Reason.com - Free Minds and Free Markets
Reason logo Reason logo
  • Latest
  • Magazine
    • Current Issue
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Crossword
  • Video
    • Reason TV
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • Just Asking Questions
    • Free Media
    • The Reason Interview
  • Podcasts
    • All Shows
    • The Reason Roundtable
    • The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
    • The Soho Forum Debates
    • Just Asking Questions
  • Volokh
  • Newsletters
  • Donate
    • Donate Online
    • Donate Crypto
    • Ways To Give To Reason Foundation
    • Torchbearer Society
    • Planned Giving
  • Subscribe
    • Reason Plus Subscription
    • Gift Subscriptions
    • Print Subscription
    • Subscriber Support

Login Form

Create new account
Forgot password

Congress

Jon Stewart Is Sanctimonious, but Congress Should Be Better at Doing Its Job

The fight over the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund is pure political theater.

Billy Binion | 6.18.2019 5:40 PM

Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests
sfphotosfour078641 | SIPA/Newscom
(SIPA/Newscom)

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund—which provides financial assistance to 9/11 victims and their families—is running out. That fact became national news following comedian Jon Stewart's testimony in front of the House Judiciary Committee last week.

If nothing else, Stewart succeeded in eliciting an exasperated response from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R–Ky.), who told told Fox News, "We have never failed to address this issue, and we will address it again. I don't know why he's all bent out of shape, but we will take care of the 9/11 victims compensation fund."

"I'll tell you why," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D–N.Y.) replied to McConnell on Twitter yesterday. "Because 9/11 victims are getting sicker, and the last time this bill came up you delayed."

The most recent version of the bill was passed in 2015 and is set to expire in 2020. The new bill—which unanimously passed the House Judiciary Committee last week—would extend funding until 2090.

McConnell says he plans to pass it. "Many things in Congress happen at the last minute," he told Fox News, in response to Stewart's accusations of procrastination.

Of course, a significant part of McConnell's tenure as Senate majority leader has been defined by his obstructionist tactics. Under his leadership, for example, the Senate has refused to consider bills on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, even though such legislation enjoyed broad bipartisan support.

Jon Stewart may be a sanctimonious grandstander, but he does make at least one valid point: Congress should be better at doing its job.

Start your day with Reason. Get a daily brief of the most important stories and trends every weekday morning when you subscribe to Reason Roundup.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

NEXT: Sex Toy Company Sues New York Subway for Screwing With Its First Amendment Rights

Billy Binion is a reporter at Reason.

CongressSenateJon StewartMitch McConnell
Share on FacebookShare on XShare on RedditShare by emailPrint friendly versionCopy page URL
Media Contact & Reprint Requests

Show Comments (40)

Latest

New York Doubles Down on Delivery Wage Disaster

C. Jarrett Dieterle | 10.11.2025 7:00 AM

California's Fast Food Minimum Wage Hike Cost the State 18,000 Jobs. That Shouldn't Surprise Anyone.

Peter Suderman | From the November 2025 issue

Video Shows Federal Agents Arresting a Chicago Journalist. They Now Say She Threw Objects at Their Vehicle.

C.J. Ciaramella | 10.10.2025 5:20 PM

This Indiana City Doesn't Have To Pay an Innocent Mom $16,000 After Police Wrecked Her Home, Court Rules

Billy Binion | 10.10.2025 5:05 PM

Trump Won't Invoke the Insurrection Act—As Long As He Can Use the National Guard However He Wants

Jacob Sullum | 10.10.2025 4:55 PM

Recommended

  • About
  • Browse Topics
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Media
  • Shop
  • Amazon
Reason Facebook@reason on XReason InstagramReason TikTokReason YoutubeApple PodcastsReason on FlipboardReason RSS

© 2025 Reason Foundation | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300
Take Reason's short survey for a chance to win $300