Credit: Anthony Shoemaker
Credit: Anthony Shoemaker
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio committed to supporting a bill that extends health care benefits for 9/11 first responders but only after an alternately testy and respectful exchange between Portman and comedian and former Daily Show host Jon Stewart on Thursday.
Stewart and several firefighters tracked down Portman in a U.S. Capitol hallway and made their case to get Portman to agree to add his name to the bill. The exchange was captured on video. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/jon-stewart-911-bill_5660d6a9e4b079b2818e079b
Stewart scolded politicians who say "Never forget" but fail to support the bill that would make permanent health care benefits for the 9/11 first responders. "This is forgetting them. It is a stark hypocrisy that needs to be addressed," Stewart told Portman.
Later that day, Portman agreed to support the bill and had received commitments that efforts would be made to find funding for it, Portman's spokeswoman said.
Credit: Laura Bischoff
Credit: Laura Bischoff
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