R000250
Monday, March 11, 2002 5:12 PM
9/11 Fund to Discriminate Against Gays
"[Gays and lesbians are] left out of my program to the extent that their own
state doesn't include them. I cannot get into a position in this program,
which has a one-and-a-half or two-year life start second-guessing what the
state of New York or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the state of
Virginia or New Jersey, how they treat same-sex partners, domestic live-ins,
etc. I simply say this: What does your state law say about who is eligible?
If your state law makes you eligible, I will honor state law. If it doesn't,
I go with the state. Otherwise, Tim, I would find myself getting sued in
every state by people claiming that I'm not following how the state
distributes money. I can't get into that local battle. I've got to rely on
state law." - Kenneth Feinberg on NBC's "Meet the Press," March 10, 2002.
KENNETH FEINBERG NEEDS TO BE SENT A MESSAGE, FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, AND FROM
ALL FAIR MINDED AMERICANS, THAT HE NEEDS TO RELY NOT ON STATE LAW , BUT
RATHER A SENSE OF DECENCY, FAIRNESS AND COMMON SENSE.
Feinberg's position is unacceptable. If this administration does not have
the presensce of mind and heart to distribute funds from the 911 Fund in a
way the honors equally ALL the heroes we lost, then Feinberg and the Bush
White House act with a cowardice that will cast a shadow of shame over this
administration for as long as Americans remember September 11th, 2001.
Individual Comment