The Obama administration will not support funding a 9/11 health bill intended to pay for medical treatment for those who have become sick in the aftermath of the attack. The news apparently came as a surprise to New York Democrats, who learned Thursday that the President won't back the bill, which would dole out $11 billion over 30 years to care for the people who have gotten ill after working at Ground Zero, and compensate families for their losses, the Daily News reports.
"I was stunned — and very disappointed," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. According to Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel, it was made clear "that the administration does not support any kind of funding mechanism that goes into the bill." He added: "I think it's fiscal restraint ... but you know what? They find money for everything else, they need to find money for this." Legislators said they would ask the President to consider adding the 9/11 bill to the list of mandatory items rather than the list of discretionary items, which are subject to the White House's planned budget freeze, according to the tabloid.
