It’s because Republicans are good at this sort of strategy.
When the Zadroga Act to cover health care costs for 9/11 first responders needed to be reauthorized two months ago, but GOP leaders largely ignored it and it expired. It was then supposed to be included in a transportation bill, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) stripped the Zadroga provisions from the larger package.
With Jon Stewart again rallying public support for it, it went into the Omnibus bill. But that was likely the plan all along:
No matter how awful the other provisions of the Omnibus spending bill, no matter how well they understand them, Democrats don’t dare vote against it. Obama dare not refuse to sign it. Because otherwise the big story - replacing BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI! BENGHAZI!!! - would be how Obama and the Democrats voted against Zadroga and cut off medical care to 9/11 first responders.
