Why Are Senate Republicans Against The 9/11 Responders Bill?

Why are Republicans against the 9/11 Responders Bill? Senate Republicans have opposed the bill, also called the Zadroga Bill, first over concerns that it would take precedence over a plan to extend the Bush Tax Cuts. You know the "precious" tax cuts for the wealthy portion of that bill. And now they claim to have problems with the bill because, surprise, the cost of the bill.

The bill cost roughly $7.4 billion, but remember the Senate Republicans had no problem last week voting to add another $678 billion to the deficit for extending tax cuts to the wealthy which were unpaid for. So now with a straight face the exact same Senate Republicans are telling us they do not support the 9/11 Responders Bill because it cost slightly more than 10% of what it just cost to extend tax cuts to the wealthy?

The 9/11 Responders Bill would cover the medical bills of 9/11 emergency workers who have suffered from health complications following the inhalation of toxic chemicals at Ground Zero. You remember the 9/11 tragedy that Republicans have frequently invoked during campaigns the last decade since?

So why are the Republicans opposing common sense legislation? Answer: Because the Senate Democrats plan to pay for the 9/11 Responders Bill by closing current loopholes in place that provide tax advantages for American companies that ship American jobs overseas.

Oklahoma Republican Senator, Tom Coburn, has pledged to block this bill but support for the bill had apparently been growing before Coburn's announcement. Two of the bill's co-sponsors, Senators Schumer and Gillenbrand, claimed to finally have had the votes to pass the bill on Monday.

Here is former New York City Mayor, Republican Rudy Giuliani, take on the 9/11 Responders Bill.

Watch.