California Congressman: How Could GOP Support Border Wall, Say 9/11 Health Bill Too Expensive?
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Democratic congressman from California invoked the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, in unleashing a tweet storm about President Donald Trump's proposed border wall.
As WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported, the seven tweets by U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) call out lawmakers by name – including former congressman Mike Pence who is now vice president.
Takano wonders, if Republicans claimed that the $8 billion health bill for 9/11 responders under the James Zadroga 9/11 Compensation Act was too expensive, how can they now back a $15 billion border wall?
So is building a stupid, ineffective border wall more important to GOP than caring for 9/11 first responders? We're about to find out. (7/7)
— Mark Takano (@RepMarkTakano) January 26, 2017
"I felt it was important to draw out the hypocrisy," Takano said.
Retired firefighter Kenny Specht, who lobbied extensively for the 9/11 bill, and did not approve of Tanaka's tactics.
"I don't support and I don't buy into tying Sept. 11 issues into other issues that are currently being debated in this country," he said.
An extension of the Zadroga Act was eventually passed.