9/11: Republican Rand Paul blocks attempt to permanently fund victims' compensation

Republican senator Rand Paul has blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass legislation that would have permanently provided money to a compensation fund set up to help the victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, one of the two-dozen Democrats seeking the party’s presidential nomination, sought to give the green light to a bill already passed in the House of Representatives, that would have extended funding until the year 2090. That bill was passed last week, 402 – 12.

But according to reports, Mr Paul, the libertarian-minded senator from Kentucky, stepped in to block her effort.

“It has long been my feeling that we need to address our massive debt in the country,” he said, according to The Hill

“And therefore any new spending….should be offset by cutting spending that’s less valuable. We need to at the very least have this debate.”

Ms Gillibrand later responded: “I am deeply disappointed that my colleague has just objected to the desperately needed and urgent bill for our 9/11 first responders.”

Under rules governing the upper chamber of Congress, a single senator can seek approval of a bill that would normally require a full debate and vote.

At the same time, a single senator can also object to such as request and block it being given the green light.

The fund was established by Congress in the aftermath of the 2001 Al Qaeda attacks, to pay compensation to the victims and their families. It also established payments for emergency workers who were affected by labouring in perilous and sometimes deadly conditions amid toxic chemicals.

The plight of the emergency workers was recently picked up by comedian Jon Stewart, who appeared on Capitol Hill to urge politicians to find money for the fund.

He said family members wanted to know “why this is so damn hard and takes so damn long”.