Legislature Boosts Benefits for Private 9-11 Responders

New York lawmakers broke a deadlock with Gov. Eliot Spitzer this week and unanimously passed legislation that boosts benefits for privately-employed hospital workers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics who responded to the World Trade Center attacks in 2001. The Senate voted 58-0 to pass S 6521 Monday night. The State Assembly responded with a 144-0 vote Wednesday increasing indemnity benefits for private medical first responders to the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to 75% of the responders' salary at the time of the attacks. The legislation also raised death benefits to 75% of...