Metro

Blame Dems for deaths: King

WASHINGTON — Rep. Peter King yesterday accused House Democrats of “sabotaging” a 9/11 health bill, and said the deaths of heroic police and firefighters are “on their hands.”

“Rather than face a tough vote, they’re willing to let cops and firefighters die,” King (R-LI) said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The fact is, cops and firefighters are dying, and it is on their [Democrats’] hands.”

The $7.4 billion bill, which would give health benefits to 9/11 first responders, was defeated last Friday in a 255-159 vote, after Democrats raised the threshold to pass it from the usual majority 218 votes to 290, or a two-thirds majority, to avoid the addition of amendments.

“I’m saying to Anthony Weiner and the Democrats, unless you want to have cops and firefighters die, bring this bill back up in September and require a simple majority,” King said.

Weiner (D-Brooklyn and Queens) went on a tirade on the House floor after the vote, blaming King for the defeat because he delivered just 12 GOP votes.

“While Anthony was helping this bill through two committees and was part of the team that lined up the support of 98 percent of the Democrats, Rep. King failed miserably in his one job — getting Republicans to support the bill,” Weiner spokesman Dave Arnold said. “If he spent less time whining about procedure and more time fighting for the bill, it would have passed.”