Mitch McConnell Says He Doesn't Understand Why Jon Stewart 'Got Bent Out Of Shape' Over 9/11 Responder Fund

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Monday he doesn't understand why Jon Stewart, the former host of “The Daily Show” got “all bent out of shape” over funding for 9/11 first responders, saying “we will take care of” them.

Stewart called out McConnell on “Fox News Sunday” after McConnell claimed earlier in the week he had always taken care of first responders, “and I assume we will again.” McConnell and Senate Republicans have been repeatedly accused of “slow-walking” legislation aimed at health care for emergency personnel that responded to the 2001 terrorist attacks.

McConnell told “Fox & Friends” there’s “no way we won’t address this problem appropriately.”

Stewart made an appearance at a House subcommittee last week, where he lobbied for continued funding of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The fund currently is funded through 2020, but the funding has come from a series of short-term funding bill, necessitating those who were sickened by toxic rubble at the World Trade Center to repeatedly travel to Washington to ask for continued support.

One former NYPD detective Luis Alvarez was headed for a 69th round of chemotherapy the day following his appearance before the subcommittee.

During his “Fox News Sunday” interview Stewart accused McConnell of “always” holding out until “the very last minute, and only then under intense lobbying and public shaming” does the Senate Majority leader “deign” to push the funding through.

McConnell dismissed Stewart’s concerns Monday.

“Many things in Congress happen at the last minute,” McConnell said. "We've never failed to address this issue and we will address it again. I don't know why [Stewart’s] all bent out of shape, but we will take care of the 9/11 victims' compensation fund.”

During his testimony last Tuesday, Stewart surrounded by men and women in various police, fire and other emergency response uniforms remarked about a number of empty chairs on the congressional dias.

"I can't help but think what an incredible metaphor this room is for the entire process getting health care and benefits for 9/11 first responders has come to — behind me a filled room of 9/11 first responders and in front of me a nearly empty Congress," Stewart said. "Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak, to no one.”

McConnell said Monday, “That frequently happens because members have a lot of things going on at the same time and it sounds to me like he was looking for some way to take offense.”

McConnell said the legislation would be fully funded and passed by the Senate once it left the House.