Michael10

The Trump administration has been quietly pulling money out of a fund for New York City firefighters and medics suffering from 9/11 related illnesses, with nearly $4 million channeled to the federal government, an investigation by Michael McAuliff of The New York Daily News found.

Though paperwork showed the full amount of cash had been sent to the fund by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the Treasury Department started quietly withholding between half a million to nearly 1.5 million dollars for several years, according to the report.

“This was just disappearing,” FDNY World Trade Center Health Program Director Dr. David Prezant told The News. “This is the most amazing thing. This was disappearing — without any notification.”

Treasury Department spokeswoman Rebecca Miller confirmed to The News Friday that funds had been redirected to pay down some of the city’s Medicare debt, but stressed that a “complicated” collection system had obscured the money’s origin.

“It’s wrong, it shouldn’t happen this way, and we are doing everything that we can, working with the city to try and fix this really unfortunate situation,” Miller said.

Prezant said that despite his own incessant inquiries, he had not previously seen an explanation for why the fund meant to help 9/11 emergency responders was no longer receiving the money promised by Congress in the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. (Zadroga was a New York City police officer who died in 2006 of a respiratory disease stemming from being part of the rescue and recovery efforts after the World Trade Center’s Twin Towers collapsed on 9/11.)

Only after Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) intervened and asked Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin about the matter was Prezant provided what he views as an unsatisfying answer. The feds were squabbling over Medicare bills with a different agency in New York City; for some reason, they decided to go after 9/11 emergency responders’ funds.

It’s a surprising choice, especially given the high profile struggle of 9/11 responders to get the health bill passed in the first place. Congressional Republicans repeatedly v**ed down the legislation in 2010. A renewed push in 2015 succeeded at the last minute ― but only after sick and dying 9/11 responders made dozens of emotional lobbying trips to Congress and former “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart amplified the cause.

A firefighter bows in grief after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. (Photo: Mario Tama via Getty Images)
A firefighter bows in grief after the World Trade Center buildings collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001. (Photo: Mario Tama via Getty Images)
Reaction to the Daily News story was swift and furious on Friday, as politicians acknowledged the 19th anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil and reiterated the vow to ”never forget.”

Uniformed Fire Officers Association President Jake Lemonda called the rerouting of the funds “despicable” and “inexcusable.”

“I AM FUCKING PISSED!” tweeted Fred Guttenberg, known nationally as the father of Jamie Gutenberg, murdered in the 2018 mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Guttenberg’s brother died in 2017 of cancer linked to his role as a first responder on 9/11.

In subsequent tweets, Guttenberg urged Vice President Mike Pence to “stay home today” instead of attending a ceremony at “ground zero,” the World Trade Center site.

“How dare you withhold” the funds, he tweeted at Pence. “What would cause you to withhold money from our American heroes who need this money NOW!!! I truly believe you & your boss h**e America. Everything you do leads to more dead Americans & or punishing our heroes. GET THIS MONEY TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.”

Michael Barasch, whose law firm represents thousands of 9/11 survivors and first responders, told MSNBC on Friday that more people have now died of 9/11-related illnesses than the almost 3,000 who perished that day.

“It’s because of the toxic dust,” he said. “They were all exposed to these carcinogens, and now with the c****av***s, the 9/11 community in particular is so vulnerable, because if you’ve had (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or asthma, which are two of the most common of the respiratory illnesses, or if you’ve been decimated by cancer and had to have chemotherapy, your i****e s****m is shot.

He added, “Not a day goes by without one of my clients dying. It’s so heartbreaking.”

fullspinzoo

F**e news with no link ~ par for the course for this nimrod.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Michael10

I've learned you numnuts don't read the links anyway so why bother. If you want to read the t***h, cut and paste the title into your favorite browser and you can read the article yourself there, there's many different news medias reporting this. If you don't want the t***h then wallow in your ignorance and and keep posting f**e news to anything you feel doesn't fit your beliefs.

fullspinzoo

I don't read you s**t anyway. Bieggest blowhard on OPP yet. BTW, "peace acords" makes this race OVER, son!!!!

Michael10

I would hope you didn't "read my s**t", that would be very strange even for a Trump Chump. By the way what is a bieggest?

fullspinzoo

It's a typo you fuggin MORE ON!!!!!

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Go whine to your momma.

fullspinzoo

Whre do these nimrods come from?? But spot on, byron!!!!!!

Michael10

Can't Mom's been dead for over 5 years now.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

If that's true, my apologies.

Go whine in the mirror, we've seen enough of it.

Michael10

Real nice apology, If that's true? why in heavens name would someone post that if it weren't true.
So now I guess I'll go whine to a mirror, no maybe I'll just go hook up the boat and go fishing enough aggravation for the afternoon.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

It's more fun to go catching. What are you fishing for?

Michael10

I'm a Smallmouth bass nut but a largemouth bass will hit my buzz bait too.

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Bass taste better than trout too.