Unions Hoping to Rekindle Mayor's 'Zadroga' Support; Cited Lack of Oversight

While the television pundits and financial bloggers last week were busy wondering why the two parties in the U.S. House of Representatives initially balked at passing a bill propping up ailing Wall Street firms, another massive aid bill that was less controversial failed to move, leaving labor leaders and 9/11 health advocates going back to the drawing board.

CAROLYN B. MALONEY: Will try again in '09.

The House postponed a vote on and subsequently shelved the James Zadroga Act, which would have secured Federal funding for workers and residents suffering from injuries and illness as a result of being at or near Ground Zero after 9/11.

Mayor Feared Added Costs

Mayor Bloomberg had initially supported the measure — sponsored by U.S. Reps. Carolyn Maloney, Vito Fossella and Jerrold Nadler — and testified in its favor before a House committee but pulled his support because the city was not given oversight over the payments to 9/11 health programs. The city's share of the cost was supposed to be $500 million, but Mr. Bloomberg said Sept. 29 that the lack of controls could have raised its tab by $350 million.

LEE CLARKE: Bailout bill made timing bad.

Congresswoman Maloney vowed to reintroduce the bill when the new Congress convenes next year.

According to District Council 37 Health and Safety Director Lee Clarke, the bill always had language requiring the city to pay a portion the costs; what changed was how much.

"It originally called for the city to carry 15 percent of the health-care costs," she said. "That was about $660 million over a 10-year period. Much of that cost would have been offset by Workers' Compensation claims. Over the weekend that 15 percent was reduced to 10 percent. It wasn't new. It didn't come out at the 11th hour. There was always a cost there."

Lost in Bailout Shuffle?

While she noted that DC 37 was disappointed with the Mayor's position, she did not place the blame squarely on his withdrawal of support.

"I think that was only one factor," Ms. Clarke said. "What really had it was all the dynamics of all the bailout legislation. There was a lot going on in D.C. It was probably bad timing but it was time to get the bill done."

While the Zadroga Act will be reintroduced next year, it now lacks the support it once enjoyed from Mayor Bloomberg. But Ms. Clarke did not see this as a pressing problem, considering that the unions and the bill's Congressional supporters have until January to persuade the Mayor to renew his support.

"It gives everybody ample time to sit down again and see what can be tweaked in the bill," she said.

The Mayor's turnabout on the Zadroga Act came soon after he ordered city agencies to slash their budgets to prepare for the impending tax revenue reductions caused by the current credit crisis on Wall Street.

'3621': Should Have Dug Deeper

Tom Eppinger, who as president of Local 3621 of DC 37 represents Emergency Medical Service officers, was frustrated with the city's position, even while acknowledging that it would be facing a tough fiscal period. Despite his local's opposition to one aspect of the bill that would consign FDNY members to an employer-based medical monitoring and treatment program, he believed the Zadroga Act needed to be passed.

"As a taxpayer and a responder — I spent a lot of hours down there — I do not understand how this city, which has seen fiscal crisis before, cannot tighten its belt to find $667 per year per responder," Mr. Eppinger said during a City Council hearing on 9/11 health care last week. "When I do the math, that's what it comes down to."