9/11 Health Bill in Doubt

What’s more appalling here—the lengths to which Republicans will carry their anti-immigration agenda or the Democrats’ fecklessness in taking it on? House leaders are considering canceling a vote on Wednesday on a bill that would provide health-care treatment to workers who were exposed to toxic dust in New York City on September 11. The reason? The GOP is trying to saddle the bill with an amendment that would bar illegal immigrants who worked near the World Trade Center from receiving coverage. Moderate Democrats are apparently afraid to vote on a measure granting benefits to illegal immigrants so close to the midterm elections and House leaders may protect them from having to make a vote. Aside from the immigration issue, many Republicans object to the bill’s $7.4 billion price tag.