First Responders Try, Fail to Meet with Coburn About 9/11 Health Bill

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn

Updated: 2:10PM ET

A group of approximately 50 9/11 first responders was turned away from Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn's office on Tuesday night, the liberal blog ThinkProgress reports, after making a last-ditch effort to personally lobby the senator on behalf of a health care bill for 9/11 first responders.

The group, led by first responder John Feal, traveled to Coburn's office from New York and waited outside of his office for approximately 20 minutes before being denied a meeting and asked to leave, according to ThinkProgress .

A video shows the responders waiting quietly and holding up signs outside of Coburn's office. On the way out, after having been asked to leave, the group breaks into a chorus of "God Bless America" while exiting the Russell Senate office building.

Coburn this week said he would block the bill, entitled the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would provide health care benefits for Americans who became ill as a result of their work on the scene of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City.

Coburn has argued that the bill was "forced through Congress at the end of the year on a basis to solve a problem that we didn't have time to solve and we didn't get done." He also argued that the bill unnecessarily created a large entitlement fund and would increase taxes.

.However, a spokesperson for Coburn said Tuesday night that the senator was still working to reach a deal with his colleagues on the bill. A source close to the negotiations tells CBS News today that Democrats and Republicans have brokered a deal to pass the bill.

Feal, head of the responders, told Think Progress that the group's dismissal from Coburn's office last night was "hard to swallow" and that he believed Coburn, as a physician, had a particular obligation to hear the complaints of the sick.

"Mr. Coburn should be ashamed of himself," Feal said. "Because I think before he was a senator he was a doctor and he took an oath to help people that are sick. He's going against his oath as a doctor. He can vote any way he wants as a senator, but as a doctor, he just embarrassed the medical profession."

A number of GOP senators have come under fire recently for their failure to support the legislation, and a rising number of other conservative politicians - including former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee - have added their voices to the chorus of criticism.

The Senate is expected to vote on cloture of the bill later this afternoon.

Watch video of the incident below:

Update: In a statement acquired by CBS News, Coburn announced on Wednesday that he will now support the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, thanks to an agreement that will reduce the bill's costs, permanently close the Victims Compensation Fund, and increase accountability and opportunity for oversight in the administration of the benefits.

"I'm pleased the sponsors of this bill agreed to lower costs dramatically, offset the bill, sunset key provisions and take steps to prevent fraud. Every American recognizes the heroism of the 9/11 first responders, but it is not compassionate to help one group while robbing future generations of opportunity. I'm pleased this agreement strikes a fair balance and improves the bill the majority attempted to rush through at the last minute," Coburn said, in the statement. 

Coburn's communications director, John Hart, told CBS News that the senator was unable to send a representative to speak with the first responders on Tuesday because the office was working on negotiating the above deal.

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Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[cowhide--2008]

This is Coburn's ongoing tactic. he has had holds put on over 100 bills since he came to washington. He then holds it hostage demanding his way. He won again.

[ACRScout]

The initial proposal for this bill was $8 billion to aid 17000 first reponders. That comes to roughly on half million dollars per responder. This is no top of all the payouts that happened immediately following 9/11 and all of the private insurance payments that went on to the first responders. I fully support these heros but as a soldier, I find it hard to justify all of these millions of dollars for their few days of service when my fellow soldiers are serving YEARS in the field fighting the same enemy that struck us on 9/11 for a mere 1,000.00-$2,000.00 per month. I have to question EXACTLY where this latest payment will be going? To the first responders??? Or to trial lawyers who are going to fight to get future payments for them?

[liberalme]

Ahhh here is yet, another "little man" in the GOP with a big mouth, big ego and no guts to hear these people out.
Guess they didn't come with enough money to test how much he'll prostitute himself for.

This is going to be an interesting 2 years.

[oldchief801]

Coburn indicated the bill was forced through at the last minute. Come on Tom, a little more honesty here. I know it is hard as a senator but please try. This bill was introduced on July 24, 2009. Tom, that was 18 months ago.

[crazyname]

First responders were union employees, you can't take a dump in NY if you are not part of a union. this is another bailout of union coffers and a taxpayer drain. The government is not responsible for giving money for these peoples healthcare. They should allready have it from their employers or from the state of NY and the city of NY. The government is not your mammy!

[cowhide--2008]

Really? You make a reply to an article with this amount of ignorance? These people are cut from their union, denied health benefits because their cancer treatments cost the unions and the state and city of new york (no caps on purpose ) The unions have bailed themselves out by shutting the door on these people. Read the facts before making a fool of yourself?. oops to late