A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post entitled: How
“Never Forget the Heroes of 9/11” turned into “Who?” In it I chronicled how
Congress failed to permanently extend the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and
Compensation Act which were brought up as H.R.1786 and S.928.
It is amazing to me how so many of those, who have chosen to
not sponsor either bill, were all too eager to wrap themselves up in the flag on
September 11th and remind all of their social media followers to #NeverForget This
included my local representative, Congressman Rodney Davis (IL. – 13).
Not to let things rest, I decided to contact him directly
and ask why he hadn’t co-sponsored the House Bill. I anticipated a positive
response, seeing as I know him personally, so you can imagine my surprise when
I received the reply letter from his office. To be fair, I know that he didn’t
write this letter, as I saw him in town, zipping by me on the road. That being
said, his name is on the document so it lands in his lap.
The letter opens with him thanking me for taking the time to
contact him about the bill. So far so good, but then it begins to go south. The
next paragraph stars off with “As you may know” and goes on to tell me about
the matter in question. Of course I know
about the topic, remember I contacted you about it. I don’t make it a habit of
writing to people about things I don’t have a clue on.
Then we make a left turn and completely change the subject.
The third paragraph has nothing to do about the Zadroga Bill, but he wants me
to know how he stands with 1st responders. He proceeds to tell me how last year
he introduced legislation that would “enable veterans with medical training to
more easily pursue careers as EMT’s.”
HUH? How the heck does this have anything even remotely to do
with what I wrote you?
I asked one simple question: Why haven’t you co-sponsored H.R.
1786, a bill that would provide much needed funding for health problems 9/11 1st
responders are dealing with, and I get a reply that talks about an employment
program? Are you for real? Who the hell do you have working for you in D.C.?
You see, this is exactly why nothing ever gets done in
Washington, D.C., because politicians never answer simple questions. Ask them
the price of milk, they tell you how they support cattle farmers in Minnesota.
Then they wonder why the latest polling puts them in the low teens when it
comes to approval. Americans are sick
and tired of the weasel responses, and overall lip service, they get from their
elected representatives.
But the best line is the one in paragraph four in which he ‘assures’
me that he will keep my views in mind should the bill come to the full House
for a vote? Really? You won’t co-sponsor it to improve its chances of reaching
the floor, but you’re going to keep my views in mind should it. This from the
man that sponsored H.R. 3745: Keep Your Chiropractor Act.
Wow, we have
thousands of 9/11 1st responders dying because they had the audacity to respond
to the worst act of terror ever committed on U.S. soil, but, if the cancer
doesn’t kill you, you can continue seeing your chiropractor. SMH
Paragraph five also gets an honorable mention for insanity
when it says “if you are facing a challenge with a federal agency…” What like challenges
in dealing with my congressional representative?
Here’s a news flash, you’re going to be campaigning to get
re-elected soon and I can personally ‘assure’ you that I will sure as hell keep this in
mind when casting my vote.
Update: On October 26th, Congressman Davis finally signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill. I guess you can get something done in D.C. with a little pressure !!
Update: On October 26th, Congressman Davis finally signed on as a co-sponsor of the bill. I guess you can get something done in D.C. with a little pressure !!
