|
Air Today . . . Gone Tomorrow Article
W. Plan to Stiff Heroes
By Sam Smith, New York Post, May 8, 2005
The Bush administration is reneging on its pledge of $175 million to fund
workers' compensation claims for uninsured Ground Zero responders, The Post has
learned.
In its proposed 2006 budget, the administration says it will take back $120
million in funds granted in 2002 that have yet to be spent.
"These particular funds were set aside for workers' compensation needs that have
not turned out to be as large as expected," said federal Office of Management
and Budget spokesman Scott Milburn. "The initial need for the funds has been
met."
But advocates say the federal decision will leave workers in the lurch as they
continue to get sick from their time at Ground Zero, and that the money may well
be needed to pay future claims.
"I'm disgusted," said Joseph Pecuro, 38, of Toms River, N.J., a Ground Zero
volunteer who filed for workers' compensation last August and is worried that
the Bush administration's proposal will leave him without benefits.
"I can't even believe they would actually do that. They should be ashamed," he
said.
Pecuro, an ironworker, says his ailments forced him to quit working two years
ago. "I can't afford to buy my groceries," he said.
Health professionals were concerned about the government's decision.
"We don't know what the long-term health effects will be," said Dr. Robin
Herbert, director of Mount Sinai hospital's World Trade Center health-monitoring
program.
So far, the New York Workers' Compensation Board has paid out roughly $52
million in benefits to 113 claimants from the federal funding. Of those, 37 are
receiving biweekly payments because of the severity of their injuries.
All those payments along with 94 claims currently being processed, another 400
filed with the state in anticipation of future health problems, and any future
complaints are jeopardized by the Bush administration's proposal.
Copyright 2005 NYP Holdings, Inc
http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/43724.htm
FAIR USE NOTICE
This article contains copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been
specifically authorized by the copyright owner. I am making such material available in my
efforts to advance understanding of democracy, economic, environmental, human rights,
political, scientific, and social justice issues, among others. I believe this constitutes
a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US
Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107,
the material in this article is distributed without profit for research and educational
purposes.
Take me back to learn more |
|
|