Republican Congressman Says 9/11 Health Care Bill Will Fall Short In House Vote

Republican Congressman Peter King says he expects a bill that would provide health care coverage for thousands of September 11th first responders will fall short in a vote in the House of Representatives.

The House is expected this afternoon to take up the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Democratic leaders have chosen to consider the bill under a procedure that requires a two-thirds vote rather than a simple majority, as a way of preventing Republicans from attaching amendments to the measure.

King says Democrats are worried about casting votes on controversial amendments to the bill.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg calls the move "an outrage.”

"The people who worked down at 9/11, whose health has fallen apart because they did what American wanted them to do, this is an American problem,” said the mayor. “And Congress should stand up. And I know it’s a tough vote for some people. Hey, I get tough votes every day. I get tough votes with you every day, where you want to know where I stand. I don’t have a lot of sympathy. They should bring this up and vote up or down on any amendments and vote up or down on the bill and go on the record."

The bill is named after a New York City Police Department detective whose death was attributed to a respiratory disease he contracted at the World Trade Center site.

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