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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJon Stewart Shames Congress Into Action
http://www.dailynewsbin.com/news/jon-stewart-wins-congress-agrees-to-pass-911-first-responder-bill/23264/It appears Jon Stewart no longer needs his own television show to continue making a substantive political impact on the nation. Since retiring, the former host of The Daily Show has made it his mission to force the republican majority in congress to pass a long-delayed measure which would provide health care to 9/11 first responders, many of whom are sick and dying. And this week the republican leadership finally caved, agreeing to give Stewart his way.
Jon Stewart had been targeting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in particular, who had been the leading force in holding up the measure by removing it from any legislation that was being voted on. The saga saw everything from Stewart roaming the halls of congress and cornering republican congressmen, to ultimately making a one-time return to The Daily Show as a guest in order to call out McConnell. The latter appears to have finally done the trick, with McConnell having grown tired of the negative publicity.
McConnell has told Politico that well take care of the 9/11 first responder measure, meaning that he has now publicly staked himself to its passage and wont be able to continue scuttling it. Although the majority leader is now claiming that he was always going to allow it to be voted on, most observers would score this as a clear victory for Jon Stewart and more importantly, for the first responders.
underpants
(183,151 posts)Nyan
(1,192 posts)I recall an article about him launching new show on HBO. When is that? I can't wait for him to come back!
MagickMuffin
(16,003 posts)It's great Jon still has a public forum to address serious issues concerning 1st responders.
iandhr
(6,852 posts)You could see how happy Trevor Noah was to have him back.
Gothmog
(146,202 posts)Without Jon Stewart, this bill would be still held up by the GOP
dixiegrrrrl
(60,010 posts)Always a mistake to trust what they say.
Initech
(100,174 posts)Kennah
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