Congress Shows Some Outrage at the Wtc Insurance Fund

Author: Kaplan

As I mentioned in my last post, one of the most disturbing things about the Christine LaSala/WTC Insurance Fund fiasco is the amazing lack of coverage in the mainstream media and reaction by the government. As noted, Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of the city that suffered the worst terrorist attack on American soil has taken Christine LaSala’s side by arguing that it’s necessary to use the $1 Billion that Congress granted for the WTC rescue workers to fight their claims before paying them. Fortunately for those sick and dying, not everyone in our government is on the side of Christine LaSala and the WTC Insurance Fund. Last August, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, and ranking member Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania inquired with Christine LaSala about the same questions I’ve been trying to answer in this blog. Along with New York’s senators, Chuck Schumer and Hillary Clinton, finally Congress began to take some action against the inefficiency and disingenuousness of the WTC Insurance Fund and had called out Christine LaSala by name. Part of their letter included the following

As the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, we are interested in learning how and when the 9-11 clean up volunteers and workers will receive the $1 billion in tax payer money Congress appropriated for their injuries. Because we are considering calling for a hearing on this matter during the month of September, a prompt response would be appreciated.

Politics tends to move at a slow pace, but finally that hearing has come on April 1st of this year. That is a victory for the WTC rescue workers who are still agonizingly without the money that our government promised them and that Christine LaSala is using from the WTC Insurance Fund to fight against them. Nonetheless, Christine LaSala faced with proposed hearings in front of the United States Senate has still arrogantly refused to appropriate any funds to the rescue workers that are entitled to them. During this time, of course, Christine LaSala has continued to collect her $350,000 annual salary and $20,000 worth of health benefits. Within Leahy and Specter’s letter are even more troubling figures. They write that $74 million of the $1 billion has been spent on overhead and legal costs since Congress appropriated the funds for the WTC Insurance Fund. Considering this letter was written last fall, this number is probably now approaching $100 million or 10% of what was earmarked for the WTC Insurance Fund to be doled out to the WTC rescue workers. It’s maddening to think that it has taken two US Senators to bring Christine LaSala’s mismanagement to the attention of the American people. The mainstream media, including the New York papers, outside of a few examples have completely ignored this story leaving Americans unaware of what Christine LaSala is doing with their tax dollars and not doing for their fellow citizens. Even Mayor Bloomberg, who was elected by the people most affected by 9/11, hasn’t been advocating an inquiry into Christine LaSala’s management of the WTC Insurance Fund. He has chosen to argue that Congress intended the money to be used to verify the validity of the claims rather than as a victim’s compensation fund. Well, judging by the letters from two noted Congressman as well as the April 1 hearing, it’s safe to say that he’s mistaken.

About the Author:
Irv Kaplan provides information about WTC rescue workers and captive insurance fund .To know more how you can help the rescue workers visit www.wtccaptivefund.com

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