Vermont Senator Caves on 9-11 Medals

WINS News ^ | 4/12/02

[areafiftyone]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- It appears that Sept. 11's fallen firefighters and police officers could become the first recipients of the Presidential Medal of Valor after all.

On Thursday, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the New York Post he would not bring legislation awarding the medals to the full committee, effectively killing it.

But on Friday, an aide to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said the Leahy camp had reconsidered.

"We have been in touch Senator Leahy's office and have been assured that the door is not closed on this legislation and we remain hopeful that something can pass through," Clinton spokesman Jim Kennedy said.

Leahy's office did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

He previously had expressed concern that the legislation had not followed the proper nomination process and noted that the award was only supposed to go to five recipients every year.

Nearly 400 firefighters, New York Police Department officers and Port Authority police died in the collapse of the World Trade Center.

The Presidential Medal of Valor was created about a year ago as a way to honor public safety officers. No one has received the award yet.

Legislation bestowing the award on the trade center responders passed the House 409-0. However, Leahy said the proper procedures were not followed because Congress had made the nomination. He noted that an "independent advisory panel" of former police and firefighters is supposed to nominate and review medal candidates.

Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., who lost a firefighter cousin on Sept. 11, sponsored the legislation in the House.

He did not immediately return a call for comment on Friday, but called Leahy's previous stance "frustrating."

"This is a no-brainer," he told the Post.

[SGCOS]

Leahy is SUCH a jerk.

That is all, carry on.

[thucydides]

Isn't this the former antiwar activist from Vermont who likes to say decent and honorable men appointed for judgeships are "out of the mainstream?" And he planned to bottle up a bill passed 407 to zip in the House, that would honor heroes, until Sen. Hillary asked him to lay off? And around half our fellow citizens actually vote for democrats, of whom Leahy is a prime example?

[dts32041]

Of course you notice who presuaded him to give in, ole hillary. No colusion here. //sarcasm off

[princess leah]

And of course, sinator CLinton had NO personal motives whatsoever for trying to advance any political agenda of her own in this matter?....(extreme sarcasm!)

[jos65]

Who,pray tell is the choreographer?

This is a bit too obvious.

[wny]

I feel bad for you freepers in vermont. Here in NY, the Senators are ultra-left-wing criminals. Your's are assholes.

[Willie Green]

???
Schumer and the Hildebeast aren't @$$holes???

[twyn1]

agreed...Hillary gets booed soundly by NY police and firefighters...how better to enhance this (rightfully) tarnished image than to "rescue" their medals from death in committee...oooo something smells fishy here....wonder what she has on Leaky Leahey

[cweese]

...wonder what she has on Leaky
Leahey

...a pic of him changing his diaper?...

[foreverfree]

bump

[Recovering_Democrat]

Patrick Leahy (Socialist-Vermont) is a Clymer of the first order.
His repulsive behavior in this episode should be used by Republicans and conservatives repeatedly in political ads this year. Gingrich-ize this p***k, and the 'Hole (Tom Dash-hole), too! :)

[willgetsome]

He will get away with this. The stupid sheeple of Vermontg will re-elect this jackass again-and-again.

[jrherreid]

Leahy is a prize ass-clown.

[Wphile]

Leahy's a dick.

That's my mantra and I'm stickin' to it!

[RichInOC]

I don't care what Hillary says. Until Leahy says otherwise, I'd assume he's still against. In fact, I wouldn't trust any of the Senate Democrats on this until it actually becomes law. Bunch of petty...no, I won't say it. Even their mothers wouldn't want to sleep with most of them.

[MoscowMike]

leahy is a dangerously moronic jackass